[The diagnostics of chronic musculoskeletal pain]

Chronic pain is defined as persistent pain, which can be either continuous or recurrent and of suficient duration and intensity to affect patient's well-being, level of function and quality of life. The assessment should include the use of structured instruments to determine the severity, the impact of psychosocial factors and function. Sensory, affective and cognitive factors contribute to the persistence of pain. Visual analogue scale, numeric and verbal scale are common uni-dimensional instruments for measurement of the pain intensity. McGill Pain Questionnaire i Brief Pain Inventory are widely used multidimensional tools. Disease specific and generic questionnaires should be applicated to assess disability on personal level. Appropriate diagnosis of chronic pain is the first step to successful treatment.