Why should I take part in the survey?
To learn more about your own chronic pain and to help us develop new methods for diagnosing chronic pain: The US government and major medical schools have many Internet sites that provide information to the public about the different causes of chronic pain -- but studies have shown that few people know about them. We can point you to reputable Internet sites where you can read about pain in different parts of the body. Another reason for taking part in the survey is that your responses and cooperation may help doctors and medical science to manage the problem of chronic pain - thank you.

Why are we doing the survey?
The best indicator of the cause of most pain is the location in the body where the pain is felt. We have developed a new computer system for analyzing the exact location. In this survey, we hope to identify the patterns of pain in the population. We will then try to link these patterns to the diagnoses underlying chronic pain.

Am I eligible to take part in the survey?
If you are an adult with constant or recurring pain lasting more than 30 days and causing significant discomfort or limitation of activity, you are probably eligible.

Will you give me medical advice?
No. We do not give you medical advice. We will point you to medical information available to the public, but please realize that the possible diagnoses discussed may not include the cause of your own pain, and that a reliable diagnosis can only be obtained by contacting your own health care provider.

Will my privacy be protected?
Yes. Your mailing address, email address and any personally identifying information will be kept confidential and not provided to any outside parties to the extent permissible by law. If you decide to take part in the study, you will receive no unsolicited contacts of any type. Group data but not data on an individual person may be published in a medical journal, on this Internet site, or elsewhere.

How do I take part in the survey?
Answer the questions in the questionnaire, and make a drawing of your pain area.