Table 2 Case definition items to be included in a questionnaire instrument for epidemiology research

Questions about pain characteristics:

Prickling, tingling, pins and needles

Pain evoked by light touch

Electric shocks or shooting pain

Hot or burning pain

Brush allodynia on self examination

Question eliciting a relevant patient history

Items that might be included (>30% but <70% consensus)

Questions about pain characteristics:

Numbness

Pain evoked by heat or cold

Pain continuing after stimulus

Surface pain

Pain evoked by mild pressure

Question about the site of pain