Neurological Examination

Joshua Wellington, M.D.
Medical Director
Indiana University Pain Medicine Center

Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesia and
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Introduction - TOP

A thorough examination of a patient with pain complaints is necessary for comprehensive evaluation and formation of treatment recommendations.  The appropriate neurological examination is often one of the most essential components of this process. 

There are six elements of the neurological examination− cranial nerve function, cerebellar function, sensory function, motor function, reflexes, and gait.  Of these, the three most pertinent areas of examination for patients with pain complaints are:

1. sensory function,
2. motor function, and
3. reflexes. 

Of course, if a patient’s primary complaint is of facial pain then evaluation of cranial nerves will be most important.  However, for the most common complaints (i.e. back/leg and neck/arm pain), a focused and systematic examination of sensory, motor, and reflexes will yield the information required for making a diagnosis.  For the purposes of the focused neurological examination for the patient with pain complaints, the emphasis will be placed on assessment of these three modalities.

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