Pain causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Differential diagnosis of causes of pain

(By organ system)

Cardiovascular	Acute pericarditis,Angina pectoris,Aortic regurgitation,Aortic stenosis,Dissecting aneurysm,Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy,Mitral valve prolapse,Myocardial infarction,Non-dissecting aneurysm
Chemical / poisoning	No underlying causes
Dermatologic	Post burn scars,Post-operative pain,Deep axillary abscesses,Psoriasis,furuncles,boils,cellulitis,steven-johnson's syndrome
Drug Side Effect	General: Leg pain: Abatacept Injection,Acitretin,Aldesleukin,Alendronate,Allopurinol,Amikacin Sulfate Injection,Anagrelide,Anastrozole,Aripiprazole,Atazanavir,Atorvastatin,Bevacizumab Injection,Bortezomib,Buspirone,Capecitabine,Celecoxib,Celiac disease,Clofarabine Injection,Clonazepam,Clopidogrel,Cortisol,Darbepoetin Alfa,Docetaxel,Epoetin Alfa Injection,Ethacrynic Acid,Etidronate,Ezetimibe,Fenofibrate,Filgrastim,Fluvastatin,Gabapentin,Galantamine,Glatiramer Injection,Ibandronate,Iloprost,Imatinib,Infliximab Injection,Interferon Alfa-2a and Alfa-2b Injection,Interferon Alfacon-1 Injection,Interferon beta-1a Intramuscular Injection,Interferon Beta-1b Injection,Interferon Gamma-1b Injection,Lamivudine,Latanoprost,Leflunomide,Letrozole,Leuprolide,Lovastatin,Methimazole,Methylergonovine,Methylprednisolone,Mifepristone,Natalizumab injection ,Ofloxacin ,Paclitaxel,Peginterferon alfa-2a,Prednisone,Pyrazinamide,Quinupristindalfopristin,Ribavirin,Rofecoxib,Rosiglitazone,Rosuvastatin,Sunitinib ,Tadalafil ,Tamsulosin ,Telbivudine,Temozolomide,Terbutaline,Teriparatide,Tiotropium,Torsemide,Valganciclovir,Valsartan,Vancomycin,Vinblastine,Vincristine,Zalcitabine,Ziprasidone,Zolmitriptan,Zolpidem Headache: Acamprosate, Acyclovir, Alatrofloxacin Injection, Alosetron, Amantadine, Ambrisentan,Aminophylline, Amiodarone, Amlodipine, Amphotericin B, Anagrelide, Armodafinil, Atorvastatin, Benazepril,Bepridil, Bexarotene, Bisoprolol, Bosentan, Butorphanol Cabergoline •Caffeine, Candesartan, Capecitabine,Carbamazepine, Carbimazole, Carmustine, Carteolol, Carvedilol, Caspofungin Cilansetron • Cilostazol •Clomethiazole • Combined oral contraceptive pill • Cycloserine •Cyclosporin • Cefaclor • Cefamandole Nafate Injection •Cefotetan • Cefdinir • Cefoperazone Sodium Injection •Calcitriol • Chelation therapy • Chlorothiazide •Chlorthalidone • Cilostazol • Cimetidine • Clopidogrel •Cyclosporine Injection • Deferasirox •Dexamfetamine • Digoxin • Diltiazem • Dimercaprol •Dinoprostone • Dipivefrine • Dipyridamole •Disopyramide • Docosanol • Dolasetron • Dofetilide • Doxazosin •Enalapril • Epinephrine • Eplerenone •Epoprostenol • Ergotamine • Etanercept Injection • Ethacrynic Acid •Ethanol • Ethosuximide • Ezetimibe •Felodipine • Fenofibrate • Fenoldopam • Flu vaccine • Fluorouracil •Fluoxetine • Fluvastatin • Epinephrine •Fosinopril • Furosemide • Ganciclovir • Gemeprost • Glyceryl trinitrate • Granisetron • Griseofulvin •Gyromitrin • Indomethacin • Insulin lispro • Influenza vaccine • Imatinib mesylate • Interleukin 2 • Isosorbide dinitrate • Isosorbide mononitrate • Lerisetron • Levosimendan • Lofepramine •Lomotil • Lisuride • MefloquineMemantine • Methimazole • Metronidazole • Methyprylon • Modafinil• Monosodium glutamate • Moricizine •Nicorandil • Nifedipine • Nitrendipine • Nitroglycerine • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs • Oxtriphylline •Oxytocin injection • Omalizumab • Ondansetron • Palonosetron • Pemirolast • Pergolide •Pimecrolimus • Piribedil •Propylthiouracil • Quinidine • Quinine • Rasagiline • Reproterol • Roflumilast • Ropinirole • Salbutamol •Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor • Sildenafil • Sodium nitrite • Sulprostone •Tadalafil • Trabectedin •Trimeprazine • Trimethobenzamide • Tribavirin • Trimethadione • Tropisetron • Vardenafil• Vitamin A • Zafirlukast •Zileuton • Zomepirac Abdominal pain:Abciximab, Acebutolol, Acitretin , Adalimumab, Alendronate, Alosetron, Anagrelide, Atazanavir, Auranofin, Azithromycin, Bevacizumab, Celecoxib, Cetuximab Injection, Cholestyramine Resin, Cilostazol, Ciprofloxacin, Cisapride, Clarithromycin, Clindamycin, Clofarabine Injection, Colestipol, Darifenacin, Darunavir, Deferasirox, Dexmethylphenidate, Didanosine, Diflunisal, Dirithromycin, Dolasetron Mesylate, Emtricitabine, Enfuvirtide, Entacapone, Eprosartan, Erlotinib, Erythromycin, Esomeprazole, Estrogen and Progestin, Etanercept, Exemestane, Famciclovir, Fenofibrate, Fenoprofen, Fentanyl, Fluconazole, Fludarabine, Fulvestrant, Galantamine, Gemfibrozil, Imatinib, Infliximab, Interferon Alfa-2a and Alfa-2b, Interferon Alfacon-1, Interferon beta-1a, Interferon Beta-1b, Lanthanum, Leflunomide, Meclofenamate, Mefenamic Acid, Mesalamine , Methylphenidate, Mifepristone, Miglitol , Misoprostol, Morphine, Mycophenolate, Nabumetone, Naproxen, Nelfinavir , Nilutamide , Nitazoxanide, Nizatidine, Nystatin, Omeprazole, Oseltamivir, Oxaliplatin, Oxaprozin, Oxcarbazepine, Pancrelipase, Peginterferon alfa-2a, Peginterferon alfa-2b, Pentostatin, Pergolide, Posaconazole, Pramlintide injection, Quetiapine, Rifabutin, Riluzole, Risedronate, Ritonavir, Rituximab injection, Rivastigmine, Saquinavir, Sargramostim, Selegiline, Sitagliptin, Solifenacin, Sorafenib, Stavudine, Sulindac, Tacrolimus, Telbivudine, Temozolomide, Terbinafine, Tiagabine, Tipranavir, Tocainide, Topiramate, Topotecan, Trastuzumab, Valacyclovir, Valganciclovir, Valproic Acid, Voriconazole, Zaleplon, Zileuton, Zonisamide Back pain: Chest pain: Musculoskeletal pain: Breast pain:
Ear Nose Throat	Acoustic neuroma,Acute otitis externa (Swimmer's ear),Acute otitis media,Arthritis of the temporomandibular joint,Auricular erysipelas,Auricular perichondritis,Cellulitis,Cerumen impaction,Cervical spine disease,Cholesteatoma,Chronic otitis externa,Ear canal foreign body,Eczema,Eustachion tube dysfunction,Eustachion tubesyringitis,Furunculosis,Herpes Zoster Oticus,High altitude sickness,Malignant otitis externa,Mastoiditis,Mumps,Myringitis bullosa,Other acute barotrauma,Psoriasis,Reaction to topical agents,Ruptured or perforated eardrum,Sterile middle ear effusion,,Trauma,Tumor,Tympanostomy tube obstruction,Varicella
Endocrine	No underlying causes
Environmental	Snake bite (Viperidae), Spider bite
Gastroenterologic	Abdominal migraine,Actinomycosis,Acute appendicitis,Acute cholecystitis,Acute esophagitis,Acute hemorrhoid crises,Acute hepatitis,Acute intermittent porphyria,Acute mesenteric artery occlusion,Acute pancreatitis,Acute peritonitis,Afferent loop syndrome,Amoebic dysentry,Anal fissures,Anal itch,Anorectal abscesses,Anterior retroperitoneal abscess,Biliary colic,Carcinomatosis,Chronic esophagitis,Chronic hemolytic anemia,Chronic mesenteric insufficiency,Chronic pancreatitis,Colon cancer,Crohn's disease,Diverticulitis,Dumping syndrome,Duodenal ulcer,Esophageal cancer,Esophageal tear,Esophagitis,Familial paroxysmal peritonitis,Food allergy,Gallbladder carcinoma,Gallbladder empyema,Gas entrapment,Gas entrapment syndromes,Gastric cancer,Gastric granuloma,Gastric ulcer,Gastritis,Gastro-esophageal reflux disease,Gonococcal perihepatitis,Granulomatous peritonitis,Haemorrhoids,Hepatic abscess,Hiatus hernia,Hypertrophic gastropathy,Infected sweat glands,Infectious enterocolitis,Intestinal ischemia,Intra-abdominal abscess,Intra-abdominal aortic aneurysm,Irritable bowel syndrome,Large bowel obstruction,Liver abscess,Liver carcinoma,Local rectal lesions,Mesenteric inflammatory disease,Mesenteric tumors,Mesothelioma,Metastatic liver tumors,Mid-abdominal abscess,Neurogenic intestinal obstruction,Nonulcer dyspepsia,Pancreatic abscess,Pancreatic carcinoma,Pancreatic duct occlusion,Penetrating ulcer,Peptic ulcer disease,Perforated ulcer,Perforated ulcer,Perisplenitis,Peritoneal cancer,Phlegmonous gastritis,Postcholecystectomy syndrome,Post-gastrectomy pain syndromes,Postradiation enterocolitis,Primary liver tumors,Proctitis,Pyloric stenosis,Pylorospasm,Rectal boils,Rectal cancers,Rectal ulcers,Reflux alkaline syndrome,Regional ileitis,Retrocaecal appendicitis,Retroperitoneal masses,Small bowel obstruction,Splenic abscess,Splenic infarction,Splenic rupture,Splenomegaly,Subphrenic abscess,Too small gastric pouch,Torsion of the omentum,Tuberculosis,Typhoid,Ulcerative colitis,Venereal ulcers / granulomas,Volvulus,Accessory Pancreas,Achalasia
Genetic	No underlying causes
Hematologic	Sickle cell anemia
Iatrogenic	Surgery complication
Infectious Disease	Deep axillary abscesses,Anorectal abscesses,Anterior retroperitoneal abscess,Diverticulitis,Hepatic abscess,Intra-abdominal abscess,Mid-abdominal abscess,Pancreatic abscess,Subphrenic abscess,Tuberculosis,Typhoid,Perinephritic abscess,Renal abscess,Renal echinococcus,Tuberculosis Cystitis,Acute mastalgia,Acute mediastinitis,Chronic mediastinitis,Infective arthritis,Osteomyelitis,Tuberculosis Arthritis,Vertebral infections,Acute pelvic inflammatory disease,Canchroid infection,Chlamydia infection,Chronic PID,Herpetic infection,Perineal abscess,Lung abscess,Pneumonia,Acute cystitis,Acute epididymitis,Acute prostatitis,Acute urethritis,Chronic cystitis,Chronic prostatitis,Chronic TB cystitis,Herpes infection,Interstitial cystitis,Orchitis,Schistosomal cystitis
Musculoskeletal / Ortho	12th rib syndrome,Acrocyanosis,Acute + chronic degenerative conditions,Acute arterial occlusion,Acute deep vein thrombosis,Acute thrombophlebitis,Ankle dislocation,Ankle fracture,Ankle laxity,Ankle sprain,Ankylosing spondylitis,Ankylosing spondylitis,Apophyseal (growth plate) disorders,Arteriosclerosis obliterans,Arthritides,Calcaneal paratendintis,Cartilage injuries,Cauda equina lesions,Causalgia (CRPS 2),Chondromalacia patellae,Chronic arterial insufficiency,Chronic muscle contracture,Claw toe,Coccydynia,Cold injuries,Collagen disease (scleroderma),Compartment syndrome,Contracture of fascia lata + iliotibial band,Contusion of quadriceps or other muscles,Costchondral dislocation,Costchondral fracture,Costochondritis,Costovertebral joint arthritis,Degenerative osteoarthritis,Destructive bone lesions,Developmental disorders,Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis,Diseases of the pelvic organs,Diseases of veins,Disorders of the whole foot,Epidural abscess,Facet joint syndrome,Facet syndrome,Femoral neuralgia,Femur infections,Femur tumors,Fibromyalgia,Foot deformities,Forefoot pain,Ganglion,Gastrocnemius rupture,Generalized muscle pain,Gluteal muscle syndrome,Gout,Great toe disorders,Hallux rigidus,Hallux valgus,Hammer toe,Heel pain,Hemarthrosis,Hindfoot pain,Hip dislocation,Hip Fractures,Idiopathic scoliosis,Iliopectineal bursitis,Increased muscle tension or spasm,Infant hip infections,Infective arthritis,Infrapatellar fat pad,Ingrown toenail,Intermittent claudication,Intrinsic spinal cord lesions,Ischiogluteal bursitis,Levator muscle spasm,Ligament / capsular injuries,Lisfranc's joint instability,Livedo reticularis,Loose bodies,Low back pain and psychiatric illness,Low back pain caused by operant mechanisms,Lower abdominal muscle syndrome,Lumbar disc protrusion,Lumbosacral plexus lesions,Lumbosacral strain,Medial arch strain,Meralgia paraesthetica,Metatarsal head osteochondritis,Metatarsalgia,Midfoot pain,Morton's neuroma,Muscle spasm,Muscle strain,Muscle tendon rupture,Myofascial disorders,Myofascial pain with trigger points (TPs),Navicular osteochondritis,Nerve entrapment syndromes,Neuropathic pain,Obturator neuralgia,Osteoarthritis (degenerative),Osteochondritis dissecans,Osteomyelitis,Osteonecrosis,Paget's disease of bone,Painful heel pad,Pelvic fractures,Pelvic muscle disorders,Pelvic sprains,Pelvic trauma,Peripheral vascular disease,Peroneal neuralgia,Peroneal tendon dislocation,Perthes disease,Pes cavus (hollow foot),Pes planus (flat foot),Pigmented villonodular synovitis,Plantar fasciitis,Post phlebitic syndrome,Post traumatic spondylosis,Postamputation pain,Post-episiotomy,Posterior knee swellings / cysts,Posterior tibial tendon insufficiency,Post-laminectomy,Postoperative quadriceps muscle spasm,Postoperative reflex spasm,Post-traumatic,Primary & secondary sacroiliac joint disorders,Psoriasis,Quadriceps tendon rupture,Raynaud's disease,Raynaud's phenomenon,Rectus abdominis syndrome,Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (CRPS 1),Rheumatoid arthritis,Rheumatoid arthritis,Rheumatoid arthritis,Rheumatoid arthritis of the lumbar spine,Rheumatoid arthritis of the sacroiliac joint,Rib fractures,Rib tumors,Saphenous neuralgia,Scars,Sciatic neuralgia,Secondary tumors,Septic arthritis,Sesamoiditis,Skin disorders,Slipped capital femoral epiphysis,Slipping rib syndrome,Small arterial disease,Small toe disorders,Spinal neoplasms,Spinal nerve root radiculopathy,Spinal stenosis,Spondylolisthesis,Spontaneous osteonecrosis,Sternal fracture,Sternoclavicular arthritis,Stress fracture,Subtalar arthritis,Synovitis,Tarsal coalition,Tarsal tunnel syndrome,Tenosynovitis,Thoracic arthritis,Thoracic deformity,Thoracic spine,Thromboangiitis obliterans,Tibial neuralgia,Tietze's syndrome,Transient synovitis,Traumatic femur lesions,Traumatic muscle hematoma,Trochanteric bursitis,Tuberculosis Arthritis,Vasodilating disease,Vasospastic disease,Vertebral dislocation,Vertebral epiphysitis (Scheuermann's disease),Vertebral fracture,Vertebral infections,Xiphoidalgia
Neurologic	Abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment,Caudal equina arachnoiditis,Central pain syndromes,Cervical disc protrusion,Cervical nerve entrapment,Epidural compression,Extra-medullary (outside spinal cord),Groin neuralgia,Herpes zoster (shingles),Intercostal neuralgia,Intra-medullary (inside spinal cord),Lesions inside spinal cord conus,Lesions outside spinal cord conus,Neuropathies,Obstetric palsy,Paravertebral compression,Peripheral neuropathy,Phantom anus pain,Phantom bladder pain,Phantom pelvic pain,Post herpetic neuralgia,Primary nerve tumors,Pudendal neuralgia,Pudendal neuropathy,Shingles,Spinal cord compression,Tabes dorsalis,Thoracic outlet syndrome,Vertebral compression,Epidural abscess, Thalamic syndrome
Nutritional / Metabolic	Acute intermittent porphyria
Obstetric/Gynecologic	Acute endometritis,Acute pelvic inflammatory disease,Acute trauma,Allergic reactions,Canchroid infection,Cervical cancer,Chlamydia infection,Chronic endometriosis,Chronic PID,Endometrial cancer,Enlarged uterus,Fibroid degeneration,Functional ovarian cyst,Herpetic infection,Miscarriage,Mittelschmerz,Normal pregnancy,Ovarian cancer,Ovarian cyst bleed,Ovarian tumor torsion,Pelvic muscle spasm,Perineal abscess,Pinworm Infection,Premature labour,Primary dysmenorrhoea,Referred pelvic pain,Referred perineal pain,Ringworm Infection,Round ligament stretching,Ruptured ectopic pregnancy,Ruptured ovarian follicle,Secondary dysmenorrhoea,Twisted ovarian cyst,Uterine prolapse,Vascular disorders,Vulval infections
Oncologic	Breast cancer,Colon cancer,Gastric cancer,Gastric granuloma,Mesenteric tumors,Mesothelioma,Peritoneal cancer,Primary liver tumors,Rectal cancers,Metastatic renal cell carcinoma,Renal cell carcinoma,Renal pelvis carcinoma,Renal sarcoma,Diaphragmatic tumors,Mediastinal carcinoma,Rib tumors,Spinal neoplasms,Primary nerve tumors,Cervical cancer,Endometrial cancer,Ovarian cancer,Endobronchial carcinoma,Intra-pulmonary carcinoma,Lung cancer,Pancoast's syndrome,Bladder cancer,Penile cancer,Prostate cancer,Seminoma,Teratoma,Testicular cancer,ALL,AML, Diaphragmatic tumors,Mediastinal carcinoma
Opthalmologic	Band keratopathy,Chalazion,Corneal ulcer,Entropion conjunctivitis,Ethmoid sinusitis,Eye strain,Febrile Disease,Frontal sinusitis,Glaucoma,Hordeolum,Interstitial keratitis,Iridocyclitis,Iritis,Ocular foreign body,Ocular herpetic calcification,Retrobulbar neuritis,Sphenoid sinus,Thyrotoxicosis
Overdose / Toxicity	No underlying causes
Psychiatric	Acute anxiety,Chronic anxiety,Delusional pain / hallucinatory pain,Depression,Hypochondriasis,Hysterical / hypochondriacal pain,Learned pain,Operant pain,Somatoform pain,Low back pain and psychiatric illness, Functional disorders, Repetitive strain injury
Pulmonary	Acute diaphragmitis,Acute pulmonary hypertension,Acute tracheobronchitis,Atelectasis,Bronchiectasis,Chronic pulmonary hypertension,Diaphragmatic flutter,Diaphragmatic pleuritis,Diaphragmatic spasm,Endobronchial carcinoma,Epidemic pleurodynia,Intra-pulmonary carcinoma,Lung abscess,Lung cancer,Pancoast's syndrome,Pleuritis,Pneumonia,Pneumothorax,Pulmonary embolism
Renal / Electrolyte	Acute intermittent hydronephrosis,Acute pyelonephritis,Blood clot obstruction,Calyceal diverticulum,Horseshoe kidney,Hypertensive renal vascular disease,Idiopathic nephralgia,Infundibular cancer,Infundibular stenosis,Metastatic renal cell carcinoma,Non-stone obstruction,Ovarian vein syndrome,Perinephritic abscess,Polycystic kidney disease,Pyelonephrosis,Renal abscess,Renal artery aneurysm,Renal artery occlusion,Renal carbuncle,Renal cell carcinoma,Renal echinococcus,Renal pelvis carcinoma,Renal sarcoma,Renal stones / ureteric stones,Renal vein thrombosis,Retroperitoneal fibrosis,Simple single cyst,Sloughed renal papilla,Tuberculosis Cystitis,Vesicoureteral reflux
Rheum / Immune / Allergy	Scleroderma,Degenerative osteoarthritis,Fibromyalgia,Gout,Osteoarthritis (degenerative),Rheumatoid arthritis,Rheumatoid arthritis
Sexual	genital herpes,trichomoniasis,vaginal yeast infections,dyspareunia
Trauma	Burns,fractures,Pneumothorax
Urologic	Acute cystitis,Acute epididymitis,Acute prostatitis,Acute urethritis,Balanitis,Bladder cancer,Chronic cystitis,Chronic prostatitis,Chronic TB cystitis,Herpes infection,Interstitial cystitis,Orchiodynia,Orchitis,Paraphimosis,Penile cancer,Peyronie's disease,Post-radiation cystitis,Priapism,Prostate cancer,Prostatic stones,Schistosomal cystitis,Seminal vesicles,Seminoma,Teratoma,Testicular appendix torsion,Testicular cancer,Testicular torsion,Urethral syndrome
Dental	dental cavities, dental abscess, gum disease, irritation of the tooth root, cracked tooth syndrome,temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, impaction,eruption
Miscellaneous	Acute mastalgia,Acute mediastinitis,Adiposis dolorosa,Chest wall phlebitis,Chronic mastalgia,Chronic mediastinitis,Diaphragmatic cysts,Diaphragmatic herniation,Diaphragmatic rupture,,Mediastinal emphysema,Post-mastectomy syndrome,Post-thoracotomy syndrome, Capsaicin, Substance P