Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and diagnostic kits for the objective measurement of the severity of pain or stress being experienced by a patient with a disorder, diagnosis and treatment for patients suffering from painful disorders, and monitoring the effectiveness of different pain-treatment protocols. Pain-measuring methods comprise collecting a sample from a patient and determining the presence of a pain-associated marker in the sample. Methods for alleviating pain comprise administrating a dose of a therapeutically effective amount of a composition to the patient wherein the dose is determined by the presence of a pain-associated marker in a biological sample obtained from the patient. Compositions for alleviating pain comprise substances that are pain-associated markers or agents that interfere with pain-associated markers, and block or modulate the progression of pain perceived by the patient.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing peripheral nerve damage, including diagnosing and monitoring chronic back and cervical pain are disclosed. The methods involve subjecting a body fluid sample from a patient suspected of having chronic lumbar or cervical pain and peripheral nerve damage to two-dimensional electrophoresis or an immunoassay and measuring relative amounts of protein or proteins which increase or decrease in concentration as compared to a standard control. A preferred method employs an Apo-E variant as a marker of peripheral nerve damage. Also disclosed are kits for use with the diagnostic methods.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing peripheral nerve damage, including diagnosing and monitoring chronic back and cervical pain are disclosed. The methods involve subjecting a body fluid sample from a patient suspected of having chronic lumbar or cervical pain and peripheral nerve damage to two-dimensional electrophoresis or an immunoassay and measuring relative amounts of protein or proteins which increase or decrease in concentration as compared to a standard control. A preferred method employs an Apo-E variant as a marker of peripheral nerve damage. Also disclosed are kits for use with the diagnostic methods.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing peripheral nerve damage, including diagnosing and monitoring chronic back and cervical pain are disclosed. The methods involve subjecting a body fluid sample from a patient suspected of having chronic lumbar or cervical pain and peripheral nerve damage to two-dimensional electrophoresis or an immunoassay and measuring relative amounts of protein or proteins which increase or decrease in concentration as compared to a standard control. A preferred method employs an Apo-E variant as a marker of peripheral nerve damage. Also disclosed are kits for use with the diagnostic methods.