The concept of the pain generator is a concept that has recently added diagnostic specificity to the field of pain management. The concept is that there are number of structures that can cause pain.  Pain generators can be identified and accurately diagnosed by injecting local anesthetic which numbs the nerves and reduces transmission of the pain signals. We can assess whether the injection relieves the pain or not. If it does relieve the pain, then we can tell with certainty that the pain is caused by that structure. If there is no pain relief, then that structure can be ruled out as a pain generator. If there is partial pain relief, then that leads us to believe that that structure may be responsible for some part of the pain but not all of the pain. If there is complete relief of pain then we may well have determined the pain generator.

Accurate diagnosis is the key to identifying a specific and effective plan for treatment of pain.