What P-value indicates complete reproduction of pain during discography?

In the context of discography, a P-value is used to quantify the reproduction of a patient’s pain during the procedure when evaluating for discogenic pain. A complete reproduction of the patient's typical pain indicates that the pain being assessed is related to the disc being tested.

The P-value most closely associated with the complete reproduction of pain is P3. This is defined as the level of pain experienced by the patient during the discography that matches the intensity and characteristics of their usual pain. It is important for the diagnosis of discogenic pain, as this level of pain helps clinical practitioners confirm the involvement of the specific disc being tested.

The other P-values represent varying degrees of pain reproduction, with P0 indicating no pain, P1 representing mild or minimal pain, and P2 indicating moderate pain that does not fully correspond with the patient's typical pain experience. These lower levels of pain do not confirm the specific disc as the source of the patient's symptoms effectively. Thus, P3 indicates the highest specificity for diagnosis by corroborating the patient's experience with the actual findings during the procedure.