Our Sources

At PainQuestions.net, we believe that trustworthy health information starts with trustworthy sources. Every piece of content we publish is researched using authoritative medical literature and citations from established health organizations.

Source Selection Criteria

We evaluate potential sources based on:

• Authority: Is the source a recognized expert or institution in the medical field?
• Accuracy: Is the information based on scientific evidence and peer review?
• Currency: Is the information up-to-date? We prioritize sources from 2022-2026.
• Objectivity: Is the source free from commercial bias or conflicts of interest?
• Coverage: Does the source provide comprehensive, in-depth information?

Government Health Agencies

Government health agencies provide official guidelines, statistics, and research-backed recommendations:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - cdc.gov
  The nation's leading public health agency, providing disease prevention guidelines and health statistics.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) - nih.gov
  The primary federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research.
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - fda.gov
  Regulatory authority for medications, medical devices, and treatment safety.
• World Health Organization (WHO) - who.int
  International health authority providing global health guidelines and research.
• MedlinePlus (NIH) - medlineplus.gov
  Consumer-focused health information from the National Library of Medicine.

Peer-Reviewed Medical Journals

Peer-reviewed journals ensure that research has been evaluated by experts in the field before publication:

• New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)
  One of the most prestigious medical journals, publishing high-impact research.
• Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
  Peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of medical science and public health.
• The Lancet
  Leading general medical journal with global health coverage.
• British Medical Journal (BMJ)
  International peer-reviewed medical journal.
• PubMed / NCBI - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  Database of biomedical literature from MEDLINE and life science journals.

Major Medical Institutions

Established medical centers provide expert-reviewed health information:

• Mayo Clinic - mayoclinic.org
  Nonprofit medical practice and research group providing patient care information.
• Cleveland Clinic - my.clevelandclinic.org
  Academic medical center known for clinical and hospital care.
• Johns Hopkins Medicine - hopkinsmedicine.org
  Academic medical center associated with Johns Hopkins University.
• Harvard Health Publishing - health.harvard.edu
  Health information from Harvard Medical School.

Professional Medical Associations

Professional associations establish standards and guidelines for medical practice:

• American Medical Association (AMA)
• American College of Physicians (ACP)
• American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
• Specialty-specific associations relevant to pain conditions

Sources We Avoid

To maintain accuracy and objectivity, we do not cite:

• Non-peer-reviewed publications or preprints (unless clearly labeled as preliminary)
• Sources with obvious commercial interests or conflicts of interest
• Personal blogs, social media, or anecdotal accounts as primary sources
• Outdated research that has been superseded by newer findings
• Websites without clear authorship or editorial oversight

Questions About Our Sources?

If you have questions about a specific source or citation in our content, please contact us. We're committed to transparency and will be happy to provide additional information about our sourcing.