Physical pain severity scale
- Thread starter Walker
- Start date
My gallbladder was removed yesterday, so, at least for me, there’s a fair amount of pain. I’m probably sitting at 5 right now. Part of the pain I experience is the shot I have to give myself twice a day (the needle doesn’t hurt at all. The actual med burns and bruises me.). Thankfully I can stop the shot once I’m stable on my blood thinner again.
That aside I have chronic shoulder pain which is a 4-5 most of the time, but on occasion it climbs easily to an 8, and I can’t do anything.
I also have all kinds of gut issues. There’s a very strong (and realistic) possibility that I have Chrohns. When I tell drs why I believe that they never argue or dismiss it. But my new GI doc says the only way to test for it is to do a colonoscopy, but I’m not due for one till I turn 50 next March. I had one about 10yrs ago, and I learned from that experience that I can’t do the prep (I threw up after drinking just a half glass of it). So not sure how that’s gonna work. Anyway, when I’m having particular flare ups the pain is easily a 9. It’s the only pain I’ve ever had that makes me feel like I’m gonna pass out from it, and I can say it’s worse than childbirth.
That aside I have chronic shoulder pain which is a 4-5 most of the time, but on occasion it climbs easily to an 8, and I can’t do anything.
I also have all kinds of gut issues. There’s a very strong (and realistic) possibility that I have Chrohns. When I tell drs why I believe that they never argue or dismiss it. But my new GI doc says the only way to test for it is to do a colonoscopy, but I’m not due for one till I turn 50 next March. I had one about 10yrs ago, and I learned from that experience that I can’t do the prep (I threw up after drinking just a half glass of it). So not sure how that’s gonna work. Anyway, when I’m having particular flare ups the pain is easily a 9. It’s the only pain I’ve ever had that makes me feel like I’m gonna pass out from it, and I can say it’s worse than childbirth.
My gallbladder was removed yesterday, so, at least for me, there’s a fair amount of pain. I’m probably sitting at 5 right now. Part of the pain I experience is the shot I have to give myself twice a day (the needle doesn’t hurt at all. The actual med burns and bruises me.). Thankfully I can stop the shot once I’m stable on my blood thinner again.
That aside I have chronic shoulder pain which is a 4-5 most of the time, but on occasion it climbs easily to an 8, and I can’t do anything.
I also have all kinds of gut issues. There’s a very strong (and realistic) possibility that I have Chrohns. When I tell drs why I believe that they never argue or dismiss it. But my new GI doc says the only way to test for it is to do a colonoscopy, but I’m not due for one till I turn 50 next March. I had one about 10yrs ago, and I learned from that experience that I can’t do the prep (I threw up after drinking just a half glass of it). So not sure how that’s gonna work. Anyway, when I’m having particular flare ups the pain is easily a 9. It’s the only pain I’ve ever had that makes me feel like I’m gonna pass out from it, and I can say it’s worse than childbirth.
That aside I have chronic shoulder pain which is a 4-5 most of the time, but on occasion it climbs easily to an 8, and I can’t do anything.
I also have all kinds of gut issues. There’s a very strong (and realistic) possibility that I have Chrohns. When I tell drs why I believe that they never argue or dismiss it. But my new GI doc says the only way to test for it is to do a colonoscopy, but I’m not due for one till I turn 50 next March. I had one about 10yrs ago, and I learned from that experience that I can’t do the prep (I threw up after drinking just a half glass of it). So not sure how that’s gonna work. Anyway, when I’m having particular flare ups the pain is easily a 9. It’s the only pain I’ve ever had that makes me feel like I’m gonna pass out from it, and I can say it’s worse than childbirth.
i'm sorry that you have to suffer so much pain. I hope they can do something to at least lessen it some. mike
I was getting radio frequency ablation done on my shoulders to manage that pain, but the doc doing them recently has decided not to do it anymore because he doesn’t think it’s helping like it should. So I’m back to just living with it.
So there are no options for me when it comes to dealing with pain. I just get to live with it.
I have already had a colonoscopy years ago as I mentioned before, but being as my new GI doc can’t justify doing one now I have to wait till I’m 50.
I have heard there are other prep options, and I’ll be sure to mention that issue when the time comes. I couldn’t keep that half glass of prep down long enough for any assistance with nausea to actually be of any assistance.
I have figured out how to relieve the most severe pain I get in my gut. The only thing that has ever worked is to lay totally flat on my back. I can’t even use a pillow or cross my legs as I lay there. As I lay there I focus on nothing else but my breathing. Slow deep breaths in and slowly releasing it. I cannot think about anything else but how I’m breathing otherwise it doesn’t help. I do this for about a half hour. Even if the pain isn’t totally gone by that point it always becomes significantly more tolerable so I can at least get up and slowly move again.
I have heard there are other prep options, and I’ll be sure to mention that issue when the time comes. I couldn’t keep that half glass of prep down long enough for any assistance with nausea to actually be of any assistance.
I have figured out how to relieve the most severe pain I get in my gut. The only thing that has ever worked is to lay totally flat on my back. I can’t even use a pillow or cross my legs as I lay there. As I lay there I focus on nothing else but my breathing. Slow deep breaths in and slowly releasing it. I cannot think about anything else but how I’m breathing otherwise it doesn’t help. I do this for about a half hour. Even if the pain isn’t totally gone by that point it always becomes significantly more tolerable so I can at least get up and slowly move again.
@betteroffunknown I think the last colonoscopy prep I last used involved gatorade. Did not taste as bad and did not have to drink as much. Have you tried heat to ease pain on your gut. Sometimes I find a hot pad helps. Wishing you the best.
i'm sorry that your pain is so bad. try everything that you can to lower your pain. painkillers are an important part of the puzzle. there are alternative medicine in some states and it helps me in the evening, I drop 2 points on average. there are also non drug things for the back that may help. when it comes to pain you have to do the research and give the doctor ideas. I hope you can find a way to lower the pain. mike
