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Physical pain severity scale
- Thread starter Walker
- Start date
anything that works to get the pain down. some people can find ways to get pain relief without meds. I hope your pain stays at a reasonable level. mine finally hit 7 and is still coming down. I wish they could invent a med that works just as good as opioids without the danger or ability to be abused. mike
6... wasn't quite prepared for it. Cast is off now so i have a walking boot... the more i try and walk on it the worse the pain is... I guess the the cast must have been supporting it more than I thought... or maybe the boot is putting extra strain on the leg 
but whatever, it's painful. Really thought by now it would have healed and I'd be onto the muscle building stage... hmmmm
but whatever, it's painful. Really thought by now it would have healed and I'd be onto the muscle building stage... hmmmm
https://themighty.com/2016/06/how-to-answer-rate-your-pain-on-a-scale-of-1-to-10-questions/
Is a good read about why chronic pain sufferers get underlooked in hospital- Based on answers to a pain scale question. A problem I have had to self advocate for many many times...
Is a good read about why chronic pain sufferers get underlooked in hospital- Based on answers to a pain scale question. A problem I have had to self advocate for many many times...
I've believed for a long time that chronic pain suffers view the pain scale on an entirely different level.
This is how I rate the pain scale for me. I can break it down more, but I think you get the idea.
1-3 A mild ache to a sprain
4-5 Hard to stay in one position for long, random shooting pain, or constant dull pain
6-7 Constant more intense pain, unable to be comfortable in any position, sleep is not going to happen
8 All of the above and causes involuntary shaking and cold sweats
9 All of the above and blacking out
10 Need to be sedated or put to sleep by medical staff because pain is so high
I agree with the article. Pain is based on personal experience. There are also people who will tell a doctor the pain is higher than they believe it to be, because they think it will result in better care. The problem is, the doctor knows your hangnail is not a 9, and now will be less likely to take you seriously if you experience a pain truly at that level.
This is how I rate the pain scale for me. I can break it down more, but I think you get the idea.
1-3 A mild ache to a sprain
4-5 Hard to stay in one position for long, random shooting pain, or constant dull pain
6-7 Constant more intense pain, unable to be comfortable in any position, sleep is not going to happen
8 All of the above and causes involuntary shaking and cold sweats
9 All of the above and blacking out
10 Need to be sedated or put to sleep by medical staff because pain is so high
I agree with the article. Pain is based on personal experience. There are also people who will tell a doctor the pain is higher than they believe it to be, because they think it will result in better care. The problem is, the doctor knows your hangnail is not a 9, and now will be less likely to take you seriously if you experience a pain truly at that level.
Exactly my thoughts/In personal experience from migraines- I rate my daily regular migraine a 4-6 depending on the day. I can do things if I have to- but it hurts- constantly without a break and I have to take frequent breaks to regain composure. Years and years ago I would lie in bed in a dark room- but the reality is I could not have a life if I did this every time. My 20 year old daughter ranks her headaches as she is walking around, watching tv, drives to store to get a soda and texts with friends on phone a 7-8. I am not calling her wrong- she has a headache every 2 months- it is not a common thing so it seems to really suck to her and be really bad. On a "bad day" i could not drive if I wanted to, I cannot read or watch tv -Ican lay down - not sleep- and an hours lasts 3 days and the migraine goes on for 12-18 hours that feels like weeks or months. There is no point going to er - I have bad days weekly or better- I would be treated like an addict trying to get pain meds (yes I know this for fact). Since I stopped taking opiate pain killers because you cannot get them prescribed by a legitimate DR in NY anymore, and they literally shut down most pain management clinics so now there is nothing to stop the migraine once it starts getting bad except wait and hope.
I have found by making a personal relationship with a good doctor that listens long enough to understand and remembers you from visits to visit they can understand what mean by not so good - pretty bad - prolly a 5-6 at least, etc and that it is not in fact a hangnail or "uncomfortable- it is pain.
I have found by making a personal relationship with a good doctor that listens long enough to understand and remembers you from visits to visit they can understand what mean by not so good - pretty bad - prolly a 5-6 at least, etc and that it is not in fact a hangnail or "uncomfortable- it is pain.
Yes, yes, yes!
Again, yes, yes, yes!
I live with pain daily and usually don't even bring it up to people because unless you "get it", there's no point really.
Quite often I'll have random things flare up overnight and just bare through the pain which I know that other people would rush to the doctor's for. Obviously people like us, who tolerate or deal with severe or chronic pain just ride things out. Over Easter I think I pinched a nerve in my back and I was on a solid 7-8 but couldn't get the help I needed because my doctor wasn't working and no point bothering with other doctors as they will just turn you away since prescribing pain killers is a big "no no". Yes, Australia has also cracked down massively on all types of prescription pain meds and act like you are just a junkie.
I busted up my knee a few months ago (I could hardly put any weight on it and was basically bedridden) I thought it was gout which I've had many times before which I just need to ride out. After 3 weeks of ridiculous pain, I finally went to see my GP who knows me well. When she saw me laying on the bed (in the treatment room) and in tears she knew it was bad. She asked me to rate the pain and at the time it was a solid 8-9. Once she heard that, she asked me what pain meds I wanted. She was willing to give me anything basically. I just told her whatever she thought was best. She came back with a script for tramadol and oxycodone with repeats and told me to use which ever worked best. She then wrote up referrals for bloods (to check inflammation levels and test for rheumatoid arthritis, which all the females on my mother's side have) X-ray, ultrasound and a referral to a physiotherapist who does the first 5 sessions for free. She is the most unbelievable GP and knows me and my pain levels well. I'm lucky if I get strong pain meds once a year because I just ride out most things out that others wouldn't or couldn't. To be honest, the pain meds didn't really help the knee pain much but it made it much more tolerable. Time and a mixture of rest, knee brace and extensive physiotherapy ultimately fixed it. It took about 6-8 weeks to get there.
That was just one recent example where I had to go to the doctors and use a "severe" pain sufferers pain scale. Like the rest of you guys, I have things that I deal with everyday. I just pray that things don't get worse but it's most likely they will. Oh well, I'll deal with that when the time comes.
Thanks for letting me vent. I went on and on there but I rarely get to talk about my pain. It's not something that you want to explain anyway because it's just the same stuff but different day! I get sick of hearing myself complain to my son but he gets it. Plus I'll only mention anything if it's affecting my mood just so he knows why I may be a little short or down. Ok, finished! Thanks for letting me vent!
Again, yes, yes, yes!
I live with pain daily and usually don't even bring it up to people because unless you "get it", there's no point really.
Quite often I'll have random things flare up overnight and just bare through the pain which I know that other people would rush to the doctor's for. Obviously people like us, who tolerate or deal with severe or chronic pain just ride things out. Over Easter I think I pinched a nerve in my back and I was on a solid 7-8 but couldn't get the help I needed because my doctor wasn't working and no point bothering with other doctors as they will just turn you away since prescribing pain killers is a big "no no". Yes, Australia has also cracked down massively on all types of prescription pain meds and act like you are just a junkie.
I busted up my knee a few months ago (I could hardly put any weight on it and was basically bedridden) I thought it was gout which I've had many times before which I just need to ride out. After 3 weeks of ridiculous pain, I finally went to see my GP who knows me well. When she saw me laying on the bed (in the treatment room) and in tears she knew it was bad. She asked me to rate the pain and at the time it was a solid 8-9. Once she heard that, she asked me what pain meds I wanted. She was willing to give me anything basically. I just told her whatever she thought was best. She came back with a script for tramadol and oxycodone with repeats and told me to use which ever worked best. She then wrote up referrals for bloods (to check inflammation levels and test for rheumatoid arthritis, which all the females on my mother's side have) X-ray, ultrasound and a referral to a physiotherapist who does the first 5 sessions for free. She is the most unbelievable GP and knows me and my pain levels well. I'm lucky if I get strong pain meds once a year because I just ride out most things out that others wouldn't or couldn't. To be honest, the pain meds didn't really help the knee pain much but it made it much more tolerable. Time and a mixture of rest, knee brace and extensive physiotherapy ultimately fixed it. It took about 6-8 weeks to get there.
That was just one recent example where I had to go to the doctors and use a "severe" pain sufferers pain scale. Like the rest of you guys, I have things that I deal with everyday. I just pray that things don't get worse but it's most likely they will. Oh well, I'll deal with that when the time comes.
Thanks for letting me vent. I went on and on there but I rarely get to talk about my pain. It's not something that you want to explain anyway because it's just the same stuff but different day! I get sick of hearing myself complain to my son but he gets it. Plus I'll only mention anything if it's affecting my mood just so he knows why I may be a little short or down. Ok, finished! Thanks for letting me vent!
Saturday - 7-8
Today - 8-9
Broke down in tears and rang the doctor's office to see if any doctor would prescribe strong pain meds. Most said flat out "no" and to wait for my regular GP who works Mon-Fri.
Ummm, I can't sit, stand, walk, lay down without extreme agony... the f?
One doctor agreed to see me and prescribed a few different pain meds to see which worked best. Went home, took a few and fell asleep.
I'm sitting on a 3-4 atm
Why do 90% of doctor's think everyone is a flippin' junkie? Bless Dr. Russo for treating me like a real human being in legitimate pain
Today - 8-9
Broke down in tears and rang the doctor's office to see if any doctor would prescribe strong pain meds. Most said flat out "no" and to wait for my regular GP who works Mon-Fri.
Ummm, I can't sit, stand, walk, lay down without extreme agony... the f?
One doctor agreed to see me and prescribed a few different pain meds to see which worked best. Went home, took a few and fell asleep.
I'm sitting on a 3-4 atm
Why do 90% of doctor's think everyone is a flippin' junkie? Bless Dr. Russo for treating me like a real human being in legitimate pain
Saturday - 7-8
Today - 8-9
Broke down in tears and rang the doctor's office to see if any doctor would prescribe strong pain meds. Most said flat out "no" and to wait for my regular GP who works Mon-Fri.
Ummm, I can't sit, stand, walk, lay down without extreme agony... the f?
One doctor agreed to see me and prescribed a few different pain meds to see which worked best. Went home, took a few and fell asleep.
I'm sitting on a 3-4 atm
Why do 90% of doctor's think everyone is a flippin' junkie? Bless Dr. Russo for treating me like a real human being in legitimate pain
Today - 8-9
Broke down in tears and rang the doctor's office to see if any doctor would prescribe strong pain meds. Most said flat out "no" and to wait for my regular GP who works Mon-Fri.
Ummm, I can't sit, stand, walk, lay down without extreme agony... the f?
One doctor agreed to see me and prescribed a few different pain meds to see which worked best. Went home, took a few and fell asleep.
I'm sitting on a 3-4 atm
Why do 90% of doctor's think everyone is a flippin' junkie? Bless Dr. Russo for treating me like a real human being in legitimate pain
