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Detailed pain scale chart

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 6/22/2015 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Because we all feel pain so differently, it is hard to convey the pain we're feeling. If you are having a hard time with knowing what pain level you are at, here is the explanation that one of my hospitals had posted. I found it much more helpful than just the smiley faces!

0 - No pain
1 - Hardly notice pain
2 - Notice pain, does not interfere with activities
3 - Sometimes distracts me
4 - Distracts me, can do usual activities
5 - Interrupts some activities
6 - Hard to ignore, avoid usual activities
7 - Focus of attention, prevents doing daily activities
8 - Awful, hard to do anything
9 - Can't bear the pain, unable to do anything
10 - As bad as it could be, nothing else matters.
Posted 6/22/2015 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks!!!! That definitely helps!!
Posted 6/22/2015 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
The problem is that it seems every pain scale describes it differently. The pain clinic I go to has a great chart that describes it well (but their descriptions / ratings are different than others I've seen).

0-1 = No Pain - alert & Smiling
2 = Mild Pain - can be ignored, no humor/ serious/ flat
3-5 = Moderate Pain - Furrowed brow, pursed lips, breath holding - Interferes with tasks
6-7 = severe pain - wrinkled nose, raised upper lip, rappid breathing - interferes with concentration
8 = very severe pain - slow blink, open mouth - interferes with basic needs
9-10 = worst possible pain - eyes closed, moaning, crying - bed rest required.

While this one does a good job of describing what they mean (which I really appreciate) they miss some really important things like the fact that people who live with pain every day learn to smile despite it. I typically use the "interferes with tasks" as my basis because the pain I see them for keeps me from engaging in basic tasks; however, as long as I avoid those tasks the pain typically stays down around a 3 (for that particular pain).
Posted 6/23/2015 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
I just went to visit my new neurologist today and you describe it very well. The pain chart they use doesn't cover everything. I am the person who will drag myself to work if I crawl. That doesn't mean I am not hurting. I have been working hard to keep from crying out when people touch me. I have developed an increased base pain level. It doesn't mean that things don't hurt.

I function in the 5-7 of SciFiGal's chart, but have been known to hit up to the 8-9 range. I always hold 10 to my very long labor time for my daughter. Nothing has beat that one yet. My new pain doc has a chart that is not that clear. I can be in a ton of pain and still make myself do things. That is just me. It doesn't mean I should be doing those things or will try driving during that time because it risks other people. I had one Sunday where I wasn't in a particular amount of pain, but my whole body felt like it was weighted down with boulders and I couldn't keep my head up. I went down to family breakfast, but everyone's words were through a long tunnel and I had trouble following conversation. Not a lot of pain .... I had just "left the building" mentally. That is hard to explain.

Thanks for the charts!
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