Pain Scales

[Guest guest]

>Mellisa wrote;

And what do you do to figure it out when someone asks you what

> pain level you are?

I've gotten used to using that scale,( eleven years practice) I'm

usually at a seven every day, tolerable for me, but not for to others.

But, when it hit's number eight or above, everyone knows about it,

ha, ha, ha. Not really funny, but I am glad I have a pain killer

available nearby at all times.

I can be quite vocal when it gets up there. Fortunately, only once

this year, and from neck pain at that. My neck pain is still at a six-seven now,

but I use the lidoderm patches for it to just take the edge off, you know what I

mean? It doesn't kill all of the pain, but just enough to use my right arm and

hand.

My lumbar pain levels are always high, especially when I step off a

curb too hard, and a loud yelp can be heard by all.

I've got to find some place to sit and try to stretch it out as

soon as possible, or I wont be going anywhere for a while, the

electric shocks are pretty bad at that point.

I have missed a few trains, just letting them go by, because I

wasn't ready to get up yet. That in and of itself can be a pain in

the you know what.

Take care and feel better, /New York

[Guest guest]

Anyone else that doesn't like to do pain scales, especially when the scale

is 1-10?? And what do you do to figure it out when someone asks you what

pain level you are?

[Guest guest]

> wrote: Anyone else that doesn't like to do pain scales, especially

when the scale is 1-10?? And what do you do to figure

it out when someone asks you what pain level you are?

I go over the scale, If I'm hurting really bad I tell them 15 or 25.

I'm not going to say ten when the pain is out of control and no pain meds helps

me.

Carol

[Guest guest]

For me, I really don't mind those 1-10 pain scales. I've had over 30

surgeries (there's a point when you just stop counting. At least in my

situation) in my life and the pain scales for me are very specific.

I just compare it to the worst pain I've had in my life, which would be the pain

I had after my 2005 surgery. And go down from there. For me, they help me keep

my pain in perspective. This isn't the same for everyone though.

Hugs,

[Guest guest]

I think that the 0 to 10 scale has too many choices. The scheme I use

in my daily journal has just 5 values: -2 for a very bad day, -1 for a

bad day, 0 for a typical or average day, +1 for a good day, and +2 for a very

good day. You have to be honest with yourself in determining where you are on

the scale.

For us in the chronic pain group, a very good (+2) day may be a terrible day for

a so-called normal person. But at least there are only 5 choices instead of 11.

One potential problem with this scheme is that your average day may change over

the months and years. I know that my pain is gradually getting worse over time

and I try to keep that in account when I rate a day in my journal.

Joe

[Guest guest]

I don't like doing pain scales either. Rate a 0-10, ok but I may be

having a day where my low back and leg pain are at nine, but my neck is

ok (probably since the rest is overwhelming.) Some days my neck is a

7, headache is a 9, and low back is a 3. It really is difficult,

especially when a flare up occurs and completely redefines the pain

scale. What I would have considered a 5 back in September would be

about a 3 now. It's just frustrating.

My PT told me to think of 10 as the worst pain I ever had, for me

(prior to my accident) it was when the epidural didn't work during my c-

section. I had to ask the surgeon twice to stop cutting. Thinking

back to that time, it wasn't so bad because it was local.

Now I think about my moment of most extreme pain as a ten. How

widespread it is affects how I think of it too. I may have a lucky day

where only my neck and low back hurt, so I just say where each is at.

Think of what you consider to be your ten, five, and zero is no pain.

Then consider where you are at right then.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

I too don't know what to do when rating pain. When I am asked to rate my pain

from 1 to 10, I ask them " what is 10, labor pains? If so I am a 9 " .

Phyllis

[Guest guest]

Hey all!

I wanted to chime in here with this pain scale problem. Until I got

" injured/sick " , I had always had an excellent tolerance for pain. I had 3

C-sections (1990, 1991, 2003) and I never took anything after any of them other

than Tylenol with codeine when they took the staples out as they recommended,

even though I probably would have been OK without it.

I have had some nasty falls, sports injuries including a dislocated shoulder

and a badly bruised tailbone, and once I even tore all the ligaments connecting

me knee to the rest of my body and never had any REALLY tormenting pain. I am

very muscular and pretty tough in general.

Having said that, this RSD and Fibro are kicking my butt! I reply to pain

scales probably with a very modest 5-6 for everyday, while I am on my pain

medication, muscle relaxers, and Nuerontin. I fall quickly to a 8-9 when those

things wear off. this is when the pain takes over me and I am shaking, sweating,

and in some really tough distress.

I practice breathing techniques, meditate (when I can), and pray a whole lot.

I use ice or heat, basically anything that helps take off the edge. I am working

with my Dr right now on finding something that will take the pain down to a

manageable level so that I can participate in my life again.

On Tuesday, we went from Lortab to Percosets (5/325 up to 4 times a day).

Unfortunately, as I had feared, the Percoset isn't lasting more than about 2 - 3

hours AT BEST. My pain quickly climbs after that to that 8-9 range leaving me

many hours (3-4) before I can take any more.

I have contacted my Dr, who said we would TRY the Percoset and if it wasn't

enough (I had informed him at the start that I had not had good luck with the

Percs I had taken when I initially got hurt) we would consider moving up to

Oxycontin because it has a longer release period and offers better pain coverage

yet stays within the same drug class and basically has all the same benefits and

risks. I have not ever had trouble stopping a drug or been addicted to anything

(even alcohol) so I hope to not have any trouble with it.

I guess I said all of that because Pain scales are SO suggestive and so

personal. Not everyone can really honestly give a number to pain, especially

chronic pain. Relentless, non stop pain should have a different type of scale

altogether or Dr's should listen carefully to what patients tell them!

They need to hear that, like me for instance, how other injuries and surgeries

etc have affected that person. To a person that has been lucky enough to have

never had a traumatic condition or injury, even minor Fibril pain could be seen

as the very worse pain THEY have ever felt.

OK, hope I didn't get too far off point. For those that have trouble rating

their pain, make sure your Dr understands what and how your past (unrelated)

pain levels, injuries, etc have affected you. I think its an important tool in

helping distinguish a person's tolerance is like.

You are the " consumer " in this equation and your Dr MUST listen to everything

about you in order to make appropriate decisions in how to properly treat

chronic pain!

Just my own two cents!

Wishing you all a comfortable day!

~Tammy

[Guest guest]

In my opinion , there's too many different pain scales

being used.

If all doctors could decide on one type whether 0-10

or 0-5 it would help everyone.

Now everyones perception of pain is different too ,

what is a 4 for me may be a 7 for someone else and

that also makes the job of pain management difficult.

I know it bothers me when I go in and have to answer

this question:

" whats your usual level of pain for the last week "

hell my levels change almost hourly during the day

,especially if I'm active that day

I think its too vague of a way to quantify a persons

pain levels

Hope your having a pain free and interresting day

Jim

[Guest guest]

I am probebly a 5 or 6 on pain scale most days. Some days feel worse.

I have not found much pain medicen that helps, so i usually just try

and live with the pain. I have tried some real strong pain pills. When

I took them I still felt all the pain. Glenn

[Guest guest]

Kaylene:

I tried Lyrica but it really fouled me up. I was snappy and mean. my disposion

was aweful so I switched to the Neurontin which helps some but not enough on

its' own. I have just been up'ed to 600mgs 3 times a day, so we will see if that

helps too.

Thanks so much for the advice!! I welcome all the help I can get these days!

~Tammy

[Guest guest]

Glenn,

Did you say that you have MS? If so, what were you symptoms?

I'm sorry you are in so much pain regardless of pain meds. Did you try nerve

pain drugs such as Lyrica?

Thanks,

Caitlin

---------------------------------

Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.

[Guest guest]

i do not have ms. i got from hip problems. that i found out a few

months ago. for 13 years i thought it was just my back. i have not

tried what you said. i will try it out.

glenn

[Guest guest]

I just happened to think that the 1-10 scale is a bit LONG

And really hard to put my foot down on what I feel at that moment.

I think a normal day is a 6 or 7, and then anything else is over that. A 10 for

me normally means I can't move so. Thank you to everyone who added their

thoughts to this subject, I really appreciate it.

[Guest guest]

> wrote;

> I just happened to think that the 1-10 scale is a bit LONG

> And really hard to put my foot down on what I feel at that moment.

How about; I hurt therfore I am.

/New York