Scriber-- I totally agree. I told my doc that and he said they base their judgment of your pain by who you are individually and how you normally handle pain. He said that their objective is to get to know the person first to gauge what they perceive they're pain to be. Make sense??? It did when he said it.

Hope you're having a low/no pain day. Laura

morning scriber, this is so true!!
i have an extremely high tolerance for pain, but i understand that others feel things differently than me.. i think it all boils down to tolerance for pain, so the pain scale doesnt work... i can go in to my dr and say i am at a 5, and others that have the same pain can say they are experiencing a 10, so how does that tell the dr's anything.. ???
i think its silly to have a pain scale, and tells them nothing ...however i dont believe anything will be a good indicator of pain..if we can5t feel what others do.. confusing subject i guess...
~stinke~

this really doesn't contribute to your discussion but reading about the
pain scale here i gotta add...........i can't stand those stupid little
faces on the "chart".
buuuuuuuuuut right now my pain is at " little oval head with a sad mouth, wrinkles on the forehead and a couple of shootin tears".
so i may be just unreasonable because of that.
if i ever get to " Little oval head with a straight mouth and no tears."
well then i'll probably not feel so sarcastic.
PEACE
t

this is how i feel also...i just wish all of our pain levels were a steady 1-3 i think this would be manageable ...i wish this to be true...i can dream can't i? (((hugs)))

I totally agree with your definition of pain levels. As I like to say, "having chronic pain is like a snowflake. No two snowflakes are exactly the same" so no two people feel exactly the same when it comes to pain.

Another saying of mine: "I hope you feel better today than you did yesterday and tomorrow will be even better."

YES so TRUE. I knew someone who came into work after surgery and was shaking but refused pain medication! And some do feel it stronger than others. Takes all kinds! Some have a mild headache and say they are in pain. And they are....but there are many kinds....not just muscle and nerve pain. I hate to hear someone say well i take aspirin for my pain. Why don't you? I feel like saying 'and why don't you shut up?' but I must remember that I need to educate them...explain muscle and nerve pain, the definition of intractable pain (what I have)...Even my pain doc said pain is subjective. Felt differently by different people. I use:
http://www.holyredeemer.com/Uploads/Public/Documents/2011%20Pain%20Level%20Chart.pdf
this as my chart. I gave the doc a copy and I keep one.
We go by the same definitions that way. I struggled with this for so long! I'd hear 'this nurse said I did not have a level 10 pain or I'd be unable to speak...I'd be in the ER'. So I thought well I can never say that....but I DID have that level!!! So finally I decided to go by my own set of numbers and be consistant with those. Now my doc can read the description of my pain number and see what I feel like. I'm a 4-7. Before my RFA I was a 10! But afraid to say that because of comments on the internet. I hope no new people to pain go through what I did. Just find a chart and try to find your numbers.
Wishing you all below '4' days (according to MY chart) :)
Anne

I like that chart.

Thanks.

I think you have to be consistent when you talk to your doctor about pain. And be honest! If you think your pain is a '10' then say it. And back up what you're saying with exactly what you're feeling, what you are doing that may cause it, or what you've tried to help it. If nothing is working, then say it!

One man's 10 is another man's 3. Pain is totally subjective and depends on you, the sufferer, to get what you're feeling across to the doctor. Most pm doc's understand this; it's why they're in the specialty. If your pain doc does not, then run and find another one. An uncaring doctor can be the worst thing in the world. And a caring one is truly God-sent.

Sandy

Also CP is a lot different than acute pain. Having pain 24/7 and being at a "5" is a whole lot different than being in acute pain and being a "5"

does that make sense?

Kallie