I agree!

I think a 10 on a pain scale means that for a patient, it is supposed to be the "worst" right? If so, IMO they are NOT able to do anything but writhe around and are NOT concerned with ANYTHING other than getting rid of the pain... I mean a 10 is a 10....right? By definition, isn't it supposed to be the most pain you have ever had...if not... would they then say the worst for them is a 11 or a 12? Then what does it matter? Use a 20 as the worst? OKAY fine-- but whatever that number may be... it is the only way to describe to another ( too bad there is not another way) their WORST PAIN .... if they are able to carry on as usual ... would that mean that they believe they would never reach a higher level in which they would cry, writhe around on a couch or bed...rocking back and forth and even if the world explodes they could care LESS as long as ... the pain is gone? Wouldn't that by definition mean..."the WORST?"

I don't think it looks too great for someone that is on the phone talking or texting to walk in an office and tell the doc that their pain is at "10." They know what a "10" looks like from experience ... it can possibly lessen the validity of what the next patient says... and so on...

Impossible to continue a post @ 10 .... In agony! Computer definitely not ON! 911

And bump just to say IMO

I think we talk about the pain scale because that is what we as CP patients have to deal with when we go to the doctors, hospitals and so on. That is one of the purposes of this site to learn from each other that is why we talk about so much because it is important to us that everyone uses the tools we have right.

I know people say who cares what so and so feels and what they say their pain is it is subjective but really it is not if you read the pain scale I think GTK put it up among others it is not really subjective at all it spells it all out. I am sure there is a some flex but not as much as everyone says there is.

Why we care? because the mis use of these tools we have weather it is the scale or the use of pain meds or anything else even surgery hurts us in the long run it labels us and puts a stigma on us and alot of us are tired of it

We judge because someone has to make sure that we keep up with the standards for the group and for CP patients.

Plus if everyone would stop babying some people they would notice that the information that some give is really good and can help them in the long run.

"If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you have always gotten."

That is why some people always get the same reaction from doctors and ER staff every time they go and some people do not get that reaction at all.

I hear what you are saying though I do think that it is a personal thing, every person see's the scale differently. Personally, I do not like answering doctors questions about rating the pain. I can say 5 and they will think 3...

Yes! I could not egree more with this pain level thingy! When I get asked that question I always bite my tounge and it does'nt make it worsr even when it starts bleeding real bad so therefore I'm at about a level 3 to 4. Now if mt y tongue is hanging almost in half I say thats about a 6 and when i am holding a piece of it in my hand then I'm pretty well up there but even then I still have hope that it can be reattached with a good ole surgeon somewhere close by or and old lady theat has sewed quilts all her life with a bottle of peroxide close by to reattach it. I have experienced what for me personally a 9 when the MRSA ate a hole into my brain and even then it covered back up but that really hurt and also the time theMRSA swelled my left hand up so big I wanted to cut it off. To me pain is pain but I think emotional pain such as losing a dog like my Kelle Bellie is th =e worst pain of all. There is NO scale for that sort of pain!

Well, I give up then. I try to agree that the levels are to be taken seriously and I get accused of judging people. So then I say it's subjective and try to be diplomatic about it and I get another pointed post. I'm not sure what to say anymore.

That is why when the doctor asks you and you are not sure what he is looking for to be clear with what you tell them. I always spell it out for them and tell them exactly where my pain is what it feels like and how long it has been at the current level. I get descriptive so they understand completely what I am trying to tell them

I stay away from some wording like this is the worst pain I ever had.
I want to die, just put me out of my misery
I dont cry and I am not hysterical

I will tell them that what my pain is usually and what I Do as far as rest and stretching and medication treatment I use. I will then tell them that the pain I have now is something different and all of my treatments are not controlling the flare of pain I Have. I will explain where the pain is and how it is different and what if feels like for example stabbing or twitching or burning. I will tell them from where to where it is just saying it is my back is not good enough they have to asses the pain and figure out what it is so being to broad will do no good.

manny that sounds smart, maybe there is more to rating the pain then I think there is.

I have had a 10. I was lying in one position, no one could touch me and crying hurt a lot even though I did cry some of the time. My husband had to phone my boss to tell him I can't go to work because I couldn't do any of that. That said. When the doctor asks me what the pain is like I explain it like it is. They would for example ask me what was the worst pain I have ever felt. I would explain it and then they would say to use that as a 10 and tell them where I now am. They also know that it is subjective from person to person.

I was a 10 when I woke up in the ICU with tubes coming out of everywhere, with Kidney failure, respitory failure, and liver was failing, the pain felt worse than child birth. I was also having problems with my bowels and my whole body had blown up from my Chronic Illness. Was a very scary time for me. I couldnt even talk as i had the breathing tube in my mouth, I didnt even know there was a scale to much later on in my hospital stay. The nurses were giving me pain relief every 2-4 hours, especially when they had to change me, and then change my lying position so I didnet get bed sores.

I posted this already this week... but seeing it's come up again, here it is one more time. In my opinion the whole point of a pain scale is to ensure that our pain description is NOT subjective. I have this one printed out and take it with me to all Dr appts, just to ensure there is no "subjective" miscommunication.

*THE PAIN SCALE
0 Pain free.

Mild Pain Nagging, annoying, but doesn't really interfere with daily living activities.
1 Pain is very mild, barely noticeable. Most of the time you don't think about it.
2 Minor pain. Annoying and may have occasional stronger twinges.
3 Pain is noticeable and distracting, however, you can get used to it and adapt.

Moderate pain - Interferes significantly with daily living activities.
4 - If you are deeply involved in an activity, it can be ignored for a period of time, but is still distracting.
5 Moderately strong pain. It can't be ignored for more than a few minutes, but with effort you still can manage to work or participate in some social activities.
6 Moderately strong pain that interferes with normal daily activities. Difficulty concentrating.

Severe Pain Disabling; unable to perform daily living activities.
7 Severe pain that dominates your senses and significantly limits your ability to perform normal daily activities or maintain social relationships. Interferes with sleep.
8 Intense pain. Physical activity is severely limited. Conversing requires great effort.
9 Excruciating pain. Unable to converse. Crying out and/or moaning uncontrollably.
10 Unspeakable pain. Bedridden and possibly delirious. Very few people will ever experience this level of pain.

That is how I look at the pain scale also if you follow it there should not be alot of grey area that is different from person to person. As people would handle the pain different so it does not matter if one person is a 8 and the other a 6 the doctors know how you feel. I think people think that if they tell the doctor the higher number they will somehow be taken more serious or get better care and I dont think that is true,

You are going to get better care if you tell them just where you are. I know alot of people think the scale is a bunch of baloney, but if you look at it as a tool to help communicate with your doctor then it is invaluable.

Bledup it is like we cant win for loosing, dont give up supporting and sometimes people are not really directing their response to you per sa they are just saying that the scale does not need to be subjective if used right.

Had that almost yesterday.

Had to sit in quiet for a couple hours till it went back to a 6.

Wonder if other would benefit from relazing when the pain gets bad.

Ive been through that twetch, where I honestly could have cut my hand off only with nerve pain.

We all handle pain different. some have a low tolerance, some high.

With me my BP always ran low, in fact most of the females in my family are the same. 90s/60s. Now its in a normal range, so for me its higher. So my BP may not be way up there if I'm in more pain then usual but my pulse rate is.

To me a bad day is a 7, when I can't focus on anything but the pain. 8 I'm in bed thinking at the least of calling the doctor, more then likely I'll call if it does not pass.

Yes a 10 your not doing much of anything other then heading to ER or getting into your doctor. Ive had a couple 10s. Both times Ive been in ER & once admitted. The one time it hurt to move my eyes, could barely speak & prayed to pass out. I could not imagine being in more pain. I'm sure one can but I can't imagine it.

Things change also, what used to be a 8 may be a 7 now or even a 6. You get used to it. My PM told me that once & I thought he was crazy, but you get used to functioning in pain. When its new it feels worse.
I hope I'm making sense here.
What used to scare me before I'm used to now.

I was guilty of the same, giving the wrong numbers but no one really explained it to me. I thought because I was vomiting when I would move my arm & crying non stop it was a 10 but even then it wasn't. You learn, if your smart you learn. As mentioned no one will take you serious if you don't .

I had a dentist tell me he could always see the pain in his patients eyes.He knew when someone got in his chair if they were in pain or not. Smart man, it does show.
We get used to certain levels & if need be we can hide it. There is not hiding pain that is way up there, its written all over ones face & in ones body language. Especially to those who know you.

Sammy

I want an occasional pain level of 37, that way when I am at 10 I can dance around the room, sing and make love like a Bunny Rabbit!

http://youtube/JUFTbYxlyVE Great Song!

So, do you have voice recognition software for your computer or not? It's free if your "puter" can handle it!