Pain Level Comparisons

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Permalink Reply by Jackie on December 7, 2011 at 9:10am

Linda, thank you so much for this. I shall alert Red, he may contact you to use it. I find it very interesting and like you I have re-assessed myself down one score point.

Like you I warn Dr's about my hair. It is fading now and "helped" but it does affect the amount of anesthetic I need and i always discuss before surgery with the medical team.

Excellent discussion for all of us here, thank you again. Jackie

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Permalink Reply by Lisa (iamrite) on December 7, 2011 at 3:47pm

Interesting...... I showed it to my mom last night and I said what I was at during the height of an attack..... she was shocked and cried.  I think it was the first time I admitted that I laid there praying to die and that I didn't really make a plan per se, but I was thinking of the ways that taking my life could be done.   It scares me when I say that.  I would never do it, I would never ever leave my child alone to face something like that..... but oh when you are in that pain, you think about it.  Or I do.  Alot.  Which is why I have been looking for someone who teaches mindful meditation.  I have an appointment with someone next week.

Thank you for sharing it.  I don't think my mom knew what was in my head when this was going on. 

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Permalink Reply by Linda W on December 7, 2011 at 5:05pm

To both Jackie and Lisa - I am so glad you found this link useful.  I only included the part about the anesthesia and red-headed people (or those from red-headed families) because until 2 1/2 years ago, I had never heard of such a thing - but it makes so much sense! 

And Lisa, I totally "get" your pain.  Even for those people who know that God will be there for them in their darkest hours, this thing can be a lonely, lonely place to be. I found it particularly interesting how the author of this comparison chart was so forthcoming about thoughts of suicide and why, as well as at what pain levels.  So, Lisa, thank you for putting in writing what so many of us may feel at times. Know that you are not alone with those feelings of despair.

I think that seeing in writing what a person could be feeling at a level 8 or 9 is powerful, because you can then remind yourself you would never do that to yourself, but you would also understand WHY you are feeling those thoughts. Sometimes, that is half the battle.

For family and friends to see this pain comparison chart in writing, and read what it really means to you when you say I am at a level 7 or 8 or whatever - it can express where you are in a way that everyone can understand, and then hopefully they can react accordingly to your level of pain. 

It's one of the most powerful things I have come across on the internet for all people who suffer from any kind of chronic pain or for people who have loved ones who suffer. I hope everyone will take the time to send this pain comparison chart link to their friends and family.

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Permalink Reply by crystalv on December 7, 2011 at 7:01pm

Thanks for posting that.  It's the best pain chart I've seen.

I never use level 9 or 10 because I figured that would be like being burned alive or something.  I was worried that my doctor thought I was in less pain than I am because most people do use 9 and 10.  He said he doesn't compare my pain levels to other people's levels, because he knows it's different for everyone. He compares me to me.

However, I worry that this affects my disability applications, because it appears I'm in less pain if my 5-6 is most people's 7-8.  I'm going to put this pain chart in my files in case I need to use it someday.

What the pain scales don't take into consideration is the frequency of the pain.  My migraines can be more painful than my teeth which hurt 24/7, but even though they are more painful, they are less distressing because they will go away and I'll get a break from the pain.  The 24/7 pain is so distressing because it NEVER goes away and rules my life.

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Permalink Reply by Asmara on December 10, 2011 at 9:32pm

Thanks so much Linda. This is really helpful. 

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Permalink Reply by cris on December 10, 2011 at 10:54pm

yep...like this - very helpful!  thank you Linda!

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Permalink Reply by Phoebe on December 11, 2011 at 6:45am

Too funny.  I just saw this same chart the other day.  I tried to print it out and the printer went haywire :)

I'm printing it from your link now.  Thank you.

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Permalink Reply by booklass on December 27, 2011 at 10:32am

This is really helpful, Linda. It's hard for me to describe the background pain that I have with my TN because it is constant. I now know I can describe it as being at the "tolerable" point. I am printing it out for my visits to my doctor. I hate when they ask me, "On a scale of 1-5........" That means nothing to me. Especially if I am being hit with bolts of pain as in a full blown attack. There's the background pain then the ice pick to the head pain. It's not a simple one to five scale!

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Permalink Reply by Francine in Oakland on January 12, 2012 at 9:56pm

Thanks, this is helpful and I will use it and take to the doctor. I had a bout of cellulitis on my hand a year ago--it blew up like a balloon and got so bad I nearly fainted from it. So I've used that as my "10" and thought 9 makes me scream out, 8 makes me cry, 7 makes me suck in breath and be still, 6 is completely distracting to whatever I do, 5 is strong but endurable, 4 on down were harder to express.

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