Pain Scale
Took this off Zoe’s Blog some time ago, it’s handy for quickly explaining pain levels on things like twitter, where you’re limited to a certain number of characters. Also handy when you’re actually IN pain and can’t form a coherent sentence. Pain-free is, of course, 0.
- Very minor annoyance – mild aches to some parts of the body. No pain medication needed.
- Minor annoyance – dull aches to some parts of the body. No pain medication needed.
- Annoying enough to be distracting. Over-the-Counter pain relievers (such as Naproxen Sodium, Acetamonophen, or topical treatments such as Absorbine or Arthritis Pain relieving rubs) take care of it.
- Can be ignored if you are really involved in your work, but still distracting. Over-the-Counter pain relievers remove pain for 3-4 hours.
- Can’t be ignored for more than 30 minutes. Over-the-Counter pain relievers help somewhat (bring pain level from 5 to a 3 or 4) with pain for 3-4 hours.
- Can’t be ignored for any length of time, but you can still go to work and participate in social activities. Stronger painkillers (such as Ultram) relieve pain for 3-4 hours.
- Makes it difficult to concentrate, interferes with sleep. You can still function with effort. Stronger painkillers (such as Ultram) are only partially effective. (Stronger pain killers bring pain from a 7 to 4-6.)
- Physical activity severely limited. You can read and converse with effort. Stronger pain killers (such as Ultram) are not effective. (Narcotic pain killers do bring this pain down to a level 3 or lower.)
- Non functional for all practical purposes. Cannot concentrate. Physical activity halted. Panic sets in.(Narcotic Pain killers bring the pain level from 9 to the 4-6 level.)
- Totally non-functional. Unable to speak. Crying our or moaning uncontrollably – near delirium.
I am, unfortunately, almost always on 7 just with my back. Migraines bring it up to 8 occasionally 9. I’ve had 10 once, and I dread experiencing it again.
