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PondWater

Updated 10mo ago

Understanding the 1-10 Pain Scale

To all my chronic pain peeps, thoughts on the 1-10 pain scale? it doesn’t make much sense to me and i don’t think i’m accurately describing what i feel. maybe i’m just overcomplicating it, but i usually end up picking 4-6 regardless because that’s my average. i think because my “good days” have more of a constant ache (like after working out too hard) it makes it hard to rank things. the scales that rank different pains (bee sting-child birth) are better, but are you supposed to measure by the initial pain, the average, or the duration? if anyone has some insight that would be greatly appreciated lol

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UnluckyUnicorn

2y

I think it shouldn’t be used for chronic pain patients. It’s assuming you get “no pain”days but when you have chronic pain, that doesn’t work. A normal day doesn’t rest at 0 for us which means this scale doesn’t fit. Does that make sense? I don’t know what would replace it but I think there should be something specific for chronic pain patients
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PondWater

2y

AGREED. you put that perfectly. there are no natural 0s for some chronic pain folk so it makes it so much harder
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Rosie_Posey

2y

I’ve seen a modified scale- I wish I could add a pic here. But it’s 10- cannot function 5- enough pain to be restricting 1- can function, pain is not on my mind type of scale. I like that theory of it best. It puts me around a 6 most days and I feel more comfortable with that being my baseline
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Criket

2y

I've applied words instead of numbers. Most days are uncomfortable but background noise. Medium days? Grumpy and noticeable, irritated and loud. Bad days? It's a f*ck you kind of day. It is loud and all I can focus on. An understanding physical therapist helped me come up with it. How's this motion? It hates you and wishes you would die. Oh! So we shouldn't do that. Got it. What about this? Grumpy but doable. And then it changes slightly with who I'm talking to, depending on our relationship and how much they understand
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OuchiePrincess

2y

A more helpful metaphor I’ve been using to describe it to people unfamiliar, and even to my doctors is a house on fire. The conditions most pressing are often the ones that have been “on fire” for the longest amount of time. But some are more important because of how closely they impact your functioning- ie if your house is on fire, don’t worry about what’s in the closets, is the front door still functional? Does this pain make it so I cannot walk (front door collapsed in) or is it walkable but with some pain? (Smokey but functional?) As a spoonie I sit at a 6/10 on a good day. And a bad day is 8/10 and up. The margin for error is so small… this scale doesn’t leave much room for improvement for folks with chronic pain.
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Miffy

2y

I hard agree. I can go into the ER saying I’m at an 8 and they think I’m crazy, but it’s manageable because me base is a four. It just doesn’t work for chronically ill people
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Jewels18

2y

I can’t stand the rate your pain on a scale of 1-10!! So nice to know I’m alone in the confusion and animosity with this scale. Like you I also just usually say between a 4-6 but I too feel it’s wrong. Reading these comments helped a lot!
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ThatRAchic

2y

Perdue Pharma created that chart when they were selling OxyContin, in order to push MORE oxy on their patients. For some reason the health care system never stopped using it. It’s really not a medically valid scale.
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Lights

2y

I couldn't agree more lol. it's one of the most useless things, and it really complicates my doctors understanding of my wellbeing
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nugget625

2y

I use it with my Dr just because we both know what it is.
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Sexylady

2y

I would say Im at an 11 everyday.

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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