Pain scale system

[knee deep in Goo]

0-1 No pain
2-3 Mild pain
4-5 Discomforting - moderate pain
6-7 Distressing - severe pain
8-9 Intense - very severe pain
10 Unbearable pain"

[knee deep in Goo]

http://web.tampabay.rr.com/lymecfs/pain.htm   

This is a pretty good website that is a good read for people who are learning about this pain scale system.   Its weird to hear that it even exists.. when you are new to pain.

[KatieO]

That was actually, after all these years, the first time I have seen that written out clearly. I knew what zero meant, and 10, but that was a lot clearer about what comes in between. Now I feel like I can even answer that question, and even will put it on my information pages that I hand to Dr. Fulkerson. I can say that I am rarely if ever 3 or less, quite firmly somewhere in the 4 to 6, often hanging out at 6 (like now). Yuck!
KatieO

[knee deep in Goo]

 

There is another website put out by styker  knee replacement..

They  have a pain management area  that asks you to rate you pain by doing daily activites.

Sitting.
Getting out of bed
Bending
Ect..

However  never had time to go to the web site daily to rate all these items on a daily basis.

Also when I sent away for TKR detail..  zimmer sent a nifty jar opener.. thingy thing....   Free stuff is always nice.

[KatieO]

I have seen different scales, asking how much pain impacted certain things. I find that much more illuminating.
But nothing as good as a free thingie opener! I sent off for free stuff from Oil of Olay the other day. Yay for free stuff. Enough of all this damn pain!!!
Katie

[stgiles16]

The thing that irritates me the most about this pain scale is that when the doctor asks what your pain is like, you have usually been sitting still for a couple of hours and it has decreased from what it normally is.   My pain levels change pretty dramatically some days and I feel like a fraud when everytime that I see the OS , my pain is about a 3 when with any activity, it shoots up to a good 5 or so. I would prefer for them to ask my pain  levels during specific activities, then they could get a better picture of what our normal days are like.

missy

[KatieO]

Ohmygod! Missy! You have so hit the nail on the head!  Thank you sooo much for naming that. I have had these exact feelings (do i sound excited?) but never was able to verbalize them like you did. That is exactly right. I have been sitting there, waiting, icing in the car. I am stiff and sore but nothing like in a normal day. They are always so specific: what is your pain like in this moment? That is the wrong question! I am so pumped for seeing Dr. Fulkerson. I am getting so much clearer in how to address him.
Thank you Missy!!!!!
Katie

[Nettan]

A good thing is to rate not only after activities you have done, also what time on day it is and if there's swelling or anything else. So a diary with pain scale in you can say.
It's like when you are trying new shoes..you should always try later on the day as the feet swell.

HUGS NETTAN 

[KatieO]

So you don't think it would be effective and informational to just whine and say MY KNEE HURTS?
Katie

[Nettan]

Haha...but even better to show when you have pain and not

[KatieO]

Do you want me to be logical? Even sensible??

[Nettan]

You need to tell exactly how you have it..and leaving a diary like this can be helpful. I know myself that it's sometimes hard to describe when the doc ask cause you are thinking about so much when you finally are there.

[sharon74]

My whole problem with the scales is what is a 6 to me is most likely an 8 or 9 with someone else.  So, how is this supposed to help me???  Luckily for me I have been going to my OS for over 16 years so he knows when I show up there is a problem.  My scale goes more like this:

0-2 - barely feel anything
3-5 - irritating
6-7 - I am saying OUCH
8 - wimpering
9 - crying
10 - cussing out loud
 

[knee deep in Goo]

0-2 - I wouldnt know there is a pain scale system for this type of pain.. 
3-5 - Gardening too much
6-7 - working threw the pain and its bad.. oh boy its bad..
8 - Making those eh eh eh sounds .. just to stand up.
9 - crying and holding temper trantrums
10 -physco calling doctor..   ( Now bare in mind .. Tooth pain has sent me to this place once or twice..  and well once before operation I had to panic call doctor with intense pain with my tear filpping over. )

[sharon74]

Hey Knee - you sound alot like me on your scale