The 1 - 10 pain scale is so hard to judge. Anyone else feel this way? It's completely subjective to each person. I exist is a 3 to 4 on a regular basis, which means, it's there but I can function. A 5 to 6 is where I need push myself to get through but it's ok, not ER level. 7 to 8 is where I am needing pain meds and contemplating ER. 9 to 10 is me at ER screaming or crying in pain and hoping there are meds that can help.
Unfortunately, I've realized my own scale is subjective. I remember the last time I was in the hospital and nurse asked me pain level and I said 5, I told it was there but I was functioning. She gave me meds and when she checked later I told her my pain level was about a 5. She asked didn't you get any relief and I realized that the way she and I looked at the pain and the pain scale were different. I was judging it based on my ability to handle it, she wanted me to judge it on its existence but since I exist, like I said, around 3 to 4 on a regular basis, it's hard to say how much worse it is unless it's really bad. If it's not my normal level, but I can push through, it's a 5 to 6 so even if it's better than it was, if it's not my norm, it's in that range.
I don't know if there is a better way to gauge pain from person to person, any ideas?
