Pain Free (0)
I have NO pain-free moments when I am awake! When I am soundly asleep, I do not perceive pain; but the moment I wake up, the pain is there.
Minor Pain (1-3)
“Nagging, annoying, but doesn’t interfere with most daily living activities. Patient able to adapt to pain psychologically and with medication or devices such as cushions.”
These are low-impact activities, may or may not be medicated. Pain is caused by any activity that requires me to turn my head.
- Getting into or out of bed.
- Using the toilet, washing hands
- Getting dressed or undressed
- Pouring and serving coffee
- Taking my medications
- Sitting in church or a movie or concert (as long as I don’t have to turn my head)
- Walking (every step that jars my body causes neck pain)
- Playing with the dog
- Riding in the car (I use a neck pillow)
- Eating a meal (I have to hold the plate under my face)
- Going to the mailbox, sorting mail, shredding
- Bringing trash cans back in from the curb
- Surfing the internet/Facebook
- Blogging
- Watching TV
- Taking a shower, washing my hair
- Brushing my teeth
Moderate Pain (4-6)
“Interferes significantly with daily living activities. Requires lifestyle changes but patient remains independent. Patient unable to adapt pain.”
This are high-impact activities when I am medicated. Without medication, many of these activities would move up to Level 7 or 8.
- Cooking a meal
- Baking
- Trying out a new recipe
- Shopping
- Loading groceries into car
- Carrying groceries in from car
- Putting away groceries
- Sorting, washing, and drying laundry
- Folding and putting away laundry
- Unloading dishwasher, putting away dishes
- Rinsing dishes, loading dishwasher, wiping counters and stove
- Hand washing pots and pans
- Any exercise routine
- Walking while carrying something heavy
- Web client work
- Personal finances, online banking, filing documents
- Completing tax returns
- Sweeping
- Mopping floors
- Dusting
- Vacuuming
- Cleaning toilet
- Cleaning bathroom vanity
- Scrubbing bathtub or shower
- Gathering trash, compost, and recycling and taking cans out to the curb
Severe Pain (7-10)
“Disabling; unable to perform daily living activities. Unable to engage in normal activities. Patient is disabled and unable to function independently.”
Most of the activities under Moderate Pain when medicated would become Severe Pain (7-8) if unmedicated.
I reserve Levels 9-10 for gallstones, kidney stones, unmedicated migraines, and childbirth.
Just for the record, there is NO such thing as 11+ on a scale from 0 to 10. Because 10 is the highest you can go! If you ever experience pain so bad that’s it’s worse than any pain you have previously experienced, then THAT level is #10 for YOU. You have just reset the pain scale for yourself. You can tell *us* that your pain is 11+ and we know what you mean, but don’t ever say that to your health care professional. They will be silently raising their eyebrows and may not give you much credibility from that moment on.
Things I Can No Longer Do Because of My Pain
Sunday, February 11, 2018, 7:46 PM
- Drive
- Use blow dryer on my hair
- Put on make-up
- Plan events
- Make commitments for events
