Have you ever been to regular doctos' office after an injury or recovery frm an operation and yu are asked what is your pain level from a scale of 1 to 10?

Of course the 1st thing that comes to mind s the KIP Scale. I reserve 10 for CH's and only CH's when at full attack by the beast.

Unfortunately I am accident prone my entire life, and have suffered lots of pain in my life with injuries, and of course 37 years of ECH's.

Most recent injuries including achilles tendon complete tear requiring surgery, and another with a fall requiring removal of tailbone and spine fusion is in my near future.

When I am asked to rate my pain on their 1 to 10 scale, and I am in legit pain that every second is consumed by the excruciating pain/lack of mobility/etc most would I assume say a 10. However, I never go more than 9...reason being CH's have an unfortunate special 10 rating.

The worst part is the medical staff response when they hear 9, translates to them that it's not the worst, and often notice I have been dismissed on my pain as if it really isn't that bad or the patient would rate pain as a 10. Their pain scale is worthless!

Anybody ever experience this question to rate your pain 1 to 10 beyond CH's? What are your thoughts as to my 10 logic being specifically for CH's? Are you the same way? How do you actually compare?

Unfortunately, the beast has a special place and it is a 10 that no other pain compares.

-Gregg in Las Vegas

Hey Gregg...been there. Broke my hip once...in the ER was asked the pain question. It hurt like a
BITCH but nowhere near a bad ch hit...I told the doc "2". He walked away to sign the discharge
papers because obviously it aint broke (xray was fine). Fortunately he asked a couple more questions to be sure...and didn't like the answers...sent me for a cat scan. It WAS broke...and if I had of walked out
would have permanently injured myself..good doc...and I AM a blessed and lucky man....

After that...when asked pain level other than ch.....I double it and add 2...

Best

Jon

I reckon it's a stupid question because regardless your answer the questioner will simply compare it to their own pain experience and that's your lot.

When I'm asked it I simply forget about CH, which they don't understand anyway, and compare my current pain status to other physical problems I've had in the past.

If they were serious their question would be along the lines, "Think back to the absolute worst toothache you've ever had. Now, how does this current pain compare to that?"

Thank for your feedback Jon and Brian, both your replies are helpful for me; and would imagine will be helpful for future readers.

Well then I guess I am legit 10. I do not recommend a pain in the ass operation called Coccygectomy. Today is day 10 post-op and fells worse than before surgery, so I will take Jon's advise and +2  ;)

-Gregg in Las Vegas

Geez G....I SO feel for you...just remembered a high school football injury (got some weak recall
action going on...so need a poke)...bruised...JUST bruised tailbone. Couldn't sit, stand, sleep, walk, move, without MAJOR butt-hurt. Never played that game again...

Take a hammer to doc appts....have 'em put their thumb on table...whack it... JUST once...they'll
figure out what chu talkin bout.......

All my vibes yur way.............

Best

Jon

Sorry you had to experience that one Jon, good it's not your present and is as you describe weak memory, right?

Yes it is very similar to a slam of a hammer and then in constant mode like a vicegrip with no break. Mass quantity of pain pills, jacuzzi, sitting with orthopaedic cushion, switching butt cheek to butt cheek, sleeping in fetal position, yeah no fun. +2 I will use that, thanks ;)

-Gregg in Las Vegas

Hey Greg

Sorry you are going through this different pain

I broke my tailbone along time ago doing a back flip off a trampoline. I went around a bit to far. I didn't knew I broke it till I injured my back some years later.  My back surgeon seen it on the Mir or cat scan, I don't remember which.

Anyways, I need to look at the pictures on the pain scale at the doctors office and put my mind in a normal persons head, one that does not get CH's, and then tell them what the pain is. Otherwise it would be like Jon said a two. I've had two back surgeries and take morphine for my pain and if I compared a cluster to my back pain my back pain would be a one. my first back surgery, never took a pain pill. My ankle fusion, never took a pain pill. There is no pain that can compare to a cluster.

All of us  that deal with this pain, in my opinion, are the strongest people on this planet.

Ilndguy

When I'm asked I don't consider CH.  I make comparisons only to the worst "other pain" I've ever had - which believe it or not was a stiff neck.  Stiff neck doesn't really describe it though - it was truly a 10 on the "ordinary" pain scale.

When asked my answer will depend on if it's a doctor that I know is familiar with my CH and my levels of pain tolerance. If they know me, I'll give them two answers, one on the CH pain scale and one on a "normal" pain scale. Otherwise I'll simply ignore the CH pain scale as it just confuses things.

I've also noticed how confused most doctors get when you don't need / want pain medication for what most people will be demanding it for. A few months ago I had a specialist confused as he'd seen the x-rays / CT / MRI scans of my foot and I should have been experiencing far more pain that I seemed to have, until I explained about CH.

The whole point of the pain scale question is for the person asking to get an idea of how tolerable the current pain level is and to use it for either a simple diagnostic test or for triage.

When asked about my pain level for the day, I don't include CH pain, because that's different. Here are a few pain scales.

Here is the one we see the most:

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Here is the one I saw at the PT office:

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This one was posted on the board many years ago:

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Pain is subjective and relative. You may feel bad one day, then have a really bad day, so your scale gets adjusted. What you may have called an 8 in the past is now a 7, or maybe a 6 because you just experienced more pain than that. When other people are asking if you are ok, and the lines on your face are showing, the doc's and nurses can also tell. With chronic pain, you get used to it, and can deal with higher levels of pain easier than someone who doesn't have chronic pain. I can't believe I just said that, but it's true.

CH is so different that I don't consider physical pain at all when asked for my pain level. It's on a much higher plane of existence. If I'm getting hit, and am asked, my response is gonna be a high number, between 8 and 10. And that is way past the 0-10 conventional scale.