I have nerve damage. I had no choice but to rethink my scale so I can accurately convey my new spectrum of pain. Now 10 is passing out from the pain, 9 is light-headedness with tremors and full body chills, etc.
It’s funny explaining to people how my constant droning 5 pain is worse than the sudden 7 I get from moving the wrong way. My 5 is a lot higher than they’d think, and persistent pain with no release is far more maddening than sudden electrical shocks from time to time.
Persistent pain is debilitating. Most senses can be adapted to - your brain stops listening to it. Smells, touch, hot, cold, sounds, lights - all these senses can be adapted to and you stop noticing them after a few minutes.
Pain cannot be ignored. Your brain will never stop listening to it. It’s why it’s so important for people who suffer from chronic pain to be referred to pain management to have someone who can treat it specifically.
Consistency helps, i hope. I try to keep my personal scale the same. I figure if im doing ok at 2 for a couple weeks, then 6 will mean a big jump. Regardless of what a 2 or 6 really means.
I have nerve damage. I had no choice but to rethink my scale so I can accurately convey my new spectrum of pain. Now 10 is passing out from the pain, 9 is light-headedness with tremors and full body chills, etc.
This is how I pitch it to all my patients - 0 is no pain and 10 is incapacitated.
So 0 is full HP and 10 is down and actively making death saving throws every turn. Got it.
It’s funny explaining to people how my constant droning 5 pain is worse than the sudden 7 I get from moving the wrong way. My 5 is a lot higher than they’d think, and persistent pain with no release is far more maddening than sudden electrical shocks from time to time.
Persistent pain is debilitating. Most senses can be adapted to - your brain stops listening to it. Smells, touch, hot, cold, sounds, lights - all these senses can be adapted to and you stop noticing them after a few minutes.
Pain cannot be ignored. Your brain will never stop listening to it. It’s why it’s so important for people who suffer from chronic pain to be referred to pain management to have someone who can treat it specifically.
Consistency helps, i hope. I try to keep my personal scale the same. I figure if im doing ok at 2 for a couple weeks, then 6 will mean a big jump. Regardless of what a 2 or 6 really means.