Chronic Pain Support Group

Hey, I am new to the group but not new to pain. I have been living with some kind of pain for 35+ years and in 2002 we found out that my daughter Jackie has FMS. The other day Jackie and I were talking and she said to me "Mom you know when the Dr.s ask us to rate our pain on a scale of 1-10 we should ask them if they mean their scale or ours. After living with pain daily our tolerance level is much higher. Our 5 is probably like a 15 to others."

Good to have you hear but sorry your like the rest of us in pain..Your daughter is so right if they had chronic pain the would understand why ours would seem a 15 on a one to ten..I hate those scales because if I say a ten and not setting there screaming which is not me they think I am lieing and if I say and 7 or 8 then I am lieing..So they so frustrate me too..You daugher is right they dont get it..When you live with it all the time 24-7 then you tolerate more than the average person..Nice to meet you and thanks for asking for my friendship..

Hi there, I completely agree. Those living in chronic pain tend to have a better tolerance to it. When I went to the pain clinic they had me see a pain psych for assessment and I had to fill out a freakin' novel of paperwork. After everything he averaged me as living at a baseline of 7/10. I considered my baseline at more of a 4-5 because I'm used to it in a way. I have a link to a pretty good painscale with descriptions of what the levels are. It definitely helps to bring it with you and have the dr read the description. Here's the link:

http://www.tipna.org/info/documents/ ComparativePainScale.htm

However, I still believe that it needs to be extended or different for those with chronic pain. Here is a thread from a different site that people with chronic pain have made pain scales that relate to them:

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=6261

Maybe we can apply some of these to ourselves and print out a copy to show drs.

I agree with all here that the pain scale needs to be changed for chronic pain levels. I remember having acute pain for things such as sugery recovery, etc., and I would rate pain at an 8-9. Now the same amount of pain I would rate at a 4-5. I find a 3 to be comfortable (hey, I consider that a good day), whereas before I would have numbered it a 6 and been absolutely miserable. Funny, isn't it how we learn to live with pain? How its power over us diminishes somewhat. Hmmm....going to think about that. Hugs

I don't post much, but this caught my eye. Hate those scales. My neck is a 10 and never goes lower. Professionals are really bad. When I broke my finge, the triage nurse ased me to rate my pain. Of course it was a 10. She tried to tell me that my finger could not hurt so bad. You should have seen the look on her face when I came out with it double splinted, as the break wa so bad.

Just got back from the ER with my daughter Jackie. She was having another one of her migraines. They did just what I thought they would do "give her an asprin (a Tordol cocktail) and said don't call me in the morning". The Dr.s don't even consider running blood tests when she is having the headaches to see what imbalances she has during them. That would be to easy, they might find out what is really going on and then they would lose a return customer. Maybe I'm a little bitter but I really don't think they care or else they are just lazy. My son-in-law and I are going to try to find an Endocronologist or a Diagnostician to take her to. These migraines are driving her to suicidal thoughts and I will do everything in my power to avoid that happenning again.

Oh poor girl! I hope you can find someone good to take her to soon. Migraines are the worst! ER dr.'s are required to know a 'Little' about everything and are not professional at nothing. So yes, basically it is almost a waste of time to go to them.

Hugs

I am sorry Auriel to hear about your daughter..It is terrible to have a migraine get them myself and I agree ER's seem to be a waste of time and money..They stick a bandaide on it and let you go without another thought..It is like well it is just a headache cant be that bad. Well if they had one themselves then maybe they would understand it better..I hope you can find someone to help her and find out maybe what is triggering them..Yeah when in that much pain it could make anyone feel like taking their own life..So my prayers will be with her and you and her husband that she will get someone to treat her and find out the problem.

Gimpy,

Both of those were good sites and enjoyed reading them..I feel like the last lady who danced on the broken foot then had a different sort of pain later I just want to say it hurts like mad and leave it at that..Hurts like mad should be enough without 1-10 that drives me insane..Thanks for the information.

Mitzi, glad you liked them!