A 10 on the pain scale represents the most severe or worst pain you have ever experienced.
Pain is a symptom of many conditions, and its intensity and duration vary by illness. The perception of pain also varies from person to person. What may be tolerable for one person may be unbearable for another.
Although there is no accurate way to measure pain, pain scales can help doctors assess the severity or intensity of pain in a particular person. Pain scales can also help doctors diagnose a condition, track its progression and decide on a treatment plan.
What are the most common pain scales?
The most common pain scales include:
- Numerical rating scales (NRS)
- Visual analog scales (VAS)
- Wong-Baker FACES pain scale
Numerical rating scales
Numerical rating scales use numbers to rate pain and are used in people 9 years of age and older.
You are asked to verbally rate your pain from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating the most severe pain possible.
Visual analog scales
Visual analog scales use a 10-centimeter-long horizontal line on a piece of paper. One end says “no pain,” whereas the other end says “pain as bad as it could possibly be” or “the worst imaginable pain.”
You are asked to mark a place on the scale that corresponds with your level of pain. Your doctor will then measure the distance with a ruler to determine the pain score.
Wong-Baker FACES pain scale
The Wong-Baker FACES pain scale places pictures against numbers in order of increasing intensity of pain and is typically used for children over the age of 3.
This scale contains six faces, beginning with a happy face and gradually transitioning to an extremely unhappy face. Each face is assigned a number in ascending order from 0 to 10. A child can then point to the face that best conveys how severe their pain is.
How to describe pain type to your doctor
You will need to explain to your doctor what type of pain you are experiencing. It may fall under any of the categories below:
- Stabbing pain
- Throbbing pain
- Burning pain
- Shooting pain
- Dull ache
Moreover, you should discuss with your doctor whether your pain changes throughout the day (what time of day it is at its worst) and what worsens or lessens it. This can help your doctor arrive at a conclusion as to what is causing your pain.
How to know if your pain is acute or chronic
Aside from checking the intensity of your pain, your doctor will want to determine whether your pain is acute or chronic.
- Acute pain: Acute pain begins suddenly and is temporary, subsiding after a few minutes or after several weeks.
- Chronic pain: Chronic pain is associated with long-term illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy and others. It may never subside or take years to subside. Pain may go away, come back and then go away after some time, which is common with chronic pain.
You may have chronic pain that is interspersed with acute pain. Describing the duration of your pain will help your doctor diagnose your illness and determine the most appropriate treatment plan for you.
QUESTION
Medically speaking, the term "myalgia" refers to what type of pain? See AnswerHaefeli M, Elfering A. Pain assessment. Eur Spine J. 2006;15 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S17-S24.
Top What Is a 10 on the Pain Scale? Related Articles
Chest Pain
Chest pain is a common complaint by a patient in the ER. Causes of chest pain include broken or bruised ribs, pleurisy, pneumothorax, shingles, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, angina, heart attack, costochondritis, pericarditis, aorta or aortic dissection, and reflux esophagitis.
Diagnosis and treatment of chest pain depends upon the cause and clinical presentation of the patient's chest pain.
Chest Pain or Heart Attack Quiz
What causes chest pain? If you have chest pain, does it mean you're having a heart attack? Take the quiz to learn what diseases and conditions may be responsible for pain in your chest.
How Do You Treat Saphenous Nerve Pain?
Saphenous nerve block is a type of anesthetic procedure that blocks the saphenous nerve, a pure sensory nerve of the leg, to anesthetize the lower extremity. This kills the pain during surgery for various conditions, but other longer-lasting treatments are used for chronic pain in the saphenous nerve.
Lower Back Pain (Lumbar Spine Pain)
There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis, and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
Muscle Pain (Myofascial Pain Syndrome)
Muscle pain (myofascial pain syndrome) is muscle pain in the body's soft tissues due to injury or strain. Symptoms include muscle pain with tender points and fatigue. Treatment usually involves physical therapy, massage therapy, or trigger point injection.
Neck Pain (Cervical Pain)
Neck pain (cervical pain, cervicalgia) may be caused by any number of disorders and diseases. Tenderness is another symptom of neck pain. Though treatment for neck pain really depends upon the cause, treatment typically may involve heat/ice application, traction, physical therapy, cortisone injection, topical anesthetic creams, and muscle relaxants.
Nerve Pain Slideshow
Learn about nerve pain symptoms, causes, and treatment options. Discover medications and natural remedies to relieve nerve pain.
Neuropathic Pain (Nerve Pain)
Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition that leads to ongoing pain symptoms. Patients can be predisposed to developing neuropathic pain who have conditions such as diabetes, cancer, stroke, HIV, vitamin deficiencies, shingles, and multiple sclerosis. Patient history and nerve testing are used to diagnose neuropathic pain. Antidepressants, antiseizure medications, and other types of medications are used to treat neuropathic pain. Many people with neuropathic pain are able to attain some level of relief.
Pain Management
Pain management and treatment can be simple or complex, according to its cause. There are two basic types of pain, nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. Some causes of neuropathic pain include:- complex regional pain syndrome,
- interstitial cystitis,
- and irritable bowel syndrome.
Pain Quiz
Is pain all in the brain? Take the Pain Quiz to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about the unpleasant sensation we call pain.
Pain Management: Signs Your Muscle Pain Is Something Else
Could your achy muscles be a sign of more than a tough workout? Learn when a twinge might warrant a visit to the doctor's office.
Pain Management: Surprising Causes of Pain
What's causing your pain? Learn the common causes of lower back pain, as well as pain in the knee, stomach, kidney, shoulder, chest, gallbladder, heel, sciatic nerve, neck, hip, foot and other parts of the body. Find pain management tips that work to help lower pain triggers, as well as other pain treatments.
15 Ways to Reduce Pain
Chronic pain can be a symptom of many conditions, including arthritis, headaches, and others. Comprehensive chronic pain management therapy may include physical therapy, lifestyle strategies such as exercise, diet changes, meditation, journaling, medications, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco use. Make helpful changes to manage your chronic condition.
Stomach Pain: Causes, Types and Prevention
Sometimes, you may have pain/discomfort in a particular part of your belly or all over the belly for a short or long period of time. Stomach pain may result from a variety of conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies, constipation, stomach flu, gallstones, kidney stones and a variety of other conditions.
Tummy Trouble Quiz
Tummy Troubles? Get a better idea of what's causing the nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, pain, and other gastrointestinal discomforts and problems. Take the Tummy Troubles Quiz!
What Is the Most Common Treatment for Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is long-lasting and persistent and lasts for months or years. The most common treatments for chronic pain are NSAIDs, acetaminophen, COX-2 inhibitors, antidepressants and anti-seizure medicines, and opioids.
When Should I Be Concerned About Leg Pain?
Leg pain may occur as a result of conditions that affect bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, nerves, or skin of the leg. Leg pain can affect the foot, ankle, knee, thigh, or in any part of the leg.