Using a Pain Rating Scale*
At some point, everyone experiences pain.
You may have pain now, or you may experience
pain in the future as a result of disease,
injury, surgery, or a medical procedure. It's
important to know that most pain can be
controlled, and that unrelieved pain can
lead to problems such as loss of function,
sleep problems, and depression. Everyone
has the right to have their pain assessed
and treated, and your doctor, nurse, or
pharmacist will work with you to assure
your pain is prevented or relieved.
When you feel pain, will you be able to
describe it to your doctor or nurse? Is there
a way to communicate exactly what you're
feeling so they will understand?
The Pain Rating Scale
What is it?
A pain rating scale is a helpful tool you can
use to describe how much pain you are
feeling and to measure how well treatments
are relieving your pain.
How to Use a Pain Rating Scale
- Get acquainted with it. Look at the figure below. On a scale of 0-to-10, zero means "no pain," and 10 means "the worst possible pain." The middle of the scale (around five) describes "moderate pain." A two or three rating would be "mild pain"; a rating of seven or higher is "severe pain."
- Understand what the word "pain" means. Pain includes many types of discomfort and can occur anywhere in your body. It can feel like a dull ache, or it can be severe and unbearable. Pain can include pulling, tightness, cramping, burning, stabbing, or other unpleasant sensations.
- Practice using the scale. Do you have pain now? If not, think about pain you've had in the past. Look at the pain rating scale and answer these questions:
- On a scale of 0-to-10, what is the usual amount of this pain?
- On a scale of 0-to-10, what is the pain at its worst?
(Your answer to Question B should be
higher than your answer to Question A.)
If you have questions on how to use this
scale, be sure to ask your doctor or nurse
for help.
Adapted from McCaffery M, Pasero C. Pain: Clinical Manual, 2nd ed., 1999: Mosby, Inc.
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* Developed by Margo McCaffery, RN, MS, FAAN, and Chris Pasero, RN, MS, authors of Pain: Clinical Manual (2nd ed. Mosby; 1999). Edited by Russell K. Portenoy, MD.
When Will I Use a Pain Rating Scale?
Your doctor or nurse will ask you to rate
your pain on a regular basis. You may be
asked to rate your pain once a day or as
often as every hour.
If Pain Interferes With
Your Daily Activities:
- Tell your doctor or nurse. They
may not know you have pain unless
you alert them. Plan with them how
to communicate about the pain and
its treatment.
-
Write down what (if anything) may
have caused your pain or made it
worse, such as bending to pick up a
newspaper or getting in or out of a car.
- Rate your pain before and after you
take your pain medication. By doing
this, you can help your doctor know
whether or not your medication is
working.
Example: Mr. Jones rates his pain as a six. He takes his pain medication, and one hour later he rates his pain as a two. His pain medication worked, because his rating fell from six, which is moderate pain, to two, which is mild pain.
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Setting Goals
for Pain Control
Why Do I Need Pain Relief?
Many people think they should "tough
it out" with pain. But research has shown
that unrelieved pain can be harmful to
you. Pain can make it hard to do things
like getting out of bed or walking. Pain
can also stop you from getting a good
night's sleep or from going to work.
How Do I Set Goals for Pain Control?
In order to perform your day-to-day
activities, you need to set a goal for pain
control. This goal should be a rating that
allows you to continue your important
activities easily. To help set your goal,
answer the following questions:
1. What activities do I need to do?
For example, if you have surgery, you will
probably need to cough and breathe deeply
after the operation to prevent complications.
Or, if you have chronic pain, you may need
enough pain relief to be able to drive, work,
or shop.
2. What rating will make it easier for me to do these activities?
Everyone is different. Many people need a pain rating of three or less to be able to function without problems. Studies show that ratings of four or higher make it difficult for patients to carry out daily activities.
You may prefer to use the Faces Pain Rating Scale on the following page instead of the 0-to-10 Numeric Scale.
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How to Use the Faces
Pain Rating Scale
Each face on this scale shows a different
amount of pain. Look at each of the faces.
The first face on the left of the scale is
smiling because it feels no pain or hurt.
The last face on the right of the scale is
crying because it feels the worst hurt or
pain, but you don't have to be crying to
rate your pain a 10.
You can tell your doctor or nurse about
your pain by pointing to the face that
shows how much you hurt.
Don't Be Afraid to
Talk About Your Pain
It is very important to talk with your
doctor, nurse, or pharmacist honestly and
openly about your pain, so that you can
receive the proper treatment.
If you still have questions about pain or how to manage it, talk to your doctor or nurse. He or she will answer your questions and work with you to find the treatment that will be best for your pain.
Faces Pain Rating Scale
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