Pain on the Richardter Scale

While in hospital you'll be asked "what is your pain level at the moment on a scale of 1-10" and I've heard all manner of my various room mates try to deal with this. One simply didn't, saying it was either negligible (if I was playing soccer, I'd ignore it and play on) or moderate (I'd call for the coach to help but likely end up back in the game) or severe (I'm rolling on the ground with a broken leg, don't come near me unless you're going to lessen it NOW)

I've always looked at this as more of a pain on the Richter Scale as in a logarithmic progression from effectively unnoticeable to "approach subject with extreme caution"

So here is my Richardter's (Richard's) Scale of Pain

1. low enough that I didn't notice, even if I wasn't doing anything distracting, but if you ask me to look, I can tell it is there
2. I probably would notice it if I were not doing anything else, like breathing or having a drink of water.
3. I noticed it while awake and unoccupied at anything other than breathing, drinking water, etc., and dismissed it
4. I noticed it despite being otherwise awake and occupied by something like reading or watching TV or working at computer, but simply note it in passing for dealing with later and get on with what I'm doing. I could fall asleep with this level or less.
5. I notice it while awake and want to deal with it now. I might be able to doze with it but can't truly sleep.
6. I'm made aware of it despite being on the edge of sleep or while drowsily heading for the bathroom, and it wakes me up and I won't even try to return to sleep. Can't focus on a task for very long or ignore it for long.
7. It wakes me up despite deep sleep and must be dealt with soon after relieving my bladder. Focusses me on the pain, nothing else but can still carry on fairly rational conversation about it and maybe even about some other things. Just don't get me to do any creative thinking.
8. It brings me out of near death, must be dealt with before anything else, including my bladder. Mild clinical insanity - don't ask me to make decisions, just help me cope. I'll give you a verbal apology at the time (if you prompt me) for anything I say that is bad and will really try to be good - still mostly in control but don't push me.
9. Full clinical insanity - help me now. I hereby apologize in advance for anything I say or do, but watch out, I'm mean.
10. Approach with extreme caution. I'm not rational in any way and will strike out verbally or physically at anything that comes between me and relief, right up until the shock kicks in and I pass out with low blood pressure - deal with NOW!

I don't know if you can use this - but it works for me.

Last Updated Friday, December 30 2011 @ 03:54 PM PST|195 Hits