Mx. Aria Stewart3d ago

Periodic reminder that “rate your pain on a scale from 1 to 10" is bullshit without reference points. People with chronic pain, tough guys, people with intense periods, and people who struggle with interoception all struggle when the endpoints are nebulous.

Let me introduce you to the DVPRS: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTHLIBRARY/docs/Defense-and-Veterans-Pain-Rating-Scale.pdf

It even works if you substitute pain for general impact. If you're asked to rate a symptom on a scale from 1 to 10, this works too.

0 = No pain
1 = Hardly notice pain
2 = Notice pain, does not interfere with activities
3 = Sometimes distracts me
4 = Distracts me, can do usual activities
5 = Interrupts some activities
6 = Hardto ignore, avoid usual activities
7 = Focus of attention, prevents doing daily activities
8 = Awful, hard to do anything
9 = Can’t bear the pain, unable to do anything
10 = As bad as it could be, nothing else matters

10 is still pretty subjective there, but "nothing else matters" is clear enough, and really 9 or 10 isn't really a big difference in how much it matters clinically. (It tells the clinician if an intervention helps though)

Show threadCassey Lottman3d ago
@aredridel I was recently asked (by an insurance provider, adding insult to injury) to rate how each of several symptoms have been recently on a scale of 1 to “the worst it’s ever been”. They asked no further questions about say, how bad each symptom has been for me in the past, or how it affects me now or how much my supposed level 10 may have affected me…
Show threadMx. Aria Stewart3d ago
@cassey Or even if 10 is "the worst it's ever been", just implying the scale goes to ten. So much bullshit in all of this, especially for the literal-minded. (I really really REALLY like the DVPRS despite it being such a small tweak on the usual presentation)
Show threadStephen Bannasch (316 ppm)2d ago

@aredridel @cassey

I like this scale … and I’m a very literal person and know I need to adapt. I once had bad kidney stones, drove myself to the ER and it provably was an 8. Maybe a large bad burn once might have been a 9.

Many years ago I broke my two front teeth and my parents took me to an emergency dentist.

1/2

Show threadStephen Bannasch (316 ppm)2d ago

@aredridel @cassey

After inspecting my teeth, without any anesthesia, and without telling me he pulled the dangling nerve roots out. That was orders of magnitude more painful than anything I’ve ever experienced.

It took me much longer it should have for my very literal self to realize that it didn’t represent a “10” — that truly it was off the scale! Realizing the scale is for communicating to medical folks helped.

2/2

Show threadSomeVeganCheeseIsOk2d ago

@stepheneb Jesus fucking wept. I should have taken your hiding the text more seriously. Holy shit.

I won't reply with what a dentist once did to me but it was not as bad as what was done to you.

Jesus wept. Dude.

If anyone looks at this PLEASE understand that you should be wary of uncovering *that* hidden text.

Show threadStephen Bannasch (316 ppm)2d ago

@SomeVeganCheeseIsOk

It was incomprehensible … and when he stopped the pain was gone, there was no refractory period. I have absolutely no way to understand the experience. I don’t remember what I said to him.

Show threadStephen Bannasch (316 ppm)

@SomeVeganCheeseIsOk

Reflecting on my post.

I should have added a more clear textual warning in the content of the first post and added the warning gate to just the second post.

I apologize for not making it easier for you to make a more informed choice.

I don’t feel traumatized but I should be more careful. Most of the things I share are sweet or fun.

May 11 at 1:40amWeb
Show threadSomeVeganCheeseIsOk2d ago

@stepheneb no man you warned us!!! It's just that a lot of people use warnings for less grievous things.

I am sorry that happened to you.