The Benefit of the Pain Scale

You’ve probably seen it before: the Pain Scale, a decorated scale with smiley faces in stages from discomfort to happiness, denoting the phase at which a person can describe his or her pain. This seemingly lacking tool is actually very important to patients taking charge of their chronic pain.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we understand that patients sometimes face communication hurdles. Pain often takes the place of emotions that can manipulate the course of treatment. It is with the pain scale, and a series of other effective tools, that our board certified pain specialists are able to target your pain and create both a unique and effective treatment plan. With four locations in Utah, St. George, Richfield, Cedar City, and Logan, Southwest Spine and Pain Center is the leading pain management group in the entire southwest region of the United States.

People feel pain differently; we know that. What may leave you wincing and grasping an injured area could have little effective on someone else. Because of this, your healthcare provider may need time to determine your pain perception to effectively create a treatment plan. Your doctor may use any of these three pain scales to help you be as descriptive as possible:

  1. Visual. The most popular visual scale is the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. Animated faces are used to display different pain intensities. This scale is used more with children or patients who have difficulty verbally communicating their pain.
  2. Verbal. This scale uses terminology such as low, mild, severe. Verbal scales help doctors pinpoint pain intensity and severity.
  3. Numerical. This simple scale coordinates pain with numbers. For example, the number 1 could mean little to no pain and the number 10 could mean the worst possible pain.

The pain scale is really useful for patients and doctors to monitor pain over time. At each appointment, your doctor may ask you to rate your pain. Over time, you will be able to review your progression or regression, giving reason to change treatments to better improve your overall condition.

If you or someone you love suffers from chronic pain, contact Southwest Spine and Pain Center today. Our team of board certified pain specialists and compassionate medical support are here to make your life easier. For more information on the pain scales used at Southwest Spine and Pain, talk to your doctor today.

If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With three locations and growing, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.

©Southwest Spine and Pain Center, 2014

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