Pain affects everyone differently. Above is a scale most hospitals and doctors use to help you define what you are feeling so they know the best way to treat you.
0-1: Very little or barely noticeable pain. You go about your normal activities with no thought to it at all.
2-3: Pain is present, but you may have to stop and think about it to really tell if it is there or gone. You seem just fairly comfortable.
4-5: You now notice your pain, perhaps at rest or during activity. It may interfere with your activities. You will probably take something at this level.
6-7: Your pain is distracting you, but you may be able to focus on something else rather than the pain for a short period of time. You may be "gritting your teeth" to carry out activities.
8-9: Your pain may be severe enough that it makes you stop in the middle of an activity, or not be able to complete it at all. It is difficult to think of anything else but your pain at this level. You may be uncomfortable even during rest or quiet times.
10: Your pain is now the worst you can imagine.
Pain is different for everyone. What is painful to one might be a pesky annoyance to another. What is important to remember about pain is to treat it before it reaches the level 10.
This surgery has been averaging per minute between a 4 and 10. At 10 I am reduced to tears. I sleep in spurts and try not to move at all because any movement wakes me up with instant shooting sharp stabbing pain I call zingers (the 10 level).
My way of coping? Work. It distracts me enough between the zingers.
