How to rate pain??

• By rudownwithjc
• Reply 3383978
• September 17, 2012 at 8:17 pm
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Here is the pain scale I have been told to use. I tried to find one with facial expressions with it, but most of those only go to 5 so it didn't really figure into how we rate our pain here in the US.

http://www.tipna.org/info/documents/ComparativePainScale.htm

• By rudownwithjc
• Reply 3384043
• September 17, 2012 at 8:42 pm
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If it helps more at my drs. and hospital number 8 is you are crying and usually my pain level on bad days peaks around 6-7 as I am not crying but it is written all over my face and my pain level is considered moderate to almost severe. The drs. and nurses who see me regularly can tell my looking at my face what kind of pain day I am having. In fact we have a joke between my Cardiolgist and PCP that 2 years after this Thanksgiving I had Triple Bypass and then 3 months later I had to have my gallbladder out, well after the surgery they had put me on a demoral pain pump, but both my Cardiologist and PCP both looked at me and said I think this is the best I have seen you look in a long, long time...and then they took away my pain pump!!!! How WUDE!!!! ROFL

Anyway hope you start feeling better soon!!!

Best wishes,

Cindy

• By jkstan1963
• Reply 3384424
• September 17, 2012 at 11:13 pm
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Thanks Cindy. Both of your posts helped. It seems odd I don't know how to accurately described my pain. All I know is when I get the pains it worries me but I can't bring myself to call the doctor or go to the ER and get checked out. I tell myself it must not be THAT bad. Thanks

• By yarnkitty
• Reply 3385245
• September 18, 2012 at 9:41 am
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The pain scale is completely subjective. I tell my patients to just say the first number that comes to them. The value in the pain scale is having a way to quantify your experience and help you compare different episodes of the effectiveness of treatment. It is not valuable as a guide to when a person should take a medicine. As far as your chest pain, you should take your nitro when ever you feel it. You can head off bigger episodes by treating at the first indication of angina.

Let me address what these doctors are telling you. You absolutely CAN have heart related pain that comes and goes. That is called angina. When you have angina, you need to rest and take your nitro. Sometimes it will stop with with rest alone. Triggers may include exercise or exertion, strong emotions, worry or anxiety, fatigue. Also vasoconstrictors like caffeine may trigger angina. Before I switched to half-caf I would get "second cup of coffee" chest pain.

I think when they say the pain will be constant, they are referring to having an acute event such as a heart attack. That is called unstable angina and requires emergent treatment. Some cardiologists fail to address the every day angina pain people have because they get so focused on acute coronary syndrome. This is irresponsible and does a real disservice to their patients. Personally I always found the "don't worry about it" advice insulting to my intelligence and usually uttered by a doctor who did not care to treat my ongoing unfixable condition. Try seeing a cardiologist who does not do interventions (stents) they tend to be more focussed on chronic care than interventionalists.

Also, you probably want to stay away from small town cardiologists and go to someone in a big city. They tend to be more up to date.

• By jkstan1963
• Reply 3387279 · In reply to 3385245 by yarnkitty
• September 18, 2012 at 11:05 pm
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Thank you Yarnkitty. You gave a lot to think about. It makes sense what you said. I appreciate your help. k

• By ELLIEKF
• Reply 3389786
• September 19, 2012 at 7:18 pm
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Hi Everyone, im new to this site..........and from England :) After having severe chest pain 2 yrs ago i was taken into hospital where they proceded to do all the usual test for heart related issues, first the stress test, which i never really got told if it was ok or not, then had to have CT scan where they found SLIGHT plaque build up in LEFT ANTERIER ARTERY, then putting me forward for an angiogram ( which i put off going 4 times, due to me being slightly scared) anyway eventually went Feb this year 2012, wasnt the most pleasent procedure, and had trainee radiologist do procedure. After it was done i had to lay flat for an hour ( no pressure on cath site ) as had angio seal, ( all done through groin area (right side) and after an hour i could go home,..........told to rest up for a couple days................BUT on that evening whilst in bed rolled over onto my right side and the pain horrific ( worse that child birth) my BP dropped and i collapsed, my groin area was swollen to size of golf ball, my partner rang an ambulance and i was taken into hospital, they didnt do much just routine bloods etc, and then allowed to go home, 2 days after this happend i ended up with a Hematoma from my groin area across pubic bone down right thigh to back of my leg , i could not move at all had severe pain in my leg, went for 2 ultra scans and was told to rest, it took 3 mths for the bruising to go............................................Now 7 months later i still have weird pains in my groin area..................my diagnosis was my heart is fine thank goodness, no stenting but was told i had coronary heart spasms due to stress, and i smoke ( not GOOD) ..........................SINCE I WENT FOR ALL THIS PROCEDURE I SERIOUSLY have not felt right, i worry constanly as to wether they have the diagnosis correct, i am also menapausal which isnt helping matters, and cannot take HRT..................................................sorry to go on its just so sressful and worrying as i just dont feel myself anymore.............................

• By jkstan1963
• Reply 3390283 · In reply to 3389786 by ELLIEKF
• September 19, 2012 at 10:52 pm
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Wow Elli, you have really been through a great deal!! What you are experiencing is completely different than me. My pain is completely in my chest, back and/or jaw. I can't imagine what you went through. Please take care of yourself and continue to look for a doctor who will help you not only with your heart issues but also with your stress. Stress can do awful things to our bodies. I'm a fine one to talk because I have a tough time keeping my stress level at a reasonable rate. But, that is what I strive for!
God's blessings,

• By S122851
• Reply 3391466
• September 20, 2012 at 11:49 am
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Elli...I am just looking in to something called Femoral mono neuropathy....damage to femoral nerve during angiogram one of causes....anyway, symptoms of pain associated with it you may want to sort out....not sure if relevant but it has taken me a few years and lots of 'mysterious' numbness and leg and back pain to want to get to the bottom of the debilitating pain....heart issues keep medical team from focusing on the other aches and pains, but I need to get a handle on why I can't walk more than a few blocks.... Sz