Comparative Pain Scale
0 No pain. Feeling perfectly normal.
Minor
Does not
interfere with
most activities.
Able to adapt to
pain
psychologically
and with
medication or
devices such as
cushions.
1
Very Mild
Very light barely noticeable pain, like a mosquito bite or a
poison ivy itch. Most of the time you never think about the
pain.
2
Discomforting
Minor pain, like lightly pinching the fold of skin between the
thumb and first finger with the other hand, using the
fingernails. Note that people react differently to this selftest.
3
Tolerable
Very noticeable pain, like an accidental cut, a blow to the
nose causing a bloody nose, or a doctor giving you an
injection. The pain is not so strong that you cannot get used
to it. Eventually, most of the time you don't notice the pain.
You have adapted to it.
Moderate
Interferes with
many activities.
Requires
lifestyle
changes but
patient remains
independent.
Unable to adapt
to pain.
4
Distressing
Strong, deep pain, like an average toothache, the initial pain
from a bee sting, or minor trauma to part of the body, such
as stubbing your toe real hard. So strong you notice the pain
all the time and cannot completely adapt. This pain level can
be simulated by pinching the fold of skin between the thumb
and first finger with the other hand, using the fingernails,
and squeezing real hard. Note how the simulated pain is
initially piercing but becomes dull after that.
3
Very
Distressing
Strong, deep, piercing pain, such as a sprained ankle when
you stand on it wrong or mild back pain. Not only do you
notice the pain all the time, you are now so preoccupied with
managing it that you normal lifestyle is curtailed. Temporary
personality disorders are frequent.
6
Intense
Strong, deep, piercing pain so strong it seems to partially
dominate your senses, causing you to think somewhat
unclearly. At this point you begin to have trouble holding a
job or maintaining normal social relationships. Comparable
to a bad non-migraine headache combined with several bee
stings, or a bad back pain.
Severe
Unable to
engage in
normal
activities.
Patient is
disabled and
unable to
function
independently.
7
Very
Intense
Same as 6 except the pain completely dominates your
senses, causing you to think unclearly about half the time.
At this point you are effectively disabled and frequently
cannot live alone. Comparable to an average migraine
headache.
8
Utterly
Horrible
Pain so intense you can no longer think clearly at all, and
have often undergone severe personality change if the pain
has been present for a long time. Suicide is frequently
contemplated and sometimes tried. Comparable to childbirth
or a real bad migraine headache.
9
Excruciating
Unbearable
Pain so intense you cannot tolerate it and demand pain
killers or surgery, no matter what the side effects or risk. If
this doesn't work, suicide is frequent since there is no more
joy in life whatsoever. Comparable to throat cancer.
10
Unimaginable
Unspeakable
Pain so intense you will go unconscious shortly. Most people
have never experienced this level of pain. Those who have
suffered a severe accident, such as a crushed hand, and lost
consciousness as a result of the pain and not blood loss,
have experienced level 10.
United States
I keep telling people at work "I'm not 100% but I'm getting there."
