Rating Pain: What Does Yours Feel Like?

Have you ever seen the scale below? Or been asked by a health care provider to rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10? I would bet most people would answer yes to at least one of those questions.

Now, a new kind of pain scale has emerged...instead of focusing on the intensity of the pain, the emphasis is on the quality/nature of the pain. "Mypainfeelslike..." is a new campaign initiated in Ireland by a German pharmaceutical company. (You can visit the web site yourself by clicking the link above!)

The project was designed was to help patients and their doctors to better understand more about a given patients pain...there is a graphic to help patients discern between stabbing pain, burning, piercing, stabbing and other pain sensations...and a questionnaire to that the patient can complete if they so desire. Initially, this web site developed for patients with neuropathic pain, but it can be used by other chronic pain sufferers as well.

If this sounds helpful or interesting, have a look!

Sources: regionshospital.com;painnewsnetwork; everyday pain management ideas; mypainfeelslike.ie

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Living with Chronic pain hits the big screen!

Been to the movies lately? Jennifer Aniston is on the big screen in a recent release titled "Cake." Her character, Claire is a victim of chronic pain...she belongs to a support group, where all of the members are coming to terms with the suicide of one of their members. Of course, she also takes pain medication and addiction is another of her problems...and of course there's more! I guess I am writing this post just to bring readers' attention to the fact that Hollywood has become aware of the crisis that is chronic pain. This movie is a testament to that. People that don't have to live with this kind of pain don't fully understand the whole story. Maybe this movie will shed some light on the issues. Here is the official trailer for the movie: Sources: prweb;NorthJersey.com;YouTube

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Everyday pain management ideas

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