Pain Sound Effects.

dreamdaisy
dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
edited 25. May 2018, 09:32 in Living with Arthritis archive
I have always found my hospital's pain scales (they usually run from 1-100) of little use: my 40 could be someone else's 100, another's 30 could be my 80. Last night was not a good one sleep-wise which triggered this idea.

Between 2 and 4am I was wide awake with what I could only describe as Scalextric pain: it was running from the waist down in a figure-of-eight pattern and, as it chased along, I likened it to the sound of Formula 1 cars. I then thought that other pains could be described as resembling the drone of a bee, the buzz of having a polish at the dentist's, the sharp tang of metal on a filling, the one-off sting of a nettle, the gentle throb of a pulse, the ripple of water, the beam of sun (bright and intense) etc.

Describing the quality of pain is not easy, is it? I know that people see and feel things differently but hearing is often a more constant, shared experience. I will try my theory out the next time I see a medico. DD
Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben

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Comments

  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I loathe pain scales. They are utterly meaningless and I'm just grateful I've never been offered more than a 1-10. 1-100 :shock: :shock: :shock: What next? Decimal points? "Today" Doc "I think I'm a 65.49372. Or maybe 65.49373. Ye gods! We'll need a degree in Pure and Applied Maths soon to tell how we feel.

    I've never done the Scalextric thing. Maybe I have too much titanium breaking the circuits :wink:

    As for a 'Sound Pain' system. Are you sure you're not synaesthetic? I can only do it the other way round ie a loud sound is painful rather than pain is a loud sound.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Grace, I worked out my own personal Pain Scale ages ago.

    1 = What pain?
    2 = Hardly a twinge
    3 = Not bad
    4 = Average
    5 = I can handle it
    6 = Not good
    7 = Bad
    8 = S….ing awful
    9 = ---- Off!
    10 = Morphine! Now!

    Oddly, whenever I've been in really excruciating pain I've found I'm utterly silent as I need every bit of energy and concentration to just keep breathing.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Airwave!
    Airwave! Member Posts: 2,479
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Like it Sticky!

    I could add some descriptions to pain, bone jarring, nerve jangling, electric.

    I was talking to the osteopath who reckons he could tell a patients pain level by how soon the patient was willing to pay him money to help!
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I like your pain scale too, Sticky, it's much more realistic. My hospital also uses a 'wellness' scale that runs from 100 to 1: 100 is feeling very ill whereas 1 is feeling as though arthritis is not an issue. I've never scored above 50 on that one.

    Today's pains are varying between hot needles being rammed on a far too frequent basis into my ankles, knees and hips, some zinging up and down my shins and dull aches all over: on the Sticky Pain Scale (SPS) I am oscillating gently between 6 and 7. It's also raining so all the pollen is nicely at nose level, leading to tight lungs. :| DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    'feeling as though arthritis is not an issue' :? :? :? Sorry, you've got me there. What exactly does that mean :?: :roll: :wink:
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I guess it means feeling as though it's only just begun so isn't making its presence too keenly felt. :) Or one is pain-free. :? Or it's gone away. :shock: :lol: It's a scale of of no relevance to someone who is twenty-plus years in . . . .

    No matter how well I may be feeling within myself the arthritis is an issue and always will be. DD

    PS On the SPS I am currently on level 6 but off regardless for a short walk to raise it to 7. I scoff in the face of pain - I scoff cake, chocolates, crisps :wink:
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Having had lots of short walks round the kitchen to make a fish pie and having done lots of arm exercises in several lots of washing up, I have now reached level 5 which means I can handle it provided I'm handling it in the garden with a glass of wine :D

    Enjoy the walk and well done!
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright

Hi, Welcome!

The community is a safe space for people living with and connected to arthritis to ask questions and share experiences. Get started by registering here and posting your first comment or question!

Hi, Welcome!

The community is a safe space for people living with and connected to arthritis to ask questions and share experiences. Get started by registering here and posting your first comment or question!