Ranking the severity of pain can be very difficult, especially when trying to explain it to a doctor. Here are some helpful hints you can use.

1) Consider factors such as: intensity, location, duration of severe versus average pain, and frequency of severity. For example, if your pain is terribly severe 24 hours a day and involves your entire body, and the following week it is still terribly severe, but only involves half of your body, then it is fifty percent better. Likewise, if it still involves your entire body, but the terribly severe pain is now only present one half of the time, it is also fifty per cent better. Links: Piedmont Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

One of the cornerstones of good patient care is effective doctor-patient communication. Very few doctors, or patients, are ever given any training on how to help that happen, however. The following talking points are meant to serve as tools to assist in communication with your doctor. Why not read this survey to help identify how you communicate!

1) Do you have a hearing problem? If so don’t assume that your doctor will know. Tell him!

2) Do you see well? Most people assume your vision is good, unless told otherwise. Many people use visual aids to help their explanations. If you don’t see well, say so!