Pain Map

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Pain is more that a physical hurt, it can cause fear and emotional suffering. The experience of pain is a very personal one, it is different for each individual. Pain is very difficult to define, and it is one of those conditions that is poorly understood by medical science. One person might report an experience of pain that is characterized by unbearable physical pain, while another individual reports one that is unbearable emotional pain that is no less excruciating. One person's report may have to do with a urgent medical condition, while another person might be complaining of the pain of missing a loved one.

Pain sensors. Pain sensors connect us to the outside world. They tells us that we are in danger or that we have been harmed. People with repressed, or absent pain sensors tend to suffer great injuries. Life is not a very comfortable experience for them.

The function of pain is protective it aids in the healing process. When we an injury, for instance, the accompanying sensation of pain causes us to protect it until the pain goes away. When an underlying condition is causing the pain then it becomes necessary to treat the condition to eliminate the pain. Sometimes pain sensors ago awry and the pain continues even after healing. The problem with intractable pain is that it is difficult to treat and more importantly, it gets in the way of the ability to get on with life.

The patient's description of pain is essential to the doctor's ability to diagnose.

What Does Your Pain Feel Like?

Below is a list of words that might describe your present pain. Use this list in conjunction with an Anatomical Chart to describe your pain. Also include in such descriptions the Intensity and Duration of your pain, see below for rating scales.

Click here to go to Pain Map below


Flickering	Jumping	Pricking	Sharp
Quivering	Flashing	Boring	Cutting
Pulsing	Shooting	Drilling	Lacerating
Throbbing	Electric like	Stabbing
Beating
Pounding

Pinching	Tugging	Hot	Tingling
Pressing	Pulling	Burning	Itchy
Gnawing	Wrenching	Scalding	Smarting
Cramping	Searing	Stinging
Crushing

Dull	Tender	Tiring	Sickening
Sore	Taut	Exhausting	Suffocating
Hurting	Rasping
Aching	Splitting
Heavy

Fearful	Punishing	Wretched	Annoying
Frightening	Grueling	Blinding	Troublesome
Terrifying	Cruel	Miserable
	Vicious	Intense
	Killing	Unbearable

Spreading	Tight	Cool	Nagging
Radiating	Numb	Cold	Nauseating
Penetrating	Drawing	Freezing	Agonizing
Piercing	Squeezing		Dreadful
	Tearing		Torturing

score	Intensity Ratings

1.	Mild - but does not interfere with activities.
5.	Moderate - present and interferes with activities but not disabling.
10.	Severe - disabling. Unable to function.

Instructions -- Pain Analysis And Mapping

Refer to an Anatomical Chart, list each different location of your pain.

For each location, indicate the date on which you first noticed the pain.

Pain description. Use the list above to describe what your pain feels like.

Pain intensity. Use the intensity ratings scale above to rate your pain.

Overall interference of pain with life:


Work	School	Social Activities
Childcare	Relationships	Sports and Exercise
Sex	Household responsibilities	Other

Refer to the intensity ratings scale above to rate this category.

Describe things that increase your pain such as physical activities.

Describe things that decrease your pain, such as lying down, heating pad, medication, etc.

source: Kresch Pain Map & Analysis

	American Chronic Pain Association -- P.O. Box 850, Rocklin, CA. 95677 916-632-0922. Information, referrals and support groups

	The Chronic Pain page on the Health Communication Resources site at Emerson College/Tufts University School of Medicine has a comprehensive section on chronic pain that provides useful short descriptions and links to relevant Internet sites in the areas of disease awareness campaigns, support for patients, facts and research, organizations, and publications. url: http://www.emerson.edu/

	Bill Levinger, M.D.- Pain Management, 10 years in Family Practice and E.R. Medicine, and then Anesthesia training and Board Certification. 780 S. 14th St, Boise, ID 83702, Telephone: 208- 880-6058

	Dr. H. Hooshmand, M.D., Neurological Assoc Pain Management Ctr and Assoc, 1255 37th Street, Suite B, Vero Beach, Florida 32960 - Speciality Chronic Pain, and Lightning Strike and Electric Shock injuries - Phone: 772-770-9339 - Fax: 772-770-5660 - url: http://www.rsdrx.com/electrical_injuries.htm

	Center for Neurology, Behavioral Neurology and Pain Management d.b.a. SHCC -- email: info@siddiqui.neurohub.net -- url: http://siddiqui.neurohub.net/welcome.html

	Pain Control, on the Healthtouch site provides the complete text of lay education publications from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke on topics related to chronic pain, cancer pain treatment, pain control after surgery, headaches and migraines, and back pain. url: http://www.healthtouch.com/

	Headache -- Information on and links to resources -- url: http://www.headinjury.com/linksha.htm

	Vision -- Information on and links to resources -- url: http://www.headinjury.com/vision.htm

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