Describing the Subjective Experience of Pain in More Concrete Terms

Mankoski Pain Scale 0 ~ Pain Free No medication needed. 1 ~ Very minor annoyance - occasional minor twinges. No medication needed. 2 ~ Minor annoyance - occasional strong twinges. No medication needed. 3 ~ Annoying enough to be distracting. Mild painkillers are effective. (Aspirin, Ibuprofen) 4 ~ Can be ignored if you are really involved in your work, but still distracting. Mild painkillers relieve pain for 3-4 hours. 5 ~ Can't be ignored for more than 30 minutes. Mild painkillers reduce pain for 3-4 hours. 6 ~ Can't be ignored for any length of time, but you can still go to work and participate in social activities. Stronger painkillers (Codeine, Vicodin) reduce pain for 3-4 hours. 7 ~ Makes it difficult to concentrate, interferes with sleep. You can still function with effort. Stronger painkillers are only partially effective. Strongest painkillers relieve pain (Oxycontin, Morphine) 8 ~ Physical activity severely limited. You can read and converse with effort. Nausea and dizziness set in as factors of pain. Stronger painkillers are minimally effective. Strongest painkillers reduce pain for 3-4 hours. 9 ~ Unable to speak. Crying out or moaning uncontrollably - near delirium. Strongest painkillers are only partially effective. 10 ~ Unconscious. Pain makes you pass out. Strongest painkillers are only partially effective.