The severity of chronic pain can be graded based on its characteristics and its impact on a person's activities.
Questions [text slightly modified from Appendix, page 147]
(1) How would you rate your pain on a 0-10 scale at the present time (right now)? [Pain Right Now]
• responses 0 to 10
• 0 = no pain
• 10 = pain as bad as it could be
(2) During the past 6 months, how intense was your worst pain? [Worst Pain]
• responses 0 to 10
• 0 = no pain
• 10 = pain as bad as it could be
(3) During the past 6 months, on the average, how intense was your pain? (That is, your usual pain at times you were experiencing pain.) [Average Pain]
• responses 0 to 10
• 0 = no pain,
• 10 = pain as bad as it could be
(4) About how many days in the past 6 months have you been kept from your usual activities (work, school or housework) because of your pain? [Disability Days]
• response the total number of days disabled
• points assigned below
5) In the past 6 months, how much has the pain interfered with your daily activities? [Daily Activities]
• responses 0 to 10
• 0 = no interference
• 10 = unable to carry on any activities
(6) In the past 6 months, how much has the pain changed your ability to take part in recreational, social and family activities? [Social Activities]
• responses 0 to 10
• 0 = no change
• 10 = extreme change
(7) In the past 6 months, how much has the pain changed your ability to work (including housework)? [Work Activities]
• responses 0 to 10
• 0 = no change
• 10 = extreme change
characteristic pain intensity =
= (((response question 1) + (response question 2) + (response question 3)) / 3) * 10
disability score =
= (((response question 5) + (response question 6) + (response question 7)) / 3) * 10
disability points =
= (points for disability days) + (points for disability score)
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
disability days from question 4 |
0 - 6 days |
0 |
|
7 - 14 days |
1 |
|
15 - 30 days |
2 |
|
>= 31 days |
3 |
disability score (above) |
0 - 29 |
0 |
|
30 - 49 |
1 |
|
40 - 69 |
2 |
|
>= 70 |
3 |
Interpretation
Findings |
Type |
Grade |
no pain problems for the prior 6 months |
pain free |
0 |
characteristic pain intensity < 50 disability points < 3 |
low disability, low intensity |
I |
characteristic pain intensity >= 50 disability points < 3 |
low disability, high intensity |
II |
disability points 3 or 4 |
high disability, moderately limiting |
III |
disability points 5 or 6 |
high disability, severely limiting |
IV |
Purpose: To assess the grade of pain caused by a chronic condition based on its clinical characteristics and the impact it has on the patient's life activities.
Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
Objective: severity, prognosis, stage
ICD-10: R52.1, R52.2, R52.9,