@askpaindoc: Pain is one of the most personal experiences in medicine. There is no blood test that tells me whether your pain is a 6, an 8, or a 10. And how someone looks on the outside does not always tell me what they are experiencing on the inside. Some people cry when their pain is severe. Others sit quietly, scroll on their phone, laugh with family, or carry on a conversation. Especially with chronic pain, people can become remarkably good at functioning while hurting. That does not mean every report of 10/10 pain automatically requires opioids, hospitalization, or a specific treatment. Believing a patient’s experience and deciding on the safest, most appropriate treatment are two different things. My job isn’t to interrogate someone until I decide whether their pain score is “believable.” It’s to listen, ask questions, examine them, understand what has changed, rule out dangerous causes, and work with them on a plan. You don’t have to look like you’re in pain for your pain to deserve to be taken seriously. #ChronicPain #PainManagement #PatientAdvocacy #InvisibleIllness #painscale

Lena :

It sucks I'm always in pain my doctor gave me lyrica 150 mg but won't even up my opioids to 10 mg I had to stop the lyrica it knocks me out

Baltimoregirl🐾🐾 :

My pain seems to be worse during the nights. I have lupus, fibromyalgia, & rheumatoid arthritis.

lonnettaccooper14 :

Thank you…bcuz pain sucks severely!!!!

FriedAnnie :

Please train more doctors 😭 so many of us are suffering

MollyJ🇨🇦 :

I wish all pain doctors had your attitude, the world for pain patients would be a nicer place if they did.

skip :

by the way these doctors against giving out pain pills will one day need them themselves I hope to hell they can't get them

Jillzboyz🐶🐶🐶 :

My pain has been 11 out of 10 for almost 6 years and no one can figure out what is wrong with me. No one will prescribe me anything to help. I cry all the time I need help.

Christine :

Got told my pain couldn't be a 9 because I was speaking. Chronic migraines. If I go to the ER I had no other options

gloria rosenbaum :

Usually don’t tell the truth when I go to the doctor about my pain. If I tell him I’ve had pain as a 10 he looks at me like I have a third head. Why should we be shamed for having horrible pain from CRPS thank you to this doctor. I really appreciate your words.

arthur morgan’s left tit :

9/10 pain earns me tylenol and nsaids, which i can’t fucking take with crohn’s 🤪

Realpeople72471 :

TY-EL | Quantum Architect :

The extremely rare times I’ve been 10 out of 10 they didn’t believe me which was traumatizing. Vomiting, couldn’t groaning and yelling in pain.. as they did the IV it spasmed my entire arm. The nurse was mocking me and making fun of me. I’m VERY used to pain. After just a basic sedative my nervous system stopped spasming and (tho I was still in severe pain) they could see I wasn’t faking it. They apologized but it was still traumatic. I have so many horror stories. Even nearly died because I refused to go back to the ER after. 2 months ICU and more in recovery. It’s ridiculous

cohearant1 :

Mine doesn’t understand adrenal insufficiency pain. Leg pain is from steroids and pain meds stop it. Not gapapentin, not epideral. I’m over it.

Kathy Wyatt :

need you for my doctor because pain is real🙏

Danielle Tunnissen-den Ouden :

I have Spina Bifida Occulta..Tethered Cord Syndrome with it..born with it but discovered when i was in my 40 the specialist tried to unthether my cord but because it was to dangerous they stopped. I now go to my pain doc for injections to help me for my back/legs pain.

Tori Mountain :

I’m in the hospital right now because I have Pancreatitis…. I’ve been here for over a week now… I have Chronic Pancreatitis, Chronic insomnia, PCOS, and Endometriosis. The doctors in this hospital just gives me Morphine, which Helps a little bit but the pain is still there. It’s so hard to get a doctor to understand how bad I’m hurting. I honestly don’t know what to do anymore

trayth :

stop using that pain scale then because we don't understand it all all the patients know is that they have pain they don't know what level or degree it is stop asking oh is it one or two or five but we don't know stop it

The Pratles Kitties :

My 7/10 as an RA and PCOS person would probably render as a 15/10 for others - if they're still coherent/conscious 😌 I'm *still* on non-opioid. So yeah, thank you for empathy, doc 🥰

aikojunsui :

I wish I had a doctor like you, but there are none near me. I have nerve damage in my spine and some days. It absolutely sucks.

tattoednorwegian :

If i sau it is higher than 6, the doctor’s don’t belive it, so best to say it is a high 5… i have Been puking because of pain, and the hospital still did not belive me.

onion :

Where you located

Buddy :

where are you located

Güerita 👸🏼 :

Providers should be required to have continuous bedside manner classes!!! Main topics should be LISTENING to the PT, EMPATHY, and COMPASSION!!! All the quality’s you have

Phoenix :

I said to the hospital my pain is 8/10, the response I got was like they didn’t believe me. And i suffered two failed back surgery with qauda equina syndrome as a result. My life is basically changed living with major pain

Rene 💜 Q :

OMG I wish you were my doctor I have rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia I live in Colorado and I receive no help. I'm so afraid my depression is going to win as this pain tears down my body and mind 😭😭😭😭