Pain Scale Sucks Doggy Poo...

Published

So The Other Day...

An 80some Yr Old Man Came In Due To Fall And Dislocating His Hip. I Asked What His Pain Level Was- He Said A 3/10. I Smiled. As I Slid The Iv In, I Told Him I Was Sorry For Hurting Him, He Said Something I Wrote Down Because It Hit Me So Hard. "life Is Full Of Pain. Im 80 Yrs Old And I Have Accepted That. This Is Nothing Compared To A Heartache. You Youngins Will See It Someday, Just Gotta Learn To Accept It." I **** You Not, Tears Came To My Eyes Right There... And Im A Man!

A Few Pt's Later A Kid(17) Came In With A Lac, And Said His Pain Was 10. I Wanted So Badly To Drag Him Into The Old Mans Room.

Pain May Be Subjective, But We Are Programmed To Believe Its Not Normal, So Any Pain Must Be Unacceptable. I Can Guarantee, A Heartache Hurts Much Worse Than Anything Ive Ever Done, Including Broken Bones, Lacs, Concussions, And The Very Very Worse... A Real Big Burn. All That Stuff Healed. Hearts Dont Heal Sometimes...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

You are right on Andy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

You just have to wonder what the old man had been through. Has he just lost a wife of 50 years? Had he outlived his children? There are so many things that make this life worth living, but sure make it hard when they are gone. Yes, the pain of a heartache is so much worse than any physical pain that can be inflicted upon us. Your 17 year old patient was too young probably to have experienced much physical or emotional pain. So to him, it might have really been a 10. He will see soon enough what real pain is, as he grows and matures. I overheard a young woman complaining one day that she was unable to match just the right color in a quilt she was making for her new baby. She said it was just a disaster, the worst thing she had ever gone through, trying to find that color. I wanted to just shake her and scream at her, that if that is what she considered a disaster, and the worst thing she had ever experienced then she must have spent her life in a cave....or worse, curled up in front of a TV. Yep, those folks need to be dragged into an ER and made to observe some of life's real disasters!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

Yeah, I've had some excrutiating heartache in my life that I would have gladly taken physical pain in it's place.

Yeah life is painful, I accept that, but we have with us now things to handle the physical pain of a broken body. If I have a broken bone and it's a 10/10 please medicate me and don't imply that life is supposed to be painful and drag me to some 80 year old's room please. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yeah, I've had some excrutiating heartache in my life that I would have gladly taken physical pain in it's place.

Yeah life is painful, I accept that, but we have with us now things to handle the physical pain of a broken body. If I have a broken bone and it's a 10/10 please medicate me and don't imply that life is supposed to be painful and drag me to some 80 year old's room please. :)

im sorry if i implied that minor pain is not still pain. what i wanted to impart was that our society is growing up learning that pain is not normal. it is not acceptable. which only ends up in depression, cause when you hurt every single morning, what are you to think? "doctor, doctor, i need some pain medicine", instead of, " ill make the best of this day..."

also, the pain scale is a loop hole for drug seekers. if i need some money, ill just go to the doctor complaining of pain, get my oxycontin (which goes for $1.25/mg here on the street), and go make a few thousand dollars.

we need a lab that detects an enzyme that is excreted when you LIE! thats a rich man that find that one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER-TRAUMA-TELEMED-PEDS.

Andy........you are right on, point well said and I totally whole heartedly agree with you. Your aurgument about narc abuse is a reason why I left adult ER and went to Peds ER. MDs are too quick to fill vicodin rxs without listening to or maybe offering alternatives for the patient. I feel Pt education at discharge is very helpful, give pts non-pharmocological interventions (like keeping extremity elevated and icing for ortho pts) and some just need reassurance that they will get better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hey Andy - I have to agree with you. The older folks (those that lived through the depression and the WW's) are a lot tougher than I am. Even though I'm certainly middle-aged - I have had little experience with pain and know that if I have any physical problems that bring me to my ER - I'll be a real weanie!

BTW - where on the Kenai do you work?? Sitka? We were stationed at Delta Junction (Ft Greeley) from 86 to 88 and seriously considered going back! Loved Alaska! The interior is so awesome!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Pain has so many faces. My heart goes out to your tough little older man!! I had a grandfather like that! Tough as nails and a big tedddy bear on the inside. I get severe migraines -- he was probably my best support through them when they started -- never told me to "suck it up and walk it off -- just held my hand, got me something to throw up in and a cold cloth. He would always say:" I am sorry it hurts kitten -- let's survive it and go on from here. Let what hurts you make you a better person -- not a bitter one." Gosh! I sure miss him!!!! He got me through break-ups, headaches, losses and traumas. He was my rock -- my comforting, loving, sensative, rock. I hope that someday my children/grandchildren will be able to say the same of me!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hey Andy - I have to agree with you. The older folks (those that lived through the depression and the WW's) are a lot tougher than I am. Even though I'm certainly middle-aged - I have had little experience with pain and know that if I have any physical problems that bring me to my ER - I'll be a real weanie!

BTW - where on the Kenai do you work?? Sitka? We were stationed at Delta Junction (Ft Greeley) from 86 to 88 and seriously considered going back! Loved Alaska! The interior is so awesome!

the kenai is southcentral, right on the water. i use to live in southeast, and thats where sitka is- a beautiful place. delta (i go at least one a year) is a wonderful place. not the typical beautiful, but if you like your privacy, its the place to be. a great place to hunt. i heard that fort greely is putting in a brand new hospital that should be ready in the next few years. maybe you should check into that. hot summer this year- its been 80-90 all summer in delta. but itll be a cold winter too. it gets 60 below in the interior.

thanks for agreeing with me about the pain scale, since i am always right. just ask both of my ex wives:chuckle .

ya'll have a great day...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Andy - my geography skills are fairly bad! I actually worked at the clinic at Ft. Greeley - lots of experience with cold-water drownings and trauma too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"since i am always right":)

I did not realize how many of us there are out there that are omniscient!!! ( I am always right too -- just can't spell!) Maybe we should start a support group!!:rotfl: :rotfl:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

Amazing story!!

My dad (48 yrs old) died last month of cardiogenic shock after acute anterior MI, on the way to the hospital he said his pain was a "3-4",,,,,,,,, and *****ed pleasantly at me and the other nurses at the hospital, that "i just don't have anything other to compare this pain to!!!!!, it's a 3-4".

Oh my dad I just love him, no matter how hard i tried explaining the pain scale to him.

xo Jen

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion