There is a pain scale. Every doctor’s office has the graphic posted showing a happy face next to a 0 pain level and a very unhappy face next to a 10 with a variety of faces in between for 1-9. Last night I recognized that the idea of this scale would work for those who are off balance, experience dizziness, vertigo and the like.
So here is my interpretation of such a scale:
0: no issues
1: vague feeling of unease but ok
2: ok unless I close my eyes
3: less stressed than 4
4: my normal – off but managing, may have a headache later and can’t manage at this level for long
or I will be exhausted. Unfortunately, like I said, this is my normal as in more days like this than
a 2 or 3. I can’t recall the last time I saw a 0 or even a 1.
5: like 4 but a touch of nausea, definite headache
6: may look drunk but still upright
7: may fall unexpectedly
8: falling!
9: in bed, on drugs, but can get up
10: in bed, on drugs, cannot get up
I recognize that folks who have more of the dizzy/vertigo rather than “just” off balance will have a different scale. I encourage you to develop a scale that makes sense for you and communicate it to those you deal with on a regular basis so when you say I’m a 4 or a 6 they know what to expect.
