Things (some) Autistic People Do PT 11

Things (some) Autistic People Do PT 11 #painscale #latediagnosedautism #audhd #momonthespectrum

[@spookyplaguedoctor5714]

Pain is also very subjective, it's hard to quantify when your 9 might be someone else's 3.

[@thestumaji656]

I tell the docs the same thing I've been blown up so my 10 is way different than a normal persons 10.

[@timothyammons9011]

@@thestumaji656first off, holy fuck about being blown up! Secondly yes! Tell the doc what the worst pain you’ve ever experienced and say that’s my 10… then base your number from there 😅

[@celeste8157]

Nah, reverse it. Our 3 is somebody else's 9. They kept asking me that question after my c-section, and I told them that I'm gonna keep telling them it's ZERO. I feel NOTHING. This was before I found out that I'm autistic, so they acted like I was some kind of freak, and I didn't have any explanation for them 😅

[@Padraigp]

They want your subjective answer .. so the worst pain youve ever had is 10 the least pain youve had is 1. Its nothing to do with anyone else

[@aniheartsong5102]

I'd say her comparisons work well though rather than dead more like cut the limb of or make me onconcious now, in my opinion, but they are kind of just trying to see how off your number is from how you are presenting your pain and it is a required question for certain diagnostic methods used in every area of Healthcare. Finally one of the goals while you are at the hospital is to lower that number so don't worry too much healthcare workers understand they work with many people.

[@fairy_gvts]

I really like the veterans pain scale (also called DVPRS) for this reason. It gives definitions for each number. Its especially helpful with chronic pain, but also useful for autistic ppl. Heres the scale in case anyone is interested: 0 = No pain 1 = Hardly noticeable pain 2 = Noticeable pain, but does not interfere with activities 3 = Somewhat distracting pain 4 = Distracting pain, but does not affect normal activities 5 = Pain interrupts some activities 6 = Hard to ignore pain, avoidance of daily activities 7 = Pain is the main focus of attention, prevents daily activities 8 = Awful pain, difficult to do anything 9 = Unbearable pain, cannot do anything 10 = As bad as pain can be, nothing else matters

[@ferntheneuropoet]

Wow. Definitions really help... I wish this was the way they asked the question for everyone. This would still be hard for me sometimes because of my poor interception, but it's still so much easier to understand what is being asked with real definitions like this.

[@katzenbekloppt2412]

Nope, not better. 2 to 4 are nearly same for me and 9 and 10 are equal. The only thing I can get out of that is that their 5 to 7 I would have said under 5.

[@emmaberger3748]

It helps a bit but I’m hypersensitive to pain and sensations so I feel like I would always be at least a 7, but that’s also straight up not fair; it’s not relative to my other pain or to other people’s pain

[@nenamichelle]

That’s actually pretty freaking helpful in terms of long term pain! I’m seeing that what I’d normally call a 3 because of being shamed by medical “professionals” has been a 5 or a 6.

[@mb-k6466]

​@@katzenbekloppt2412For me it helps a little, but exactly, 2 & 4 and 9 & 10 aren't specific enough!!! But always in such situations, when people have just given somewhat helpful clarifications, it feels like I can't ask for even more, because either 1) they look at me as if I'm too stupid to understand, as "everyone else understands", even though they are the ones that use 'recklessly vague' formulations (too many risks for misunderstandings); or 2) they refuse (or try, but fail miserably) to give more specificity...

[@lapislazulis2378]

Also: when you're being so used to pain that you don't know what it feels like to be at 1 anymore, or that your usual pain becomes the "new 1"

[@Evija3000]

The period simulator comes to mind :D The videos might be exaggerated, but guys be squirming in pain at a girl's regular Tuesday while she has 20 things she has to take care of. It's subjective in so many ways.

[@karatalley1987]

​@@Evija3000I totally agree.

[@arc4705]

@@Evija3000Oh wow great comparison, I didn't even think of this! I was thinking autoimmune or other diseases where you're constantly in pain 24/7 for weeks, months, or even years on end. The period simulator is a good way of looking at that on a shorter-term scale.

[@Rebecca-of7fh]

Also, are we rating from our own experience of pain or the pain we can imagine? Is my 10 the dislocated knee cap I've had multiple types, or how I imagine it would feel to have a limb torn off during a car wreck? Or are we expected to rate it against what we think a human is likely to experience in a lifetime, like childbirth or passing kidney stones?

[@etcwhatever]

​@@arc4705 i have autoimmune i dont even know what the scale is anymore 😅 right now if the pain get focused on a couple of spots it aggravates me. If it more spread its a bad day but since i cant focus on any specific point its like it hurts less?! Wtf really. Idk

[@annaphallactic]

Many of us also have garbage interoception and don't even realize that pain is happening in our bodies in any given moment.

[@arc4705]

The number of times I haven't realized I had a headache until it was a migraine 🤦

[@lergia]

yeah, like i feel shitty, but i dont know why. and im like does my head hurt? does my back hurt? am i sleepy? am i hungry? do i wanna go to the toilet? like most of the times i know something is wrong, but i dont know what

[@etcwhatever]

Me with my posture and thrist sensation. 😮

[@HeatherCash-wj7yj]

I thought It was me. Many times I have heard that my pain tolerance is extremely high (8 babies no epidurals). Didn’t even know I was in labor until the heads were out almost every single time

[@loup4119]

True. I usually don't really notice it until I have to stop what I'm doing

[@sasagreen257]

I actually looked up pain scales online at one point because I couldn't quite wrap my head around it myself. I found one that described how overwhelmed the pain made you feel, like what can or can't I still do with that pain, how much of my thinking is occupied by tha pain, etc. Made it actually much easier to put a number to it.

[@emilwandel]

Online scales helped me so much

[@user-gl6dg8ho3j]

Yeah, that is the most useful scale that I know. And there is a reason why they added text to describe what those numbers are supposed to mean: just the numbers just isn't clear for many people.

[@beedajo9265]

Hey, that is a REALLY good idea! I've never thought about looking it up to find other ways to quantify passion. I've seen the smiley face/ frowny face scale, and that helps me some, but to actually have descriptions about how it feels would be really helpful. Thanks for sharing!

[@revethedreamer9750]

Yes! I was going to suggest this as well. I had no idea how much pain I was in until i looked at a scale that put it in terms of how much I thought about it and how much it impaired me. Honestly the most helpful tool ever

[@CrankyB1tsch]

If only they explained it like this

[@lisa_wistfulone7957]

YES!!! Not only do I try to scale my entire life and all possible pain I might ever experience, but I also try to assess and quantify how medical staff will view my response! Will they think I’m a whiny hypochondriac because they think my number is too high? Will they minimize my needs because my number is too low? I internalize their mistakes as if it’s something I could control if I just guess the “right” number…😞😭

[@awkwardemily15]

I feel this hard.

[@jamiepattison]

Every time!! I always understate because I feel like they'll tell me I'm lying or "wrong" if I say a higher number.

[@beckyd5542]

"This requires research! I need to call my mom." 🤣🤣🤣 I love it!

[@user-no2mz9hl4f]

YES!! I really relate to feeling like you have to do research and categorise all pain to answer what should be a simple question.

[@gabi-sv3dp]

Sometimes i give exemples it help a lot

[@kimbunt3976]

‘I need to call my mom’ that’s soooo relatable 🙈

[@Danni317]

I often explain the pain instead of answering the 1 to 10 question. I'm also really bad at seeking medical assistance unless I really need it .

[@David-ev3un]

The problem is the question. Your questions about the question are valid

[@fifinoir]

So relatable. For most things that require me to rate things, not just pain. My emotions obviously being the hardest but also restaurant or film reviews. How much I liked a meal. My opinion on anything that doesn’t have either a simple yes or no answer, requires research to answer.

[@shapirodeluxe]

I find it helpful when they mention that it’s a personal number, used to measure my own relative pain

[@xorphana]

Wait really? Those are just relative numbers they compare over time. Damn, that's helpful. But how far do they go back? Do all my doctors have access to my other doctors? I can find a need for clarification anywhere 😂

[@VirginiaSunrise11]

Yes! My relationship with pain is weird and messed with my birth experiences. Like I had to figure out how to express what was going on in away to get the staff to believe me. Like I was in preterm labor with my last child and I had to convince them something was wrong because to them I seemed way too calm and controlled. Until they put me on the monitor and then they started to PANIC. And all this with them having the knowledge that I had a history or premature babies. 😢

[@stampandscrap7494]

My daughter is the same. They did nit believe she was having contractions because she is autistic and has PTSD where she doesn't like people seeing her weak so she laughs and jokes. They basically forced her to have a cesearian. Because they thought her labour had stopped after they burst her water on purpose.

[@VirginiaSunrise11]

@@stampandscrap7494 I am so sorry that happened

[@wesley3300]

One of the things I realized a couple days ago was how it’s always been really difficult for me to describe “the pain” or “the problem” when things seems to pop up. When it comes to actual, physical pain, it’s hard to pin down sometimes because even though I’m trying to address something specific, I can’t seem to get away from the fact that the pain is connected to so many other aspects of my being (let alone my body). Sometimes that means that, even though I know what I want a doctor or something to look at, my attempts to explain can be easily derailed as I try to “get us there,” explaining how my issue seems to come from some other, seemingly related thing. Basically, when I’m always struggling to fully process a barrage of tiny stimuli inside and outside of my body, it’s really difficult to mentally zone in on a particular thing when trying to communicate.

[@matthewcritchley5458]

For a while I thought it didn’t really matter because they were just going to use it for self reference, to see if things have improved or not (because how could a subjective pain scale be that useful beyond that?) but then I was in the hospital recovering from surgery and they wouldn’t give me more pain meds because I hadn’t said a high enough number. Like, what the heck? I am telling them I am in enough pain that I require the medication, just because that is a 6 on my scale, but most people would call that an 8, they didn’t renew meds!

[@thequietlife1152]

“This requires research!” 😂😂😂 Yes. I also have to consider that in order to say it hurts, it has to get to a level “other people” begin to clue in that it hurts and go from there.

[@Underhownd]

I am SO glad that it's not just me that does this. I always feel so bad trying to talk to my doctor because it feels like we're speaking two different languages on stuff like this.

[@MichellekittensTryOns]

I love you lol

[@lesliedavis4366]

In the army, had to answer 7/8 for them to actually pay attention. I may have thought it was more of a 3- a constant annoyance, but to be taken seriously and receive adequate care it had to be over a 6. I just kept thinking- so do I have a high pain tolerance? Or am I just a hypochondriac? Self advocacy is hard

[@EnbyTransMochi3628]

I always put the number on the pain scale possibly lower than it should be because I'm used to pain (self inflicted) but 100% agreed. I do the exact same thing 😅 (I'm autistic with moderate support needs)

[@sierrasicard4593]

I like the ones that have the faces and examples with each number, it helps me Guage where my pain falls. Like "it really hurts but I can still think and talk" or "I'm crying now and it hurts so bad I can't talk"

[@EsmereldaPea]

As a chronic pain sufferer, it's really interesting to hear you qualify 6 as "really bad." (Not that you're wrong, just different than my perception) 6 is where many of us dig into the pain meds. Until then, we just tough it out because we know we need to limit the amount of pain meds we take. Also, the other thing I do is struggle to quantify the pain if it's different from what I'm used to. Or wait too long to get severe pain looked at if we're used to it (I almost ended up with a permanent colostomy AND urostomy because of the latter). The overthinking often sounds like " well if the pain is really bad in one very specific spot (barring obvious trauma like a compound fracture) and not over most of that quadrant of my body, it probably should be a 4. But if it were both sides, it would be a 7!" Sigh.

[@kjhaygood]

I had an emergency but when I saw all the other people with worse off issues I left. The next day the lady behind the desk said I indeed had an emergency. Just because mine didn’t look like theirs, it was my emergency.

[@EsmereldaPea]

After a head injury, I'd feel bad in the waiting room amongst people in wheelchairs who couldn't even speak. My PMR doc had to keep reminding me, similar to you, that their severity doesn't make my injury any less deserving of treatment.

[@chris...9497]

I always interpret the question as a self-report assessment of my pain control needs. When I went in with a broken wrist, I shocked the nurse by responding "About a 2", but I really wasn't in much pain. When I went in with a kidney stone too big to pass, I was fully and obviously at full 10 and near passing out from the pain. Pain is always relative but health professionals are not judging you when they ask; it's a diagnostic tool to determine what treatment you need. Your 2 may be another's 8 and your 8 another's 2. Some folks are very pain sensitive while others tolerate pain well or don't feel it at all. And then there's people who are more sensitive in some organs or parts of the body and not in others; even in the same body it's relative. You can't know another's pain thresholds, not between you and other patients and not between the nurse and you. Just give a 'guesstinate' and let the professionals work it out. Just know that the higher the number, the more painkiller they're likely to give you. For me, painkillers tend to make me nauseous and mentally slow, and I don't like that. And Novocain wears off very quickly for me. I once needed stitches in a toe. The Novocain shot actually punched THROUGH the toe, spraying the surface where it poked out. Then they left me alone for 40 minutes. By the time they stitched me, there was no numbness whatsoever; I felt it all. Seriously, base the number on how badly you need pain mediation. Given that medication affects many on the spectrum differently than neurotypicals, you may need to discuss with them what painkillers might be the most effective for you specifically.

[@carish1452]

Until your face doesn’t match what John or Jane Neurotypical’s does and the doctor verbally or physically abuses you from a 9 to a 20! Story time for those inclined . TW: gore I sliced open my pinky finger on barb wire when I was 16. Plenty of blood, could see the tendon but it was intact. I said yes my pain is 8-9 (which big gaping wounds are supposed to be right?), but I was nervous laughing about getting to watch them suture it, on a slight endorphin high from being driven 20 minutes to the ER, plus fawning just as fast as my little amygdala could carry me. For ASD context, my friends had seen me off still laughing at me for having apologized to the tree I had grabbed as I fell into the barbed wire fence. Doc laughed and said we could let the lido start to take effect while cleaning and debriding. I asked to do it since I wouldn’t feel it if I cleaned it for myself and she needed to go out for a tetanus booster kit anyway. She gave me a sterile scrub pad and left me to it. I tried a little, then got stimmy letting the soap run into the wound and noticing the hot water helped the pain. Then here she comes again, “Clean it girl! Don’t be so precious with it!” She grabbed the scrub pad, clamped down on my wrist and started scrubbing with all her might! My mind erased the next 30 minutes of security tapes! 😁She ended up giving me 2 additional shots of anesthesia and that wearing off somehow hurt the worst of any of the whole experience. If I couldn’t see it, I would’ve sworn my whole arm was on fire.

[@jaymacnee2347]

Maybe I should have realized I might have The Tism Swag when the last time I went to a hospital, the whole ride in the ambulance I was prepping the answer to that question so I could answer immediately if anyone asked…………..

[@KnockOut242]

I think I’ve been autistic all my life but never got any help. When I was in grade school I was diagnosed with petite mal epilepsy 🤷🏼‍♀️ because my teachers evidently thought I was spacing out. I love this channel because I feel I’ve finally found my people!

[@kathrynmurphy9959]

I always request to see the “face pain scale” it helps so so much with answering this question.

[@catbehindthecurtain]

I'm sitting in a doctor's office... I wouldn't be here if I wasn't in PAIN that I can no longer ignore. That's my scale.

[@stampandscrap7494]

Yep. Thats definatly me. I only goto a doctors when it gets to an 8

[@letsallgoforawalk]

The principle of my middle school tool me to her office to ask me why I was getting such bad grades. I told her what I wasn't understanding and she said in a nutshell "oh...forget everything teachers have told you. The things they teach you are meant to be systems that simplify your need to think about the task. You however need to understand fully and teachers aren't going to do that. An anecdote in an essay is not a test of how truthful you are and its not just some random criteria. It adds emotional feel to the writing and validity in your reasoning. You don't have to tell the truth. It's only for making a point." She proceeded to tell me the same thing about every other criteria in writing and I never got less than 100% after that and was told to skip grades because of the ease I felt in classes from then on but they didn't have the option to skip grades in my school. My point is it helps me to try to realize that with some things NTs are vague about they are just using the method to get something out of you, it's not something they even know the depth of in the way you are pondering it. I do the same thing with the pain scale. I decided they are poorly attempting to get a quick answer on how urgently you need care. For urgent care don't say anything under 6 if you want them to do something soon and probably never say 10 or they won't take you seriously unless you're screaming. For a Dr visit/less urgent keep current pain descriptions between 3 and 6 to have your pain considered important. Obviously you can say higher than 6 if you feel that is true or lower than 3 but in my experience they tend to stop listening when you talk about pain that "mild". Unfortunately you must say what is necessary to get you the care you need.

[@emmymorris7648]

Too relatable, especially your expression at the end! 👏🏻👏🏻 After 24 years of chronic pain, you’d think I’d be used to that question, but I stool hate it. It’s too confusing! 🙄🙄

[@Selene13zz]

Yes. Also, when you experience long term pain, you start worrying that you didn't evaluate your earlier pain correctly & might have thrown off your whole system. You worry they won't take you seriously & think you're making it up. Really frustrating.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Yes! You worded this in a way that totally makes sense to me ☺️

[@laurenj6771]

I always define a 10 pain level as pain so intense it makes me consider unaliving myself…anything below that is hard for me to measure. I also feel like I wouldn’t be believed if I ever said my pain was actually a 10, because usually when I hit that level it feels like my brain has left my body, so I can look pretty calm cause I’m not present.

[@janicemacmillan2610]

Yes! And the dr acts like you didnt hear them and repeats the question, so I even take longer, and my masking gets all messed up, so I look like Im pretending. I work it out before I go to the dr to stop this problem.

[@wolfdreams2000]

Wow! Do i feel this! Being on pain meds for my messed-up spine, i get these frequently 😳

[@seajelly2421]

I so relate to this. The mind-blindness and anxiety that so often accompany autism contribute to the situation, I think. Yes, we want to categorize properly! But what I miss/forget when I'm in the situation is the doctor's perspective. _The doctor just wants to get a general idea of what I'm experiencing._ But in the moment, I'm not thinking about that at all. My thoughts are racing and I'm worried about getting the answer wrong 😅 even though there is no wrong answer. I want to be accurate and precise, and the doctor just wants to figure out the appropriate treatment😅

[@kota3117]

For me, exactly this.

[@spaceageflop3974]

I am a patient at a specialised pain doctor, he also asks me every visit and sometimes I have to fill out a pain diary for 1 oder two weeks prior to the appointment. And I was always struggeling with the 1-10 pain scale until I googled it and found versions with very profound descriptions to every number on the scale, this helped me a lot.

[@Green2Red2]

Can confirm. Just got out of the hospital, I was asked this multiple times a day... and my pain was even different each time, sometimes shooting or stabbing, other times just a twinge, but then it would be sharper...so hard! The nurses were pretty helpful in interpreting "me" into "pain scale". ❤

[@mississippiatheistette8769]

they ask to see whether you are feeling better or worse compared to what your number was when you got there. if your number fgoes up, they may need to rethink treatment. if it goes down, then youre likely to be getting better. or at least you feel better

[@ferntheneuropoet]

This is so true, Taylor! I don’t know if I should laugh or cry 😂😭🤣

[@MelissaKemp]

I ask them if it’s a logarithmic scale. Because I’ve read guidelines about how a 2 or 3 out of 10 is mild enough to be ignored. But if I took the worst pain I’ve ever felt and divided it by 5, it would still be incapacitating lol.

[@fintux]

Have a look at a video by Jeremy Andrew Davis - "How much do you hate the pain scale", it's quite informative on this topic!

[@Bubblies005]

I find it super funny because Dane Cook did a whole comedy skit on this question. 😂😅

[@lisamorrison7737]

God I FELT THIS, DEEPLY!! Truly, I spin out every time I've been asked this!!

[@lmack6596]

Apparently when I was coming round after having my tonsils removed, they asked me this and I said 11!! 😅 I have no recollection of this. But I suppose one perk of being in a lot of pain whilst coming round from anaesthetic is that you don't have brain capacity to over think!! 🤷‍♀️🤣

[@crowkraehenfrau2604]

I can cope with that question, but I play down my other symptoms. I tend to let everybody else go first because they seem to be suffering so much. One time when I finally took my turn, the doctor got really scared I might be dying.... I didn't obviously.

[@JulieB-yc5il]

😂for real! I started answering “well it’s not like when I chopped the tip of my finger off, but it’s getting there” 😂

[@BijanIzadi]

YES the taking away care from other people part I feel that so much

[@Franimus]

I hate when people invariably answer above 8, like there is no way you could legitimately mask that like you are.

[@jw8223]

I have had babies, kidney stones, and migraines. I am NOT a screamer, the exact opposite. I get really REALLY quiet when I’m in pain. At a 10 I’m groaning. But until I hit 10, I am quiet.

[@Franimus]

@@jw8223 I'm talking about people with anxiety-related chest pain, knee pain, etc, who answer 10 without even a slight moan.

[@janicemacmillan2610]

Ive had my intestines blocked multiple times and had to have surgery. This is life ending pain. Ive been sent home when I got to the hospital because they didnt take me seriously. It looks like you are acting because you mask your entire life.

[@jw8223]

@@Franimus it seems like you’re backpedaling when someone gives you examples of how people can legitimately mask high levels of pain. You said 8 first, now you’re saying 10. I have a friend with anxiety caused chest pain. She is ALSO quiet in her pain until she reaches a 10-and her 10 is her most difficult childbirth. Not everyone reacts to or feels pain the way you think they should. You can continue to hate that people say they’re having high levels of pain when they don’t seem like they’re in pain….but PLEASE believe them. Because some of us really are in that level of pain but don’t show it.

[@Franimus]

@@jw8223 yes I am. I'm just frustrated with certain people in my life who don't care about actually fixing the problem via surgery or more diagnostics and instead just stick with pain meds.

[@allyfrasier6306]

This is so true! All of it. Plus the thoughts about taking away valuable resources. And yes! RESEARCH is necessary! I can't cope with this question at all. 😂

[@herchelleonwood7463]

i was just asked this yesterday by a nurse concerning a Radial Tunnel injury, Taylor is correct the question required deep thought.

[@Tarynbreann]

Yessss!! I HAVE TO look at the pictures of the smiley faces depicting the levels of pain 🥴

[@louise_5998]

the dentist asked me this i was so confused lmaooo overthinking on the spot

[@partyinthecloudkingdom]

the most useful graphic ive ever seen broke down the pain scale by how much it impairs you. pain is subjective, but 2 people at level 10 pain are completely incapacitated even if one subjectively is more sensitive to pain

[@Raiirow]

Exhausted 😩

[@thecomputerguy6335]

Yeah, this is why when I get asked that question I define the scale, where 1 is barely noticeable and 10 being so painful I'm about to pass out due to my head not wanting to feel it anymore, where a 7 is unbearable. Doing it this way gives a definite scale and let's them know I'm not just pulling random numbers from nowhere

[@plushieangela]

accurate! my life flashes before my eyes when I get asked that question, I gotta rank a lifetime of pain moments XD

[@MiaraAvalin]

Having had to answer this question for close to 20 years now, i absolutely get it. Especially since pain experience changes over time especially for those of us with chronic pain. It's hard and the first time I had to answer the question i felt completely unable to give a good response. Over time I've learned to use my pain experiences as my scale, as the question is mostly designed to see if administered meds are helping or not. But it's still hard when comparing one pain to another.

[@themustardseedfarm9570]

It’s so flipping frustrating to ask for clarification and they get mad at you.

[@akpopfamily907]

I go to a pain clinic every month at least once, so I completely agree with this. It's been 15 years, so I actually came up with systems to answer the questions and explain it to my doctor. They give me a human body to circle the areas and put a correlating pain rating, and then the answer is an average of all the chronic pain issue spots. I am also very concerned about my ability to handle my pain vs. how someone else does, and I don't want to bother them if I can cope. I also discussed this with my doctor so they know when I finally "break" and say I can't do it anymore and what that really means because I push myself so far. It should be easy, but it isn't. Luckily, I have an amazing group of doctors that I work with, and they are knowledgeable about more than just their chosen field. They have worked so well with me about how I process information.

[@kschindle1]

❤best autistic support channel. I keep learning more about myself

[@kelseyabbas4086]

“I need to call my mom” 😂 spot on

[@megzasaurusrex]

"I need to call my mom." That hit me hard

[@kayleenicole1667]

Exactly this. How did you get inside my head. 😂

[@lorenzwinterhoff8049]

I actually looked up several alternate pain scales and read the descriptions of the characters as they described their level of pain, it was the only way to calibrate my chronic pain that I've lived with since childhood. I wake up around a 6 or 7 most days and can control it down to a decent 4 sometimes.

[@asmhoon4075]

Ugh, yes! My psychology background has me wanting to ask for an operational definition during these types of questions so I can respond very specifically 😂

[@VioletGG4]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one! 😭

[@sparkoftheinfinite]

Omg this is my life! My brain totally works this way. Looking forward to the class end of May! 🙏

[@paigeburton5155]

I’ve had a lot of pain the last three years and have recently found out that I am autistic and I’m 57. Pain is extremely hard for me and always has been although unfortunately I’ve had to get a lot more used at the last few years. I hope this will help you. When I look at pain on a scale, and I also used to get very confused as to how subjective and what that meant, and how to explain it because I’ve had so much pain. I’ve had a horrible third-degree burn. I’ve had knee surgery and a torn meniscus that was extremely painful and I’ve had a major concussion which is awful painful and also a back that was so painful. I had to call an ambulance. That was when I learned that when I categorize pain I do it 1 to 10. 10 is when I have to be at the hospital. The pain is not bearable. I hope that helps you so if you got a 6.50 6.5 afraid of 70 to 7 but just remember anything over eight to a doctor they’re gonna start getting concerned or suspicious. It depends on how you explain it but when you’re getting to an 89 or 10 you’re at the hospital are getting ready to go.

[@rainbowstarks]

Omg I've done this too. Nowdays I just try to put those thoughts aside and say what feels right, even if it seems exaggerated or ridiculous.

[@nataliramirez6497]

😂 same. I am guilty of this as well. "I need to call my mom" had me for the detailed history of medical and painful experiences

[@nataliramirez6497]

THIS NEEDS RESEARCH. I can hear my mom goofily chuckling at me already because that is absolutely something I would say

[@ourhome505]

You are absolutly right!

[@StrawberryBored]

I’m not autistic but, I have a niece who is and I love your videos ☺️. Just try to think of it as how you specifically feel in that exact moment in time. Pain is relative but the point is that your experience with it is concrete ❤️

[@hautomnal9679]

I have seen some pain scales with details on what it means like 1 is a pain you can forget easily when you are doing something else and X is when it is so intense you can barely think at all. It should be use more often! We, autistic people tend to underestimate the pain because we are trying to answer exactly where neurotypical people seem to answer according to how much painkiller they want.

[@3rr0r.4.0.4]

Same, I actually have a pain scale on my phone that I use sometimes (if I remember, I have anxiety at doctors offices)

[@KitCameo]

"I need to call my mom." took me out

[@kschindle1]

Yes, I agree. Psychology tests are the same way. I found my self marking neutral.

[@kittiemarie1235]

Omg there is so much anxiety I have with going to the doc. The not wanting to waste resources is huge guilty feelings!

[@Dylanandnothingelseiswear]

Okay and I thought the “awkward standing” video broke me lol

[@coffeeandsarcasm2160]

Try the comparative pain scale or the Mankoski pain scale. Both of those are based on how your pain is affecting you. Remember that pain scales are made with *new* pain in mind. Hope this helps.

[@j.a.c3813]

I HATE this question. And considering the amount of doctors appointments i had and still have because of a really bad car accident, it gets ridiculous. I just say which face on the diagram looks most appropriate 🤬 lol. I was informed that you rate it based on your own personal pain experiences.. so I remind my self 10 is childbirth for me.

[@kindrayvette4573]

Makes it harder when you live with chronic pain and have also dealt with things like gall stones and football sized ovarian tumours. My pain scale is whack

[@angelcoyote9802]

Haha! I love this! Thank you for describing.

[@Katherine-zi6mw]

Forms are impossible to fill in for exactly this reason... a simple question is a huge question in my mind.

[@DianePierce888]

I love using Hyperbole and a halfs pain scale. It has pictures from bored pain (1) to emoji on fire pain (10)

[@kathyroux7386]

I can't answer the pain scale question. Especially if the pain ebbs and flows. Sometimes the pain is a 9. Sometimes the pair is a 3. It depends on so many factors.

[@ktjoonbug]

Thank you for saying some!

[@tammiepulley7167]

Yes!! I’m coming up with a system to say my pain. It’s like I’m asked to write a software program on site.

[@CharleneCash1973]

I do this! I remind myself that the worse physical pain I've experienced has been childbirth and compound fracturing my arm...which were off the charts... I personally think they should drop the pain scale shit.

[@virginiagill5902]

Thank you! 😂 I feel so seen! Loathe this question and get asked it all the time. I finally quit asking how the scale was defined and just tell them, “Well, if one is a broken arm and 10 is how it feels to go through the windshield of your car…I’d rate today ___”

[@PamelaZKemper]

This is sooooo true, It's so stressful

[@PasadenaMMZ]

I asked for the scale with the faces on it. It helped a lot.

[@grimm0kitten959]

ADHD meds has my pain scale so shifted 😮‍💨. I’m actually able to locate where sensations/pain is coming from and not generalized. I feel like I have so many more sensory issues. I’ve become so much more present in life… but boy do I miss the days of constant 1s (until I need a root canal or something)

[@ViviFuchs]

Oh my God yes. I deal with back pain and one time I went to a physical therapist to see if there was anything they could do to help improve and they would always ask what my pain level was that day and I hated that question.

[@jaskierdraven9191]

I found a graphic that helps me that I saved onto my phone to look at every time I'm asked now lol

[@LaceyMyriah]

LOL i went to the hospital in January with pancreatitis (I was in the process of passing gallstones) and I went on a major rant with my fiance about how mind boggling and subjective the pain scale is!

[@kylapollard9275]

I have chronic pain as well so when asked this question I can even break down the whole number, over analyse and overthink my answer. It’s not an easy one at all unless it is the worst pain I have ever felt then I say that.

[@mommabear2544]

Ohhh do one for the character quiz when you fill out an application. And one for the questions at the doctors office. My brain over thinks all questions that it can be perceived as vague 😅

[@ishbelharris1857]

I once had a long discussion with an A&E doctor about the subjectiveness of pain and how it was an impossible question to answer correctly because we aren't given the parameters and reference for the scale. He told me there is no correct answer, they only ask to judge how much pain relief the patient needs to feel more comfortable and reduce the physical autonomic response to pain. That made more sense to me, although I still think it's a daft question.

[@EagerMarshmallows]

Anyone can use my pain guide chart below. My reference point is that a stubbed toe =7. Don't ask why. It's just truth. Would I rather have a stubbed toe than *this* pain? If "this" pain is: Worse than stubbed toe= say "It's between 8-10" Stubbed toe pain= "It's a 7 doc!" Less pain than stubbed toe = " Between 5-7, help" Anything 1-4 is usually not a red flag unless it's been over a month. Then I say, "The pain never gets to a 5, but it's been a month, so I'm concerned."

[@travelwell6049]

Go online on there is a printable version of the “pain scale” or at least A VERSION of someones idea of the painscale. Carry it with you and whenever you get asked you can decide and then show the doctor, nurse, physio your pain level without the use of some arbitrary number that has no basis on reality.