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Pain Scores
Pain scores are tools used to assess and quantify a patient’s subjective perception of pain, enabling consistent monitoring and treatment decisions.
Common Pain Scales
Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
- Scale: 0–10
- 0 = No pain, 10 = Worst imaginable pain
- Use: Most commonly used in adults
- Advantages: Quick, easy to administer
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
- Description: 10 cm line with endpoints “No pain” and “Worst imaginable pain”
- Scoring: Measured in mm from “No pain” end
- Use: Clinical trials, sensitive detection of changes
- Limitation: Requires patient comprehension and fine motor skills
Verbal Rating Scale (VRS)
- Options: No pain, Mild, Moderate, Severe, Very severe, Worst possible
- Use: Suitable for elderly or those with low numeracy
- Advantage: Simple and intuitive
Faces Pain Scale – Revised (FPS-R)
- Visual: Series of faces from happy (0) to crying (10)
- Use: Pediatric patients, language barriers, cognitive impairment
- Aligned with: 0–10 Numeric Rating
FLACC Scale
- Components: Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability
- Score range: 0–10
- Use: Infants, non-verbal, sedated patients
- Observational tool: Based on behavior
Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS)
- Domains:
- Facial expression
- Upper limb movements
- Compliance with ventilation
- Use: ICU, sedated/ventilated patients
Clinical Interpretation
| Score | Description | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No pain | No treatment required |
| 1–3 | Mild pain | Monitor or mild analgesics (e.g. paracetamol) |
| 4–6 | Moderate pain | Standard analgesia (e.g. NSAIDs, weak opioids) |
| 7–10 | Severe pain | Strong analgesia; assess for complications |