As an older adult, how should I assess my pain before calling my doctor?

Audrey K. Chun, MD on behalf of The Mount Sinai Health System

Geriatric Medicine

Self-assess your pain before speaking to your doctor. Rate your pain on an ascending scale of 0-10, with zero representing no pain and 10 representing the worst pain possible. You also should document how the pain impacts your daily activities or functions, as this will give your doctor a better idea of how severe and disabling your discomfort is.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Pain

Pain is your body telling you that you have hurt it. This is a good thing, important when you are injured. It can also help diagnose problems with your body. Sometimes pain continues long after it's necessary. Amputees report phantom pain in the legs or arms they no longer have. There are different kinds of pain, and describing the type is useful in diagnosis: recurring, constant, steady, knife-like, radiating, sharp, dull. Medicines that dull pain are analgesics. Those that kill all feeling are anesthetics.

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