How do you communicate your pain level with someone else?

Going from ‘in pain’ to ‘pain-free’ is a huge step. Communicating that your neck does not hurt the way it did before is an amazing statement and to say it sometimes requires new vocabulary. Let me explain.

When a person has been used to saying “I hurt” for so long and then wants to express themselves differently, the way to do that may not be on the tip of their tongue.

I love the word ‘different’ to describe the process of going from ‘in pain’ to ‘not in pain’. Different says, “I feel better” without ignoring the unresolved pain still present.

“Will my ‘I am fine’ ignore my process?”
“I want to communicate accurately.”
“I need to acknowledge remaining pain.”
“I want my therapist to know I still need more treatment.”

You might refrain from saying you feel better because you don’t want me to be less therapeutic during their session.

I encourage you to not do that.

It is OK and safe to glory in your progress!

Let me in on your progress. It is helpful feedback for me. Let me celebrate small steps with you and be confident that I will still offer the therapy you need.

Ways to describe progress that might work for you:
1. It feels different in a good way/in a bad way.
2. When I came in it was a 9; now it is a 5.
3. I’m not there but I’m going in the right direction.
4. This was helpful but not enough; I need more.
5. Tomorrow morning I will be able to tell more clearly; I have to let it sink in.

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I have recently added…
I have a new thermodynamic air puffier to the office which is said to eliminate Allergens, Viruses, Bacteria, and Mold while improving General Air Quality and Sterilizing the Air. It is sitting on the fireplace so when you come in please place your things on the window sill or the car so that we have good air flow around the air purifier.

Have a ‘different’ sorta day,
Monica