PAIN ASSESSMENT

This is how to best evaluate and describe your pain.
Use the acronymn, SOCRATES.

SITE:
Where is the pain? At what site is the pain at its maximum?

ONSET:
When did the pain start? Was it sudden or gradual?

CHARACTER:
How is the pain like? Is it stabbing, or like a burning sensation? Is it like someone 'standing on your chest'?

RADIATION:
Does the pain radiate (or move) from one part of the body to another?

ASSOCIATIONS:
Are there any other signs and symptoms associated (that come along) with the pain?

TIME COURSE:
Does the pain follow any time pattern? It is recurring or intermittent?

EXACERBATING FACTORS:
Does anything make the pain worse? Do you need to take any food or assume any position to lessen the pain?

SEVERITY:
How bad is the pain? On the scale of 1 - 10, can you rate the pain?

Get the best from your Nurse practitioner or MO  by giving the best pain assessment.