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Pain rating scales

Visual analogue scale (VAS) Instructions for producing a VAS Bedside card: OPTION 1 Double-side print or photocopy the next two diagrams ensuring that the lines are exactly 10cm in length and superimposed Laminate the VAS Bedside card for patient use

PLEASE NOTE: or purposes of double-sided print! the numbers on this scale are re"ersed#

OPTION 2 $rint or photocopy the next two diagrams on an A% sheet ensuring that the lines are exactly 10cm in length old at the dotted line Do not show the patient the numbered scale

Numerical rating scale (NRS)

Faces rating scale (FRS)

Behavioural rating scale


For patients unable to provide a self-report of pain: scored 010 clinical observation Face 0 1 2 Face score: Face muscles Facial muscle Frequent to constant relaxed tension, frown, frown, clenched jaw grimace Restlessness 0 1 2 Restlessness uiet, relaxed !ccasional Frequent restless score: appearance, restless movement ma" normal movement, include extremities or movement shifting position head Muscle tone* 0 1 2 Muscle tone #ormal muscle $ncreased tone, %igid tone score: tone flexion of fingers and toes Vocalisation** 0 1 2 Vocalisation #o abnormal !ccasional Frequent or score: sounds moans, cries, continuous moans, whimpers and cries, whimpers or grunts grunts Consolability 0 1 2 Consolability &ontent, %eassured b" 'ifficult to comfort b" score: relaxed touch, touch or tal( distractible Behavioural pain assessment scale total (010 !10

Functional acti it! score"


)&ough*movement+ , #o limitation - .ild limitation & /evere limitation 0 %elative to baseline

& Assess muscle tone in patients with spinal cord lesion or in'ury at a le"el abo"e the lesion in'ury# Assess patients with hemiplegia on the unaffected side# && (his item cannot be measured in patients with artificial airways#

Pain rating scales instructions


Subjective pain score All patients are to ha"e a functional acti"ity score recorded in addition to the chosen sub'ecti"e score# Visual analogue scale (VAS) )nstruct the patient to point to the position on the line between the faces to indicate how much pain they are currently feeling# (he far left end indicates *+o pain, and the far right end indicates *-orst pain e"er,# Numerical rating scale (NRS) )nstruct the patient to choose a number from 0 to 10 that best describes their current pain# 0 would mean *+o pain, and 10 would mean *-orst possible pain,# Faces rating scale (FRS) Adults who ha"e difficulty using the numbers on the "isual.numerical rating scales can be assisted with the use of the six facial expressions suggesting "arious pain intensities# As/ the patient to choose the face that best describes how they feel# (he far left face indicates *+o hurt, and the far right face indicates *0urts worst,# Document number below the face chosen# Behavioural rating scale (he beha"ioural pain assessment scale is designed for use with non-"erbal patients unable to pro"ide self-reports of pain# 1ate each of the fi"e measurement categories 20!1 or 34# Add these together# Document the total pain score out of 10#

Functional activity score (his is an acti"ity-related score# As/ your patient to perform an acti"ity related to their painful area 2for example! deep breathe and cough for thoracic in'ury or mo"e affected leg for lower limb pain4# 5bser"e your patient during the chosen acti"ity and score A! B or 6# A 7 +o limitation meaning the patient,s acti"ity is unrestricted by pain B 7 8ild limitation means the patient,s acti"ity is mild to moderately restricted by pain 6 - Se"ere limitation means the patient ability to perform the acti"ity is se"erely limited by pain &1elati"e to baseline refers to any restriction abo"e any pre7existing condition the patient may already ha"e#

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