{"id":5268,"date":"2021-05-07T12:12:18","date_gmt":"2021-05-07T16:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/?p=5268"},"modified":"2021-08-23T17:10:25","modified_gmt":"2021-08-23T21:10:25","slug":"pain-scale-tests-part-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/pain-scale-tests-part-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Pain Scale Tests \u2013 Part Two"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the second part of our discussion on the use of pain scale tests in North Carolina and Virginia <a href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/practice-areas\/workers-compensation\/\">workers\u2019 compensation<\/a> cases. As a reminder, pain scales are a way that doctors and others interested in your workers\u2019 compensation case try to measure your pain. The results of pain scales test can affect your right to continued treatment and other work injury rights, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/a-glossary-of-pain-management-terms-and-an-explanation-of-neck-pain\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pain management<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> treatment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pain scale tests are \u201cself-reporting.\u201d This means they\u2019re easy to administer and are generally clerical in nature. Most patients just use a pen or marker and respond to questions on a written sheet of paper. The scales can confirm a worker\u2019s injuries. The scales can also help show if a worker isn\u2019t credible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The results may be compared to objective tests. The results may also be compared to prior pain scale tests which means workers need to be extra-careful to given honest answers. The doctors and your employer will look for inconsistent answers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We discussed many of the pain scale tests in part one of this discussion. Here are a few more common pain scale tests.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><i>The McGill Pain Questionnaire<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.painscale.com\/article\/the-mcgill-pain-questionnaire\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Pain Scale<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is a subjective test that attempts to measure the quality and intensity of your pain.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three general categories:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sensory. This part of the MPQ focuses on how you feel at this moment \u2013 the moment you answer the question. Different descriptors can be used. Points are awarded depending on which descriptor you select.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Affective. \u201cAffective descriptors are used to understand how an individual\u2019s pain changes with time.\u201d \u201cThe MPQ asks about how alcohol, stimulants, depressants, exercise, and weather affect an individual\u2019s pain levels. It also goes more in-depth to decipher if distraction lessens the pain.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evaluative. There are six questions such as \u201cWhat word describes your pain right now?&#8221; or &#8220;Which word describes your pain at its worst?&#8221;. Workers\/patients who say mild get one point. Workers who say their pain causes discomfort are assigned two points \u2013 and so on.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uses 78 words to describe your pain. Different point values are given to different words.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The questions are divided into 20 different categories including:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Temporal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spatial<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constrictive pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thermal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brightness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dullness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tension<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autonomic<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is used to treat and monitor pain \u2013 and for other reason.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Was developed at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><i>Pain, Enjoyment and General Activity Scale (PEG)<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another common pain scale test is the Pain, Enjoyment and General Activity Scale (PEG). Pain scales are used to help assess the severity of your pain, whether treatments are working, and what types of other treatments may be needed. Pain scales such as the PEG scale are sometimes used to help determine whether you have a permanent impairment and\/or whether and how your pain should be categorized according to American Medical Association guidelines.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><i>How does the PEG scale work?<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three pain-related questions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What number (a range is given from 0 to 10) describes the intensity of your pain \u2013 during the prior week? If you answer 10, you\u2019re stating that you experienced a lot of pain during the period week. A 5 indicates a moderate amount of pain. A 0 means you didn\u2019t experience any pain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What number describes how much your pain (during the prior week) interfered with your ability to enjoy your life. A high number indicates that the pain prevented you from doing the things you enjoyed such as walking and enjoying your family. A low number indicates minimal or no interference.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What number (again with reference to the prior week) describes how your pain impacted your \u201cgeneral activity.\u201d General activity suggests doing the things you enjoy and also the things you have to do (like taking out the trash or other errands) even if you don\u2019t enjoy them. General activity can also include essential activities like eating and sleeping. Again, 0 indicates no impact while a 10 indicates a major impact.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The test is graded by finding the average \u2013 adding up the three numbers and then dividing by three.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The PEG test can be answered in your doctor\u2019s office. The test can also be answered on the phone or at your home. The test can be used at different intervals in your recovery. It can also be used for different types of pain. For example, it can be used to determine how well your physical therapy is going. The PEG test can also be used to help your doctor understand how well any prescribed medications are working.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the numbers aren\u2019t improving, that suggests the rehabilitation isn\u2019t working. So be careful, the employer will look to see if your physical therapy is helping. If therapy isn\u2019t helping, the employer (or the insurance carrier for the employer) may seek to terminate the therapy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The pain scores should improve after you take the medication and stay stable as you continue to take the prescribed medications.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Carolina and Virginia workers\u2019 compensation lawyer Joe Miller has been fighting for injured workers for more than 30 years. He works to verify your medical injuries. He fights to ensure the employer doesn\u2019t terminate your right to medical treatment or work loss benefits before you\u2019re healthy enough to return to work. To speak with an experienced workers\u2019 compensation lawyer, call lawyer Joe Miller, Esq., at <\/span><b>888-667-8295<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or fill out my online <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/contact-us\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contact form<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to schedule an appointment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employees in North Carolina and Virginia can also now fill out our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/free-workers-comp-case-eval\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Electronic Case Review<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The link is a new way of communicating with clients that we\u2019re offering &#8211; to allow workers to contact us remotely during the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is the second part of our discussion on the use of pain scale tests in North Carolina and Virginia workers\u2019 compensation cases. As a reminder, pain scales are a way that doctors and others interested in your workers\u2019 compensation case try to measure your pain. The results of pain scales test can affect your &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"Pain Scale Tests \u2013 Part Two\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/pain-scale-tests-part-two\/#more-5268\" aria-label=\"Read more about Pain Scale Tests \u2013 Part Two\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14,8],"tags":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Joe Miller","author_link":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/author\/jmiller\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"This is the second part of our discussion on the use of pain scale tests in North Carolina and Virginia workers\u2019 compensation cases. As a reminder, pain scales are a way that doctors and others interested in your workers\u2019 compensation case try to measure your pain. The results of pain scales test can affect your&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5268"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5268\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}