For years, I have been aware on some level that there is a distinct difference between pain and discomfort. Being in pain is uncomfortable, but being uncomfortable (physically) is not necessarily painful. In the past few months, I have had ample time to examine this hypothosis and make judgements on its validity.
I use this method: The terms are analogue, not binary. There are a nearly infinite number of points between comfort and excruciating agony. At any time we all are somewhere on that continuum. Where discomfort becomes pain is a wide grey area defined by each individual's threshold of pain.
Also, the threshold is not a fixed point. For eaach of us, it moves some based on level and duration of discomfort. Long exposure to higher discomfort becomes pain more quickly in those circumstances.
But health care professionals have gotten used to the idea that most patients do not understand the difference. Their objective is pain management, and the patient thinks that discomfort should be alleviated by some pill. I now bristle when I am uncomfortable and the nurse/doc/etc. asks, "on a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?". I have been laying in this hospital bed for 2 weeks and it is uncomfortable. But that is what I expect under those conditions. I don't need an Hydrocodone just because the muscles in my lower back are complaining a bit. I may need and Advil at bedtime to ease that so I sleep better, but no stout stuff.
I consider this phenomenon to be part of the overall simplification of our language. To the detriment of clear communication. Yesterday, The PA at the Oncologist took my BP 117/60. Perfect, she said. 2 hours later, the PA at the Radiation place took it for their record, 122/65. Perfect, she said. What? Which one is "perfect? Is there any such thing as "Perfect BP? I know there are ranges of blood pressure and both of those readings are well within the desired range. But "perfect"? Would she put that on the chart? Would she use that word for the doctor?
We have and use language for the precision that it gives in expression. Having 27 words for snow is probably overkill, but describing those readings as good or even excellent is much more meaningful to me.
I use this method: The terms are analogue, not binary. There are a nearly infinite number of points between comfort and excruciating agony. At any time we all are somewhere on that continuum. Where discomfort becomes pain is a wide grey area defined by each individual's threshold of pain.
Also, the threshold is not a fixed point. For eaach of us, it moves some based on level and duration of discomfort. Long exposure to higher discomfort becomes pain more quickly in those circumstances.
But health care professionals have gotten used to the idea that most patients do not understand the difference. Their objective is pain management, and the patient thinks that discomfort should be alleviated by some pill. I now bristle when I am uncomfortable and the nurse/doc/etc. asks, "on a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?". I have been laying in this hospital bed for 2 weeks and it is uncomfortable. But that is what I expect under those conditions. I don't need an Hydrocodone just because the muscles in my lower back are complaining a bit. I may need and Advil at bedtime to ease that so I sleep better, but no stout stuff.
I consider this phenomenon to be part of the overall simplification of our language. To the detriment of clear communication. Yesterday, The PA at the Oncologist took my BP 117/60. Perfect, she said. 2 hours later, the PA at the Radiation place took it for their record, 122/65. Perfect, she said. What? Which one is "perfect? Is there any such thing as "Perfect BP? I know there are ranges of blood pressure and both of those readings are well within the desired range. But "perfect"? Would she put that on the chart? Would she use that word for the doctor?
We have and use language for the precision that it gives in expression. Having 27 words for snow is probably overkill, but describing those readings as good or even excellent is much more meaningful to me.
