What is a pain scale?
Everyone has different zone levels of pain, or stress, that can be associated on a numbered, coloured scale to help determine where you are.
The zones within a pain scale are “states”, “stages”, or “phases” along a spectrum of health and dis-ease or pathology.
Generally speaking, there are three coloured zones within the pain scale. Each zone corresponds to a numeric range within a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the least amount of pain or stress:
- 1-3: the green zone represents a pain-free (stress-free) phase
- 4-6: the orange zone covers the middle of the spectrum, representing constant and consistent pain and/or stress
- 7-10: the red zone represents severe, unbearable levels of pain and/or stress
Adverse situations
Before we continue by defining the coloured pain scale zones with examples, first we need to understand how we experience adverse situations in our day-to-day life.
Adverse situations can be any event that affects us. Adverse situations include those that occur within ourselves and our body as well as any event that occurs outside of ourselves.
When adverse situations arise, these are labelled as “red” events.
Examples of adverse situations:
- Headaches
- Joint pain
- Abdominal bloating
- Insomnia
- Vomiting
- Back pain
- Worry, anxiety, depression
- Cold, flu, virus, bacteria
- Traumatic injury
- Environmental stress
- Abuse (verbal or physical)
We can’t simply avoid adverse situations
Life has stress, strain, pain, and suffering as an inherent part of the package.
That’s the human condition.
The important step here is about developing one’s internal ability to see and accept one’s situation and then temper one’s reactions and involvement.
This is not easy to do. It requires personal training and development.
Ultimately healing rests with the individual. However, compassionate treatment can certainly help a person decelerate away from orange and red, reducing the physical, mental, and emotional strains that detract from our vigour and vitality.
The Green Zone: 1-3 out of 10
When our body-minds are balanced and harmonious we are less plagued by tension or pain.
In this ideal state we have more vital resources at our disposal, and are better equipped to cope with adverse situations.
While in the green zone we have sufficient resources of vigour, vitality, and health (of body-mind and of spirit).
Having sufficient resources allow us to cope and deal with an adverse situation before it becomes chronic or pervasive, which otherwise will move us into the orange or even the red zone.
Someone in the green zone:
- Wakes up feeling okay about life and their condition within it
- Has sufficient vitality and vigour to continue with their days
- Is realistic about themselves and their abilities/situations
- Understands that sickness and ill health are part of life’s journey, and need to be worked with as and when they arise
The Orange Zone: 4-6 out of 10
Most of us are living somewhere in the orange zone. We endure our pains and ailments and don’t complain about them.
Orange zone clients need a consistent course of treatment to:
- First, prevent a shift into a “deep orange / heading for red” zone (6/10) zone; and
- Second, move back down to “mild orange” (4/10) and green (3/10) zone
How constitution affects our zones
People who have a weaker constitution may be luckier when in the orange spectrum, as for them an orange level reading acts like a red. They take care of it more quickly, and don't wait for a red flare up that further wears them down.
Orange is tricky for those with a strong constitution. These people tend to ignore pain and carry on, enduring their issues. This allows their problems to pile up until the load becomes too much.
Pain within the orange zone
Pain within the orange zone tends to be more chronic in nature, meaning it is persistent or otherwise long-lasting. This pain can range from mild to severe.
Keep in mind that I am not strictly referring to “pain” as a physical sensation. Pain can also manifest emotionally and spirtually.
Orange zone pain is distinguished from red zone pain by its severity. It’s more constant and consistent, and is not a flare-up.
This type of pain is easily pushed into the red zone if other problems arise in a person’s life which drain and aggravate their already thin vital resources.
Orange pain zones tend to take longer to resolve, but with consistent treatment and facilitation, a person can move back into the green zone.
Types of orange zone pain:
- Chronic illness and disease (cancer, diabetes, HIV, etc.)
- Chronic migraines
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Menstrual difficulties
- Past traumatic experiences
- Chronic muscle and joint pain
- Tension and stress
The Red Zone: 7-10 out of 10
When you’re in the red zone, your pain, stress, and anxiety levels are so high they are considered to be intolerable or unbearable.
In the red zone your daily life is severely restricted, or on hold, and concern occupies a lot of body-mind energy. This is when most people first think “it’s time to receive treatment”.
Anyone who is living with a debilitating chronic condition could consistently be in the red zone.
A red zone situation could be:
- A flare-up of a long-term problem
- The result of an injury or accident
- A discovery of a new serious concern
Acute and chronic red zone pain
If you are experiencing severe pain and feeling the need to take painkillers, it is important that you receive treatment fast.
Fortunately, the red zone can be quick to resolve. Onset is sudden and symptoms are severe, but depending on your vitality, recovery can be just as quick.
Acute red zone flare-ups are:
- Sudden
- Traumatic
- Severe
- Debilitating
Chronic red zone flare-ups are:
- Often the result of a long-term, underlying condition
- Develop gradually, but
- Become severe when it flares up
People with high pain thresholds
Some people are born with very high tolerance thresholds and operate at a low red zone, or 7/10, for a long, long time.
Often these people are surprised that their system has “failed them”. This creates additional secondary problems of disbelief and remorse as they cannot understand why their once vital system is no longer operating in the way they are used to.
What they do not realize is that they were actually running at an extraordinary rate which was simply unsustainable.
Getting pushed into the red zone
Other people find themselves in the red zone due to some terrible event or trauma that pushed them into this heightened, constant flare up.
With acceptance, they accommodate as if there is no other choice but to keep going. This means they endure and this level of flare up becomes their normal.
Fortunately, alternative medicine treatments such as Zen Shiatsu or acupuncture can help to alleviate some discomfort and bring a sense of release to your body-mind.
Causes of red zone pain:
- Common daily incident: A wrist or hip injury from a fall that makes it potentially impossible to move
- Car accident: Severe trauma to the body, which is in need of immediate care
- Extreme emotional or mental trauma: Your system is in shock and requires some rebalancing
- Overeating: Creates an imbalance in the digestive organs
- Menstrual cramps: Severe menstrual cramps and other PMS symptoms can cause an inability to function, ultimately leading to having to take time off work or daily life
- Headaches: Migraines and headaches can be debilitating and make being in light or noise impossible
- Back pain: Anyone with a history of back pain or who has “put out” their back
- Surgery: Recovering from both planned and unexpected surgery
Getting back into green
Regardless of where you personally reside on the colour spectrum of health, the act of determining which state your body-mind is currently is integral to the process of healing and balancing.
If you are in Toronto you can contact me any time to book a treatment. We will discuss your current state, and together begin your journey to reduce stress and pain levels.
About Daniel
I am a practitioner of traditional East Asian medicine based in Toronto, Ontario. You can find more about me on my bio or learn more about the treatments I offer.
As always, thanks for reading!
– Daniel (T’agyol) Adler