Here's one of the better pain scales I've seen:

[hedgehog]

http://www.dvcipm.org/files/manuals-resources/dvprs.pdf

[postulater]

1. you're right. i'll use that.

The faces help, so do the colors.

[Warpy]

2. There is a better one than that.

From the illustrated blog that gave us the simple-dog-head-tilt, http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/

[UglyGreed]

5. Oh man

those are scary but close to reality.

[hedgehog]

6. I've wanted to give that to my doctor - but I'm old enough to

be shy about the F word.

[NightWatcher]

3. Dontcha love when you are 4-5 so long that you mistake it for baseline 1-2?

I'm gonna print that one out and keep it in my paperwork with my packet of medical records I take with me to new Dr's.

Thanks for that.

[hedgehog]

7. That's why i like the verbal description of how much the pain interferes

with your life. Sometimes I don't know how bad it is until I break down, take some ibuprofen, then find myself relaxing as the pain fades.

Pacing is also a sign that it's pretty bad.

[UglyGreed]

4. better than the one

I need to fill out each month.