Doctor installs funny 'pain scale' outside his door and the net wants it at every hospital

Thousands of people visit the doctor’s office every day seeking relief from pain and discomfort. While pain is a complex sensory and emotional experience, it often serves as a signal for hidden health concerns. To better understand and manage this distress, medical professionals worldwide have developed various pain scales to measure severity, ranging from acute and chronic to neuropathic pain. However, there is no universal agreement on a standardized metric. In the midst of this, a humorous evaluation tool shared on Reddit by u/Flimsy_Note_1583 offers a lighthearted way to measure pain, sparking joy online.

A widely shared image of this creative pain scale has sparked comical reactions across social media. Many have praised the clever twist, with some suggesting that doctors adopt it in clinics. Dubbed the "Improved Pain Scale," it retains the familiar 1-to-10 ratings but adds a humorous spin. For example, a pain level of one—the lowest—represents minimal discomfort, like mild itching. Level two includes minor injuries such as cuts, blisters, or burns that only require a band-aid.

With number three, the intensity of pain increases, and it starts to feel real with the picture showing the state of a person speaking nonsense as they find the pain annoying. “[The pain] is concerning but I can still work,” reads the number four parameter on the pain scale with the patient acting brave. The fifth parameter represents the point when the discomfort becomes unbearable. It is described as someone not realizing they have been bitten by bees. Following this, the sixth state is when a person is in trouble and tries to run away from the bees. The "improved" version uses ninjas, bears, and bees to add a little fun to the pain scale.

Seventh and eighth stages are when the patient cannot stop crying and move subsequently. The ninth reflects the heights of pain, no less than being mauled by bears or ninjas. And, the tenth, being the highest, requires immediate medical intervention after getting incapacitated or rendered unconscious. Notably, all these parameters, inspired by real-world situations, are marked with screamingly funny illustrations instead of colored tones. The pain scale's fresh version received a range of responses on social media. Some felt rage, believing it dismissed their suffering, while others thought it was funny.

Some said their pain was "at least an 11 or 12!" and criticized the scale for lacking enough levels. As labor pain is an important experience for one gender, the designer was criticized for leaving it out. Among them, u/mrsmedistorm remarked, “Is it sad that this chart needs to be in every doctor’s office because it gives a better description than a cartoon face? It puts a better perspective on pain level.” “Seriously, this chart helped me realize my chronic pain is a 4 most days, but a flare-up is an 8,” shared u/nudethreats, poking fun at their burned-out state of being. “'Bees? Bees!’ is a whole mood,” u/Ever_Ojeda_08 joked.