The 0–10 numeric rating scale is the most widely used way to measure pain. The patient picks a number from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain imaginable), which gives a quick, repeatable measure that can be compared from visit to visit.
Because a number means different things to different people, each level below has a short description of what it feels like and how it affects activity. For people who can't give a number, use a scale built for them: faces for young children, FLACC for infants and non-verbal patients, CPOT in intensive care and PAINAD in advanced dementia.
Zdrovia: https://www.zdrovia.ca/resources/pain-scale/
Pain Rating
Pain Scale 0–10
Pick the number that matches the pain right now. Each level has a short description of what it feels like and how it affects daily activity.
Pain rating
Score every item to see the result
These results are estimates based on published clinical data and are for informational purposes only. They do not constitute medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. Consult a licensed aesthetic practitioner before beginning any treatment. Individual results vary.
Zdrovia's smart blocks drop validated scales into the visit note, keep every item score, and graph the total across visits so the trend is visible at a glance. See how smart blocks work →
Pain scale chart
| Score | Severity | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | None | No pain |
| 1–3 | Mild | Noticeable but you can carry on with normal activities |
| 4–6 | Moderate | Interferes with concentration and daily tasks |
| 7–10 | Severe | Dominates your attention, disrupts sleep, limits activity; 10 is the worst imaginable |
Which pain scale to use
| Scale | Best for | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Numeric rating scale (0–10) | Adults and older children who can rate their pain | 0–10 |
| Faces scales (FPS-R, Wong-Baker FACES) | Children from about 4 years, or adults who prefer pictures | 0–10 |
| Mankoski pain scale | Adults wanting descriptive anchors for each number | 0–10 |
| FLACC | Infants and children from 2 months to 7 years, non-verbal patients | 0–10 |
| CPOT | Critically ill adults who can't self-report | 0–8 |
| PAINAD | People with advanced dementia | 0–10 |
Score it straight into the chart
Zdrovia's smart blocks drop validated scales into the visit note, keep every item score, and graph the total across visits so the trend is visible at a glance.
Faces pain scales
Faces scales show a row of faces from neutral to very distressed, and the child points to the one that matches how they feel. The Faces Pain Scale–Revised (FPS-R) and the Wong-Baker FACES scale both map to 0–10, scored 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. They are generally used from about age four. Both are copyrighted: the FPS-R is free for clinical use from the International Association for the Study of Pain, and Wong-Baker FACES requires permission for commercial reproduction, so use the official versions rather than redrawn ones.
The Mankoski pain scale
The Mankoski scale gives each number a fuller description tied to function, for example whether the pain can be ignored, interferes with concentration, or prevents conversation. The descriptions above follow the same idea. Anchoring numbers to function helps patients rate consistently, and helps you compare their scores over time.
Recording pain scores well
Record the score with the time, the scale used, and whether it's pain at rest, on movement or the worst in the past 24 hours. A change of about 2 points (or 30%) on the 0–10 scale is commonly treated as clinically meaningful. For a fuller picture, pair the number with a structured history such as PQRST.
Describing the pain: PQRST pain assessment →
Non-verbal patients: FLACC pain scale →
References
- Hawker GA et al. Measures of adult pain. Arthritis Care Res. 2011;63 Suppl 11:S240–252.
- Hicks CL et al. The Faces Pain Scale–Revised. Pain. 2001;93(2):173–183.
- Farrar JT et al. Clinical importance of changes in chronic pain intensity measured on an 11-point numerical pain rating scale. Pain. 2001;94(2):149–158.
Other clinical assessment references