Since pain is a subjective experience can it therefore not be measured objectively?

Question

It is said that pain is a subjective experience that is influenced not only by physiological factors but also psychological factors too. I understand that there are various psychological measures designed to measure pain but how can you measure something objectively if it subjective?

Answer 1

I don't believe it can truely be measured in any way. The experience of pain, whether physical or pyschically is totally subjective and not subject to objective evaluation It is different for every person . Having broken many bones in my life time in different ways and situations It is very apparent that state of mind is the defining factor in the severity of the actual pain you will experience. Ie. A soldier wounded in the field who still has someone trying to kill him hardly feels any pain immediately. His body is in survival mode. On the other hand, If you are in a place where you need everyones attention, a hangnail will be a major injury.

My broken bones: Broke arm in car accident (short term pain 5 minutes) Rebroke in surgery to set (no pain) Broke 3 bones( immediate pain 5 minutes to walk off) in foot to show off my prowess in leaping tall buidings. Was on a date and had to suck it up. Went to doctor 4 days later when it swelled to the size of a foot ball. broke it again to reset (Only pain here was my girlfiends comments regarding my intelligence).

Traumatic injury to the body is usually very short term PAIN ( it is the aftermath that destroys lifes).

The greatest pain has to be that of the seriously ill with debilitating and lethal disease that from which there is no respite. Can you measure their pain? Constantly, day and night, just wanting peace and freedom from pain.

I ask God now and then "why am I here" I have been hauled out of the pit 1/2 dozen times where death and pain was certain. Somehow i reached up and everytime He lifted me out. I don't know why He decided to keep me alive. I like to think there is something that He thinks i can contribute to his creation before i go home. I ask only for His compassion and love and that he will let me die without pain. I do not fear pain of the body. I fear pain of the spirit. I fear those whom I have loved will not know the depth of that love. That i have not given the love in my spirit to those i cherish most.

Can you measure this.

Answer 2

Yes, in theory, but the higher the pain level (as in using the 10 point scale) the harder it is to be objective. It's done everyday in the medical field-the patient is asked to rate their pain from 1 to 10. It's objective but it's also subjective because the threshold of pain is different for each person. A five for me may only be a 2 for you; therefore it's both objective and subjective. BUT, when you think about it-it's your pain, so the degree is entirely your decision.

Answer 3

Pain is caused by the reflux of receptors in the brain....each person has a different ability to the pain in question....pain can be guessed as a measurement but is not a true figure as each individual will issue a different figure for the pain threshold.

Answer 4

You can measure the screams in decibels but then again you'd have to use a mic and every mic has different pickup qualities.

You could do by heart rate and relate it to a certain degree of pain. ?

Answer 5

Your body starts to release adrenalin when it feels threatened (fight or flight reaction). When your body starts to release adrenalin your pupils in your eyes dilate, so you could 'measure' amount of adrenalin in the bloodstream, but other than that all is subjective as everyone's thresh hold is different.

Answer 6

It can only be measured subjectively. However, I think that through hypnosis (apart from other esoteric means), pain can be managed much better and experienced 'differently.'

Sash.

Answer 7

develop a questionnaire on pain and test on a population..then you can develop a norm,...statistics my friend..use it..

Answer 8

You can't!