There are many factors involved in measuring progress.
Why this matters:
The first measure of progress is pain level. We often think, pain or no pain. However, pain is rated on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (take me to the hospital pain). The next measure is area of pain; as in location and size of pain. If it goes from a large area of pain to a smaller, more localized, then you’re heading in the right direction. We also need to look at centralization, or having the pain move closer up to your back, if your leg pain goes away/reduces, and your back hurts more, then this is great news. If you’re feeling stronger, this is progress as well. The last progression is the description of pain. Here’s the spectrum of pain, with the worst nerve irritation to no nerve irritation: complete numbness/weakness->pins and needles->burning->sharp shooting->deep ache->heaviness/tightness-> resolution.
Action steps:
Make a note of how you feel today as compared to yesterday according to the categories above. This is a great way to assess the effectiveness of a program.
