Thats a good explanation of my similar numbers. 1-2 minimal no drugs, 3 muscle relaxer at night to ensure solid sleep. 4-6 primary triptan. 7-8 secondary triptan, bath and bed, 9-10 considering ER. Days after migraines nearly as bad as headache days with weakness and bone pain.

I have my own 1-10 scale. I am never without a #2 -3 minimal, #4-5 can do things but light, noise, smells sensitivity on aIert. #6-7 searching retreat, nausea increases.# 8-9 Going down and serious recovery time is the only option. I think I am dying #10, is rare since menopause. I don't like to look at those face emotion charts.

I think it's a way for them to have some kind of concrete consistent measuring tool. But in reality your 7 may not be like my 7. I have seen some charts that describe what a 7 headache may be like.

@A MyMigraineTeam Member, Thanks. Super helpful.

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A MyMigra...

I usually base it on what I'm able to do during the migraine. If it's just a 1-2 then I can go about my day, and feel fine but kind of have a mild migraine that is there in the back of my head. 3-4 i usually when I can do certain things, but am limited to doing them and can feel it pulsing in my forehead or in the area that is affected. 5-6 is usually when I have troubles doing every day things, but I can still force myself to do them although it's a slow situation and I normally start to either consider taking pain pills, or go and do something that I know could or should help with the pain. 7-8 is usually light sensitivities and bed ridden with a movie on low volume and dimmed lights. 9-10 is usually me curled up in bed with no lights, lots of pain killers, and a sleep mask on with dead silence.

Eventually you'll figure out your own way of telling how you are on the pain chart, it's just a matter of figuring it out, much like you would with triggers or what medication/other things help get rid of them. It took me a long time to realise that not every migraine I got was a 9 or a 10 but for a long time in the beginning it sure felt that way.