A British family medicine physician has clarified why the idea of a universal ‘normal’ pain level is misleading. In a recent Instagram video, Dr Sermed Mezher, a UK-based clinician and popular health content creator, explained that no single benchmark can measure pain because a person’s biology, lived experiences and long-term health conditions deeply influence it.
He noted that while some individuals may move through life with little or no discomfort, others, such as older adults with arthritis or people living with chronic conditions, may experience daily aches even when no new medical issue is present. Pain, he stressed, is ‘deeply personal’ and shaped by unique physical and emotional factors.
Dr Mezher stated that zero is the ideal pain score, but people cannot apply this figure universally. “Normal pain levels are not the same for everyone,” he said, pointing out that factors such as mental health, cultural background and previous injuries influence how people perceive discomfort.
For those with chronic ailments such as nerve pain or fibromyalgia, a low but persistent level of pain may simply be part of everyday life. Attempting to impose a zero-pain standard on such individuals, he added, is unrealistic and could even be harmful.
Zero Pain Isn’t Always Helpful
Addressing the notion that zero pain should be the norm, Dr Mezher questioned who such a standard would truly represent. He remarked that expecting an elderly person or someone with long-term medical issues to be completely pain-free does not reflect clinical reality.
For patients who live with chronic discomfort, the goal should not be complete elimination of pain. He said that clinicians aim to help patients get on with life without restrictions, and he added that many people can realistically and functionally manage pain levels of two or three on the scale. Some individuals, including those engaged in physically demanding work, may even continue their routines at higher pain levels.
The doctor highlighted that healthcare assessments prioritise changes from a person’s usual baseline rather than the exact number given on the pain scale.
A sudden increase in discomfort may be a more significant indicator than the score itself.
Dr Mezher emphasised that recognising how widely pain varies between individuals helps healthcare providers acknowledge people’s experiences and offer appropriate medical support.
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