The Chronic Pain Pocket Translator

Illustrated for Easy Understanding

Comic hermit crab essay

For those who may not know, I took a (wonderful, amazing, fantastic) class with the incomparable Aubrey Hirsch earlier this year on drawing comics—for people who can’t draw. I learned a lot and started working on improving my (very sad) stick figures.

But I decided I wanted to give a try at fashioning a comic for this space. And since we know how much I enjoy poking fun at pain scales, it seemed the natural place to start. Hope you enjoy! (Any shortcomings in my art are NOT Aubrey’s fault!)

The Chronic Pain Pocket Translator (By Andi Kennedy)
"I'm fine." NO PAIN (Translation: "I'm actually fine. (No, REALLY!) My body has decided to behave itself (for the space of this vocal interaction), and I am experiencing no pain. Or at least not enough to warrant medical attention."
"I'm fine." MILD PAIN (Translation: "Get the Benadryl, hydrocortisone, ice, lidocaine, mallet - whatever it takes to stop this incessant stinging sensation that's overtaken my body!"
"I'm fine." MODERATE PAIN (Translation: "Is blood pouring from my body? It feels like blood should be pouring from my body. You might want to grab a mop. And Advil. And Tylenol. And any other analgesics you can lay your hands on."
"I'm fine." SEVERE PAIN (Translation: "We've got five seconds before I melt into a puddle of human flesh. What idiot set the thermostat at 76 degrees? (Or is it 83 degrees?) Whatever - it's too much! Get ice! Get tanktops! Then get me a sweater because I'll be cold ten seconds later!"
"I'm fine." INTOLERABLE PAIN (Translation: "Your suggestion of a trip to the ER may have some merit."

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