I never feel like I'm doing the right thing with those "rate your pain" papers. I'll have pain and schedule an appointment. Sure enough when it happens, the pain has dropped to a 1 or 2. Regardless of the issue. In many cases it's because I've gotten used to it and I know how to avoid the pain spikes. It could still be a serious issue, but I adapt well.
What annoys me even more is imagining the fuckers that say their pain is a 10. Who knows, it may never happen, but I always picture some lawyer in my head screaming at the top of his lungs because he "kinda" stubbed his toe while walking very slowly on a sidewalk. Fuck those people.