Use this mnemonic to evaluate the characteristics of pain. # S - site *Where exactly is the pain occurring?* # O - onset *What was the patient doing when their pain started?* # C - character *What does the pain feel like?* (e.g., sharp, achy) # R - radiation *Does the pain go anywhere else?* # A - associated symptoms *Are there any symptoms alongside the pain?* (e.g., nausea, vomiting) # T - timing & duration *How long has the patient had the pain for? Does it occur at a particular time of day or change throughout the day?* # E - exacerbating & alleviating factors *Does anything make the pain worse or better?* # S - severity *How severe is the pain on a scale of 1 (not very painful) to 10 (excruciating)?*