I used to keep a pain/symptoms journal that I jotted brief notes in daily to try to track trends and triggers. I used a day planner because it had plenty of space every day to write in.

But I stopped writing in it a few months ago because things were basically the same every day.... but I should start again since things are changing again.

I kept track of...

- pain levels using the 0-10 scale (am, afternoon, evening, bedtime)
- describing words for pain (sharp, dull, ache, etc...)
- body area that hurts
- non-pain symptoms
- my 'as needed" medications (time, dose, how well it worked)
- activities
- weather
- mental well being


It seems like a lot, but it took about 5 minutes a day and I usually took 5 minutes before bedtime to write about the whole day (rather than writing in it through-out the whole day).