A pain scale is a tool used by medical professionals to measure and assess the intensity or severity of an individual's pain. It typically involves rating pain on a numerical scale, such as 0-10, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the most severe pain imaginable. The pain scale can help healthcare providers understand how much pain a patient is experiencing, which can aid in determining an appropriate treatment plan or medication dosage. It also allows patients to communicate their level of discomfort more effectively with their doctors and nurses.