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Activity diary

Patient information A-Z

This activity diary should be completed for one week prior to attending the back pain management programme. It will be used during the programme to look at how pain can vary according to activities, mood, time of day and pain relief measures.

During the programme you will examine the diary to see the extent that your lifestyle has been affected, it will also be useful as a reference for you while on the programme when learning new skills.

To fill in the diary:

  • Fill in the day and the date at the top of the page.
  • For each hour you are the awake, write in the main activity you were doing, remember to add if it was carried out in standing or sitting if appropriate.
  • Write down any main thoughts you were having, or comment on your general mood at that time.
  • Write down your pain level, where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain.
  • Document any medication taken, the name and the amount.
  • Document any other pain relieving techniques used, for example relaxation, T.E.N.S.

Example of diary entries:

Time Activity Thinking / Mood Pain Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 08:00 – 09:00 Activity Getting up, washed and dressed etc. Thinking / Mood I’ve got a lot of things to do today Pain 5 Medication taken ________________________ Other relief measures taken ________________________
Time 09:00 – 10:00 Activity Cleaning / vacuuming Thinking / Mood That it takes so long Pain 7 Medication taken ________________________ Other relief measures taken T.E.N.S. machine
Time 10:00 – 11:00 Activity Shopping Thinking / Mood Stressed about visitors this evening Pain 8 Medication taken 2
co-proxamol
Other relief measures taken ________________________
Time 11:00 – 12:00 Activity Sat watching TV Thinking / Mood Really fed up. Why is pain still so bad? Pain Medication taken ________________________ Other relief measures taken Rest

You will need to bring the completed diary along with you to the programme.

Activity diary

Date and day of the week: ___________________________

Time Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 01:00 – 02:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 02:00 – 03:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 03:00 – 04:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 04:00 – 05:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 05:00 – 06:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 06:00 – 07:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 07:00 – 08:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 08:00 – 09:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 09:00 – 10:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 10:00 – 11:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 11:00 – 12:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 12:00 – 13:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 13:00 – 14:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 14:00 – 15:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 15:00 – 16:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 16:00 – 17:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 17:00 – 18:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 18:00 – 19:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 19:00 – 20:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 20:00 – 21:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 21:00 – 22:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 22:00 – 23:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 23:00 – 24:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken

Please include the time you went to bed, your waking time, the number of times you woke during the night and how rested you felt in the morning (0-5: 0 = not rested, 5 = fully rested).

Activity diary

Date and day of the week: ___________________________

Time Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 01:00 – 02:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 02:00 – 03:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 03:00 – 04:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 04:00 – 05:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 05:00 – 06:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 06:00 – 07:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 07:00 – 08:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 08:00 – 09:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 09:00 – 10:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 10:00 – 11:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 11:00 – 12:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 12:00 – 13:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 13:00 – 14:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 14:00 – 15:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 15:00 – 16:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 16:00 – 17:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 17:00 – 18:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 18:00 – 19:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 19:00 – 20:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 20:00 – 21:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 21:00 – 22:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 22:00 – 23:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 23:00 – 24:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken

Please include the time you went to bed, your waking time, the number of times you woke during the night and how rested you felt in the morning (0-5: 0 = not rested, 5 = fully rested).

Activity diary

Date and day of the week: ___________________________

Time Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 01:00 – 02:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 02:00 – 03:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 03:00 – 04:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 04:00 – 05:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 05:00 – 06:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 06:00 – 07:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 07:00 – 08:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 08:00 – 09:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 09:00 – 10:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 10:00 – 11:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 11:00 – 12:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 12:00 – 13:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 13:00 – 14:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 14:00 – 15:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 15:00 – 16:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 16:00 – 17:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 17:00 – 18:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 18:00 – 19:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 19:00 – 20:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 20:00 – 21:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 21:00 – 22:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 22:00 – 23:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 23:00 – 24:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken

Please include the time you went to bed, your waking time, the number of times you woke during the night and how rested you felt in the morning (0-5: 0 = not rested, 5 = fully rested).

Activity diary

Date and day of the week: ___________________________

Time Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 01:00 – 02:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 02:00 – 03:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 03:00 – 04:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 04:00 – 05:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 05:00 – 06:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 06:00 – 07:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 07:00 – 08:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 08:00 – 09:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 09:00 – 10:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 10:00 – 11:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 11:00 – 12:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 12:00 – 13:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 13:00 – 14:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken
Time 14:00 – 15:00 Main activity What I was thinking / my mood Pain level Medication taken Other relief measures taken

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Contact us

Cambridge University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ

Telephone +44 (0)1223 245151
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/contact-enquiries/