Living with chronic pain can be incredibly challenging, and many people find it difficult to fully explain their pain and how it impacts everyday life. Being able to accurately describe your pain is important, to make sure you get the right diagnosis and care. This guide offers practical tips to help you describe your pain more clearly and accurately.
Describing where it hurts
When speaking to your doctor, if you can, try to pinpoint where you feel pain. Chronic and widespread pain can sometimes be hard to describe, but the more detail you can give, the better
- Point to the exact spot or area on your body if there is one
- Mention if the pain radiates or spreads to other areas
- Use anatomical terms if you know them (e.g., lower back, left shoulder)
- Describe if the pain moves or stays in one place.
Here are some examples
- Instead of saying, "My back hurts," you might say, "The pain is centred in my lower back and spreads down my left leg."
- For widespread pain, you might explain, "I've been feeling pain throughout my body, especially in my muscles and joints. It's constant and affecting my ability to do everyday tasks."
Keeping a pain journal will also help your doctor understand the nature and possible causes of your pain. You can find out more about keeping a pain journal later in this article.
Remember, chronic pain may not always have an obvious cause, but it's very real. And as some conditions are only diagnosed after ruling out other possibilities, finding the cause may take time.
If you are living with chronic pain, our team of nurses, occupational therapists and counsellors can help. Why not get in touch today?
Pain scales
Healthcare professionals often use a pain scale to assess how severe your pain is. Understanding this scale can help you communicate your pain more effectively. The pain scales used do vary, but a common scale ranges from 1 to 10, and is broken down into these levels:
0 = No pain. This is where you are experiencing no pain at all.
1–3 = Mild pain. Pain is present, but it’s manageable. You may feel discomfort, but it doesn’t stop you from doing daily activities.
4–6 = Moderate pain. Pain is more noticeable and may interfere with some activities, but you can still function with effort. The pain is harder to ignore.
7–10 = Severe pain. Pain at this level is overwhelming. It makes it difficult to perform everyday tasks, and you may feel the need to lie down, take medication, or seek immediate relief.
Don’t downplay your pain
People who live with chronic pain tend to score their pain lower than it actually is, as they become accustomed to constant discomfort. However, it’s important to be honest about how your pain feels, even if you’re used to enduring it. Your doctor needs to know the true impact. Think about how your worst day feels, not your best.
Words to describe pain and how it feels
Try to be specific about how your pain feels. Here's a list of terms you could use to describe it
- Sharp - sudden and intense
- Dull - constant, mild pain that feels like pressure or an ache
- Throbbing - pulsing pain, often rhythmic
- Burning - a hot sensation similar to being scalded or burned
- Shooting - pain that travels along a nerve, like electricity
- Stabbing - sudden, sharp pain
- Tingling - a pins-and-needles sensation
- Cramping - tight, painful muscle contractions
- Radiating - pain that spreads from one area to another
- Sore - tenderness, like the day after an intensive exercise session
Using these words can help your doctor get a clearer picture of what you’re feeling, making it easier to understand your pain.
How pain impacts your life
Chronic pain often affects more than just the area where it hurts - it can limit your ability to function in day-to-day life. Doctors need to know how your pain affects your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Here are some examples of what to share.
Mobility - Does the pain limit your ability to walk, stand, or sit for long periods?
Daily activities - Are there things you can no longer do or find difficult, like cooking, driving, or lifting objects? Does it affect your hobbies?
Personal care - Are you finding activities such as bathing or dressing challenging?
Sleep - Does the pain keep you from sleeping well or wake you up at night?
Work - Are you able to maintain your job? Do you need adjustments to help you work?
Mental health - Has the pain caused feelings of frustration, anxiety, or depression?
Mental fatigue - Do you experience brain fog, forgetfulness or heightened emotions?
Relationships and social activity - Has the pain affected your relationships? Is it limiting your social activity and making you feel isolated?
Explaining how pain interferes with your life helps your doctor to understand its severity and what kinds of treatment may be needed to improve your quality of life.
Extra tip - keep a pain journal
One of the best ways to track your pain is by keeping a pain journal. This is where you write down your pain levels, symptoms, and any factors that may have affected your pain throughout the day. You can note things like
- When the pain started and what you were doing at the time
- The intensity of the pain at different times of the day
- Things that seemed to make the pain better or worse
- Any medications or treatments you tried and how well they worked
- How you are sleeping
- Your mood and stress levels
- If you have noticed that certain foods affect your pain levels
- How you feel after social engagements.
This detailed record can help identify patterns and triggers, making it easier to discuss your pain history and day-to-day experience.
A checklist of what to share with your doctor
It’s a lot to remember, so you might find this checklist helpful when preparing to discuss your pain. You can use the tips in this article to help you complete your checklist
- How long you have had your pain
- Where you feel the pain
- Whether your pain is in one spot or spread out
- How the pain feels and how severe it is
- Whether pain is constant or comes and goes
- What activities make the pain worse or improve it
- How your pain limits what you can do
- How often the pain occurs and how long it lasts
- Anything that triggers the pain
- Any treatments or medications you've tried and their effectiveness
- Any impact on your appetite or weight
- How it affects your mental and emotional wellbeing and relationships
- Any other symptoms (e.g., nausea, dizziness, fatigue).
Providing this information helps your doctor build a complete picture of your condition, so they can understand how best to help you. The more detail you share, the better they can tailor their treatment plan to meet your needs. This NICE guidance provides information about the care you should expect.
How we can help you with chronic pain
We can help you manage the impact that chronic pain has on your life. Our team of nurses, occupational therapists and counsellors can help you to understand your pain, and help you find ways to manage it that are right for you. Find out more about how we can support your physical health needs.
To get support, all you need to do is submit an online form or call our friendly helpline team on 0300 303 9888.
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