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Pain is a warning signal from the body that everyone experiences. It is a common symptom of a variety of diseases, including chronic diseases - whether rheumatic diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia), multiple sclerosis, cancer or long Covid.
A stabbing pain in the toe, a pulling pain in the metatarsus, pins and needles in the knee, pressure pain in the lower abdomen or a pulsating headache on the right side of the forehead. Pain can occur in almost any part of the body. It can manifest itself in different forms.
It is important to be able to differentiate and precisely describe pain, not only for your own perception of pain, but also for possible treatment.
This article sheds light on how pain can be described and why it is important to describe pain accurately.
Pain is a warning signal from the body. For example, it signals an injury, disorder or dysfunction. Pain can have many different causes and can be felt almost anywhere in the body.
If pain can be described precisely, this not only helps you to observe it more specifically and recognise changes. A precise description also enables practitioners to narrow down the cause of pain and treat it in a targeted manner.
Due to the variety of triggers and biological processes involved, pain can manifest itself in different ways.
For example, pain can feel like pins and needles. This kind of stabbing pain can be sudden and intense and often occurs in connection with acute injuries or nerve irritation. With osteoarthritis, for example, a sharp pain can be felt when rolling the foot. In other cases, the pain occurs at rest, for example in inflammatory processes.
In addition, the perception of pain is very subjective, which can make it difficult to recognise and describe the pain. In principle, descriptive adjectives are particularly suitable for qualifying pain. Both the intensity and the form of the pain should be described.
For example, the intensity of the pain can be described as
can be described. In the case of frequent or persistent pain, a pain scale on which pain is described on a scale of 1-10 is also suitable. This is also referred to as a ‘visual analogue scale’ (VAS). The intensity of pain over time is recorded in this way. Digital symptom diaries, such as in the Fimo Health App, are suitable for objectifying pain as an initially subjective feeling.
The type of pain can allow conclusions to be drawn about the cause of the pain. For this reason, it is important to record pain as accurately as possible. Pain can, for example, take the form of
can be described.
Describing pain plays a central role in medical diagnostics. The exact description of the pain helps doctors to narrow down the cause of the pain.
The localisation of pain is another important aspect of pain analysis. Pain can occur in different parts of the body and radiate to neighbouring areas of the body. A precise indication of where the pain is triggered can further narrow down the cause.
In the region of the head,
can be differentiated.
On the front of the body, left-sided, right-sided and bilateral
can be distinguished.
On the back of the body, pain on the left, right and both sides of the
can occur.
On the extremities, left, right and bilateral pain in the
can be distinguished.
Describing pain is therefore about the type of pain and where the pain occurs. A pain diary can help to document pain in a structured way.
A pain diary is a tool for systematically documenting pain over a longer period of time. It is a useful instrument for understanding pain and enabling those treating it to identify possible triggers.
A pain diary is kept regularly. It usually includes information on the localisation and type of pain, pain intensity and duration as well as the time of day.
A pain diary helps to narrow down the frequency and influencing factors and to understand influencing factors. It can also help to ensure that medication is neither over- nor underdosed.
To be able to assess pain over time, it is advisable to answer recurring questions. This will reveal changes that can also influence the therapy.
A sample pain diary for printing out is provided by the Stiftung Gesundheitswissen, for example. Alternatively, a pain and symptom diary can also be kept in digital applications such as the Fimo Health App.
The precise description of pain is an essential part of medical diagnosis and treatment.
A precise description of the pain helps to better understand the cause and initiate suitable treatment. A pain diary can be kept to monitor factors such as the type, intensity and localisation of pain over the long term.
Describing pain is the first step towards targeted pain therapy, which can contribute to an improved quality of life in the long term.
