D1 • How To Describe Pain
Describing Pain | Medical English Medical English · Clinical Vocabulary How To Describe Pain Clear, precise language for discussing the quality, intensity and behaviour of a patient’s pain. Ache and pain Key distinction: pain is the general term. An ache is usually a continuous, dull form of pain. The distinction concerns the quality of the sensation, not simply its intensity. Ache A continuous, usually dull discomfort. It often appears in compounds such as backache , headache and toothache . Ache may also be used as a verb. Question “Does a warm shower soothe the aching muscle?” Negative “Her body does not ache when she rests.” Statement “After the marathon, her legs ached for several days.” Pain The general term for an unpl...