Tips for Describing your Pain

Every single person experiences pain in their own way, which makes it difficult to objectively identify and diagnose the pain and underlying issue(s). However, there are some categories of pain that are common across many patients. In this article, we are going to offer a few tips for better describing the specifics of your pain to your doctor so they can quickly diagnose and treat the underlying cause. We will also talk about some specific types of pain, what the feel like, and what could potentially be causing each type.

Sharp Pain

Also referred to as “shooting pain,” sharp pain feels like a jabbing knife. This type of pain often occurs suddenly, and can be triggered by certain movements like twisting, or exercising. Sharp pain can be caused by many things, such as: nerve impingements, muscle strains, and acute injuries.

Burning Pain

With burning pain, the patient feels like the area of pain is hot or on fire. Burning pain is often the result of a nerve issue in the spine, or peripheral nervous system.

Dull or Throbbing Pain

Pain that is dull or throbbing in nature is quite common among chronic pain patients. This type of pain can be caused by arthritic conditions, fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome, and other related injuries.

If you are having trouble describing or pinpointing your pain, the best thing you can do is set up an appointment with a skilled pain management physician. Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN consists of some of the best pain doctors in the state of Minnesota. Our physicians have over two decades of experience treating acute and chronic pain patients. Our main clinic is located in Edina, but we treat patients throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs. Contact us today to set up your appointment!