“It hurts really bad.” That’s a completely valid way to describe pain. But when you’re sitting in a doctor’s office trying to figure out why something hurts, your healthcare provider may need more details. Where is the pain? When did it start? Is it sharp or burning? Does it come and go? Does anything make it worse? And what is the pain stopping you from doing?
Pain can be difficult to put into words because it’s personal. Two people with the same condition may experience pain very differently. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains that a person’s own report of their pain is one of the most important ways to understand what they’re experiencing. For Black patients, conversations about pain can carry another concern: Will they believe me?
That concern has a real history. Research discussed by the Association of American Medical Colleges found that some medical trainees held false beliefs about biological differences between Black and White people, including beliefs related to skin thickness and sensitivity to pain. Those false beliefs were connected with differences in pain assessment and treatment. The CDC has also documented racial disparities in pain care, including research showing that Black patients have been less likely than White patients to receive pain medication for acute pain.
The solution isn’t teaching Black patients that they’re describing pain “wrong.” You deserve thoughtful care whether you describe your pain in detail or simply say, “I’m hurting.” But learning how to describe your pain can give your healthcare team more information to work with—and give you another tool for speaking up about your health. Here’s how.
Instead of saying “My stomach hurts,” try to be more specific: “The pain is low on the right side of my stomach.” Or: “The pain starts in the middle of my lower back.” Point to the area if that’s easier.
Also explain whether the pain stays in one place or moves somewhere else. For example: “The pain starts in my lower back and travels down my left leg.” “It starts in my chest and moves into my shoulder.” “The pain is mostly on one side of my head.”
The NIH recommends describing both the pain location and whether it stays in one place, spreads, or travels to another area. That information may help your healthcare provider narrow down possible causes.
Think about when you first noticed the pain. Was it this morning, three days ago, or six months ago? Did it begin after an injury, illness, workout, meal, surgery, or medication change? You don’t need the exact date if you can’t remember; an estimate is still useful.
Try: “It started about two weeks ago.” Then explain whether it started suddenly or gradually: “I was fine, and then the pain suddenly started while I was walking.” Or: “It started as mild discomfort a few months ago and has slowly gotten worse.” Pain that starts suddenly can tell a different story from pain that slowly develops over weeks or months.
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Tell your doctor what happens throughout the day. Is the pain always there, or does it disappear completely and return later? Does it happen several times each day, only during your period, only after meals, or only when you’re moving?
The National Institute on Aging recommends telling healthcare professionals whether pain comes and goes and when you tend to notice it. Instead of saying “I’ve been hurting all week,” try: “The pain happens about four times a day and lasts 20 to 30 minutes each time.” That gives your doctor a much clearer picture.
This is often one of the hardest questions. You know it hurts; finding the right word is another story. You might describe pain as: Sharp, burning, throbbing, aching, stabbing, cramping, shooting, pressure, tingling, electric, tender, or heavy.
Different descriptions may provide clues about what kind of pain you’re experiencing. For example, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains that nerve-related pain is often described as burning, tingling, shooting, or electric, while pain connected to tissue damage or inflammation may feel sharp, dull, or aching.
You don’t have to choose a medically “correct” word. Use the word that feels closest. You can even say: “I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but it feels like someone is squeezing the area.” That’s useful information too.
Your healthcare provider may ask, “On a scale from 0 to 10, how bad is the pain?” Give your best answer, but remember that a number doesn’t tell the whole story. Your seven may look different from someone else’s seven.
Add a description: “It’s a seven right now. I can walk, but every step hurts.” Or: “It’s about a five when I’m sitting, but when I stand up, it jumps to an eight.” Pain scales are tools, not tests you can pass or fail, and you don’t need to exaggerate your number because you’re afraid your pain won’t be taken seriously.
Patterns matter. Does your knee hurt more when you climb stairs, your stomach after eating, or your headache around your period? Does sitting for a long time make your back pain worse? Does cold weather trigger your joint pain?
The NIH recommends telling your healthcare provider about activities, positions, and other situations that make pain better or worse. You could say: “Standing longer than 15 minutes makes it worse.” Or: “It gets much worse about an hour after I eat.” Those details may help your doctor understand what’s happening.
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Your healthcare provider also needs to know what helps. Maybe lying down improves the pain, heat helps, ice makes it worse, or stretching provides temporary relief. Maybe an over-the-counter medication works for two hours and then the pain returns. Say exactly that.
The National Institute on Aging recommends telling your healthcare provider about medicines and non-medication treatments you’ve already tried. Instead of “I’ve tried everything,” try: “I’ve been taking ibuprofen and using a heating pad. The heat helps a little, but the medication hasn’t made much difference.” That may keep you from repeating treatments you’ve already tried.
Pain may not be the only symptom. Tell your healthcare provider about other changes you’ve noticed, even if you’re not sure they’re related. That could include:
Timing matters here too. Did the nausea start before the pain or afterward? Did the numbness begin at the same time? Your job isn’t to decide whether the symptoms are connected; tell your healthcare professional what’s happening and let them investigate.
Bring a list of what you’ve taken or done for the pain, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, creams, patches, supplements, heat, ice, stretching, massage, rest, exercise, or anything else you’ve tried. Include how much medication you took and how often, if you know.
For example: “I’ve taken acetaminophen twice a day for the past three days. It helps for about an hour, but then the pain returns.” Or: “I tried stretching because I thought it was muscular, but stretching makes the pain worse.” Don’t assume a treatment “didn’t count” because you bought it at the drugstore or tried it at home. Your doctor needs the full picture.
This may be one of the most useful parts of the conversation. Instead of only saying “My back hurts really bad,” add: “I can’t climb the stairs to my bedroom without stopping.” Instead of “The cramps are terrible,” say: “I’m missing two days of work almost every month because I can’t stand long enough to finish my shift.”
Other examples include: “I’m waking up three times every night because of the pain.” “I can’t pick up my child.” “I’ve stopped exercising because walking hurts.” “I can’t sit through my workday anymore.” “Sex has become painful.” “I can’t drive comfortably for more than 20 minutes.”
Pain that changes your ability to sleep, work, move, eat, exercise, care for your family, or enjoy everyday activities is important information.
The National Institute on Aging notes that pain can interfere with daily activities, sleep, eating, work, and relationships. AHRQ also includes how much pain limits necessary daily activities as an important part of patient care. Don’t minimize those changes because you’ve learned how to push through them.
You don’t need an elaborate journal. Use your phone’s notes app, a notebook, or a simple chart.
My Pain Diary
Sharp / burning / aching / throbbing / stabbing / pressure / other: __________
The NICHD recommends keeping a pain record to help track symptoms, patterns, and possible triggers. You don’t need to record every uncomfortable moment. Even a few days of notes may help you remember details during your appointment.
Pain can make it difficult to remember everything you planned to say. That’s another reason to write it down. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recommends that patients prepare questions and concerns before medical visits. You might write down two or three things you absolutely want addressed. You can even hand your notes to your doctor. If you’re worried you’ll forget something, bring someone you trust to the appointment when possible.
Knowing how to describe pain can make medical conversations more useful, but this isn’t about teaching Black patients how to become “better patients.”
Research has shown that racial disparities in pain treatment exist. The CDC specifically recognizes disparities affecting Black patients and encourages healthcare professionals to consider how bias and stereotypes may affect care.
The healthcare system also has a responsibility to address those problems. You shouldn’t have to sound calm enough, distressed enough, educated enough, or convincing enough for someone to believe you’re hurting. Your pain is real even when you can’t find the perfect adjective.
When you can, give your healthcare team the details: where it hurts, when it started, what it feels like, whether it moves, what triggers it, what helps, what you’ve already tried, and what you can no longer do because of it. Then ask: “What could be causing this?” “What should we do next?” “What should make me come back?” “If this treatment doesn’t work, what’s the next step?”
Clear details can help move the conversation forward, but thoughtful pain assessment should never depend on how perfectly you tell your story.
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