How do I describe where the pain is in English?
Point with one finger and name the landmark rather than the whole limb: the outer side of the ankle, just below the bone; the back of the hand. Then add a comparison, such as It hurts here and not on the other side.
Point with one finger and name the landmark rather than the whole limb: the outer side of the ankle, just below the bone; the back of the hand. Then add a comparison, such as It hurts here and not on the other side. If the pain moves, say where it starts and where it goes, and mention numbness or tingling separately.
If the clinician presses one spot and you are not sure how bad it is, answer with a comparison instead of a plain yes: say it is worse here than there. If you pointed at the wrong place, correct it straight away and say a little lower, on the bone. Distances work better than vague words: two fingers below the joint tells staff more than near or around.