Understanding Pain Terminology and Physical Exams

Questionnaires 3 and 4: Pain and Medical Assessment

Defining Pain

Pain: The feeling you have when part of your body hurts.

Terms Used with "Ache"

Mention the pains you know used with the term ache:

• Headache
• Stomachache
• Toothache
• Earache
• Backache
• Heartache

Soreness Description

What kind of sore do you use as a result of a wound, infection, or too much exercise?

Examples: "I have a sore throat." / "My foot is sore."

Causes of Pain

What causes pain? Hundreds of diseases, disorders, and conditions can cause pain, such as inflammatory syndromes, malignancy, trauma, and infection. In some cases, pain may be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition, such as a heart attack or cancer.

British English: Sick vs. Ill

What do sick and ill mean in British English?

• Sick: Refers to feeling as if you are going to vomit. Example: "I think I'm going to be sick."
• Ill: Refers to any other feeling of being unwell.

Using "Hurt" as a Verb

Give an example of the term hurt used as a verb:

Example: "Be careful on that ladder, you might hurt yourself if you fall."

Pain Adjectives Defined

Give the meaning of these adjectives:

• Acute: Used for describing pain that is very strong and sharp.
• Itchy: If you feel itchy, you have an unpleasant feeling on your skin that makes you want to scratch it.
• Stiff: If you are stiff, or if a part of your body is stiff, you feel pain in your muscles and cannot move easily.
• Unendurable: Too unpleasant or painful to bear.

Describing a Complete Physical Examination

A complete physical examination usually starts at the head and proceeds all the way to the toes. However, the exact procedure will vary according to the needs of the patient and the preferences of the examiner. An average examination takes about 30 minutes.

Patient Sitting Up Observations

What systems does a doctor observe with the patient sitting up?

Skin, head, eyes, ears, nose and sinuses, mouth and pharynx, lips, gums, teeth, root of the mouth, tongue, neck, back, breasts, and armpits.

Patient Lying Down Observations

What does a doctor observe while the patient is lying down on the examining table?

• Breasts: The breasts are palpated and inspected for lumps.
• Front of Chest and Lungs: The area is inspected with the fingers, using palpation and percussion.
• A stethoscope is used to listen to the internal breath sounds.