Many people walk into a back exam with a single phrase, "my back hurts," and then search for the right words while the examiner waits. A little preparation helps. The words you choose tell the examiner what your symptoms feel like, which is different from where they are or how strong they seem.
This guide is for people in the St. Louis metro who are thinking about getting examined this week. It explains how to describe sensation in plain terms. It does not tell you what any feeling means, and it cannot replace an exam.
Why the Word Matters
"Sharp" and "dull" describe different experiences. A sharp feeling often seems sudden or pinpoint, while a dull ache tends to feel spread out and steady. Neither word is better than the other. The goal is to pick the one that fits your experience most of the time, not the one that sounds most serious.
Examiners use these descriptions to ask better follow-up questions. A word like "burning" leads to questions about how long the feeling lasts and where it starts, while "stiff" leads to questions about movement. When your word is accurate, the exam can move faster and cover more of what matters to you.
A Short List of Common Sensation Words
Use this list as a starting point, not a script.
Sharp: a quick, stabbing or catching feeling, often tied to a specific movement. Dull: a heavy, aching feeling that stays in one area. Stiff: a feeling of restricted movement, often noticed after rest or first thing in the morning. Burning: a warm, raw or hot feeling on the skin or deeper in the body. Tingling or pins and needles: a prickly feeling, sometimes described as fizzy or as if a limb has fallen asleep. Numb: reduced feeling, where touch seems muted or far away. Shooting: a quick jolt that travels away from a central point.
Write Two Words for Each Symptom
Pick one main word and one backup. For example, you might write "dull, with sharp moments when I bend." The main word describes your usual state. The backup captures a change you notice from time to time. Keep the words short and avoid stacking adjectives like "awful, terrible, unbearable," which do not tell the examiner what the sensation is.
Then note whether the feeling is constant or comes and goes. "Comes and goes" and "all day" are useful phrases. If the feeling changes after sitting, standing, or lifting, write that next to it. You do not need to explain why it happens. Just record what you notice, in the order you notice it.
Match the Word to the Location
A sensation word means more when it has a location attached. Write where the feeling starts and whether it stays put or moves. Use plain landmarks, such as "low back, right side," "between the shoulder blades," or "down the back of the left thigh." If the feeling moves below the knee or into the arm, write that down with the same care you use for the main spot.
Avoid guessing at a cause when you write these notes. Phrases like "I think it is a pinched nerve" can pull attention away from what you actually feel. Describe the sensation and let the examiner ask about causes. If something feels sudden, unusual, or different from your normal pattern, do not wait for a convenient booking. Contact a medical provider promptly.
Bring the List With You
Keep your list on paper or in a note on your phone, and read it aloud at the start of the visit. Tell the examiner which words are your main descriptions and which are backups. If you are unsure of a word, say so. "I am not sure whether this is dull or stiff" is a useful thing to say, and it gives the examiner a clear starting point.
Also note what makes the feeling better or worse, using your own words. Sitting, walking, and lying down may each change the sensation differently. A few clear lines are more useful than a long list of guesses, and they are easier to repeat accurately at a later visit.
Finally, watch for changes in how you describe things across several days. If your words shift, write the date beside the new description. That simple record can help you and the examiner see how the sensation is changing over time, which is often more informative than any single day's description.