통증을 표현하는 영어 표현들

진료실 의학용어

"우리하다"

서울 토박이이니 제가 처음 이 말을 들었을 때 꽤나 당혹스러웠습니다. 아직도 저는 저말이 어떤 느낌인지 알지 못합니다. 앞으로도 영영 알지 못할거에요. 그냥 어떤 느낌이라고 짐작할 뿐이죠. 제가 아플 때 쓰지 않는 말은 실제 모르는 겁니다. 통증은 그 만큼 주관적입니다. 우리말도 힘든데, 영어는 오죽하겠습니까? 통증을 호소하는 방법이 나라마다, 민족마다, 또는 지역마다 크게 달라지는 부분이 있습니다. 구체적으로 여러 번 되물어야 이 사람이 어떤 통증양상(quality of pain)을 갖고 있는지 알 수 있더군요. 아래는 미국인들이 주로 사용하는 통증에 관한 어휘들입니다.

Aching: '아~' 하고 계속 은근하게 쑤시는 느낌이에요. 칼로 찌르는 것처럼 날카롭지는 않지만, 둔탁하게 깊숙한 곳에서 계속 아픈 거예요. 운동 후 근육통이나 관절염, 몸살 기운 있을 때 그런 느낌 있잖아요? 딱 그거예요.

This term usually describes a continuous, dull pain that is often deep-seated. Aching is generally not sharp or stabbing but is more persistent and lingering. It's often associated with muscle pain, joint pain due to arthritis, or generalized bodily fatigue. The sensation of aching can be widespread or localized and is commonly reported in various conditions, from flu-like symptoms to chronic conditions like fibromyalgia. It is often associated with muscle pain or joint disorders such as arthritis.

"I feel a constant, dull ache in my lower back that just doesn't seem to go away. It's not sharp, but it's always there, making it hard to get comfortable."

"허리 아래쪽이 계속 둔하게 쑤셔요. 날카롭진 않은데 항상 거기 있어서 편하지가 않아요."

Sore: 욱신욱신 쑤시면서 만지면 아픈 느낌. 주로 근육을 무리하게 쓰고 나서 생기는 통증이에요. 표면 쪽이 예민해지고 부은 것 같기도 하고요. 새로운 운동 하고 나면 그 다음날 온몸이 뻐근하고 만지기만 해도 아프잖아요? 그게 바로 sore예요.

Soreness typically refers to pain that is more surface-level and is often related to muscle pain that results from overexertion or strain. This type of pain is usually localized to specific muscles and is felt as tender and sometimes swollen areas. Muscle soreness is particularly common after unusual or intense physical activity and is a part of the body’s natural response to new or increased activity. The term "sore" can also imply a feeling of being raw or irritated, such as with a sore throat, where the pain is more acute and localized.

"My shoulders are really sore after that new workout routine. It feels like every muscle is tender to the touch, and it aches whenever I move."

"새로운 운동 루틴 하고 나서 어깨가 정말 아파요. 모든 근육이 만지면 아프고, 움직일 때마다 쑤셔요."

Sharp: 갑자기 '찌릿!' 하고 찌르는 듯한 예리한 통증. 칼로 베이거나 바늘로 찌르는 것 같은 느낌이에요. 정확히 어디가 아픈지 딱 콕 집어서 알 수 있고, 갑작스럽고 강렬해요.

Sharp pain is described as a sudden, intense, and precise location of pain that can feel like a stabbing or cutting sensation. It is commonly reported in cases of acute injuries or infections.

Throbbing or Pulsating or Pounding:심장 박동에 맞춰서 '쿵쿵쿵' 울리듯이 아픈 거예요. 편두통이나 다친 곳에서 맥박 치듯이 욱신욱신 거리는 느낌.

Throbbing pain is characterized by a pulsating sensation that often coincides with the heartbeat. It is frequently associated with migraine headaches or after an injury.

"My head feels like it's being pounded with a hammer, throbbing with every heartbeat. It gets so intense that I can hardly focus on anything else."

"머리가 망치로 맞는 것처럼 심장 박동마다 쿵쿵 울려요. 너무 강렬해서 아무것도 집중할 수가 없어요."

Cramping: 쥐나는 것처럼 근육이 제멋대로 확 수축되면서 아픈 거예요(경련성 통증). 생리통이나 배앓이, 종아리에 쥐 날 때 그 느낌이에요. 순간적으로 확 조이면서 강렬하게 아파요.

Cramp-like pain often involves involuntary muscle contractions and can be intense. It is commonly experienced in menstrual pain, gastrointestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome or during muscular spasms.

Burning: '화끈화끈' 불에 덴 것처럼 뜨겁게 아픈 느낌. 신경이 손상됐을 때나 대상포진, 역류성 식도염 같을 때 이렇게 표현해요. 쓰린 느낌과 유사합니다..

This pain feels hot and as if the affected areas are on fire. Burning pain is typically associated with nerve damage, such as that seen in neuropathies or conditions like shingles. Often used to describe epigastirc pain with burning sensation. (cf. Gnawing pain)

"Burning pain in the abdomen could have several causes, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or stomach ulcers"

"뱃속이 타는 것처럼 화끈거려요. 역류성 식도염이나 위궤양 같은 게 원인일 수 있대요."

Gnawing pain: 우리나라에선 거의 못들어본 표현입니다. 속쓰린데 좀 심하게 아픈 느낌입니다. 예리고 파고드는 듯한 통증. 뭔가가 안에서 조금씩 계속 이빨로 씹히는 것 같은 불편한 느낌이에요. 위장 쪽에서 많이 느껴져요.

Gnawing pain is characterized as a persistent, often intense discomfort that feels as if something is eating away at the affected area. It is generally more specific and localized.

"There's this gnawing pain in my stomach that feels like something is literally chewing on my insides. It gets worse if I haven't eaten for a while."

"위에서 뭔가 안을 씹어대는 것 같은 통증이 있어요. 오래 굶으면 더 심해져요."

Electric or Shooting Pain: '찌릿!' 전기 충격 오듯이 갑자기 확 쏘는 통증. 신경을 따라 쭉 퍼지면서 순간적으로 강렬하게 와요.

This type of pain is typically sharp, sudden, and intense, often resembling an electric shock. It travels along the path of a nerve and is usually a sign of nerve irritation or damage.

"It feels like an electric shock shooting down my leg, from my lower back all the way to my toes. It comes suddenly and is really intense, making it hard to stand or walk when it hits."

"허리에서 발끝까지 전기가 찌리릿 쏴요. 갑자기 와서, 서 있거나 걷기가 힘들어요."

Radiating: 한 곳에서 시작해서 '쫙' 퍼져나가는 통증. 좌골신경통처럼 허리에서 시작해서 다리로 쭉 내려가는 느낌. 허리디스크아 목디스크에서 주로 표현되는 통증입니다.

Pain that starts at one point and spreads to other areas is described as radiating. This is often seen in sciatica, where pain begins in the lower back and travels down the leg.

Tingling or Pins and Needles: 찌릿찌릿' 저리거나 '바늘로 콕콕' 찌르는 것 같은 느낌. 팔다리가 눌려서 저릴 때 그 느낌이에요.

Often associated with paresthesia(para-esthe-sia), this sensation feels like pricking, tingling, or numbing and is usually due to nerve irritation or damage.

"Ever since I woke up this morning, I've been feeling this constant tingling sensation in my hands. It's like there are pins and needles poking me from the inside. It's not painful, but it's very uncomfortable and distracting. Whenever I try to hold something(puffy), it feels like my hands are partially asleep."

"아침에 일어난 후로 계속 손에 찌릿찌릿한 느낌이 있어요. 안에서 핀으로 콕콕 찌르는 것 같아요. 아프진 않은데 엄청 불편하고 신경 쓰여요. 뭘 잡으려고 하면 손이 반쯤 마빈된 것 같은 느낌이에요."

Pressure or Squeezing: '꽉 조이거나' 누르는 듯한 압박감. 안에서 뭔가 꾹꾹 누르는 느낌으로, 심장 문제나 특정 두통에서 느껴져요.

This pain is often described as a feeling of something pressing internally, which can be intense and overwhelming. It is commonly reported in cardiac conditions and some types of headaches. cf. exploding

"There's a constant pressing pain behind my eyes, like someone is pushing their thumbs into them. It makes it really hard to concentrate, especially when looking at a screen."

"눈 뒤쪽에서 계속 누르는 통증이 있어요. 누가 엄지손가락으로 꾹꾹 누르는 것 같아요. 특히 화면 볼 때 집중이 정말 안 돼요."

Stiff: '뻣뻣한' 느낌. 움직임이 부드럽지 않고 뭔가 굳어있는 것 같아요. 오래 안 움직이고 있거나 관절 쪽에서 많이 느껴져요.

This quality of pain is often associated with a lack of flexibility or movement, commonly felt in and around the joints or after long periods of inactivity.

Heavy '묵직하고 무거운' 느낌. 팔다리나 머리가 납덩이처럼 무겁게 느껴지는 거예요. 피로하거나 만성 질환 있을 때 이런 표현 써요.

Patients sometimes describe their pain as a heavy feeling, often in limbs or in the head, which can be associated with fatigue and various chronic conditions.

Wrenching Pain:'뒤틀리는 듯' 심하게 아픈 거예요. 몸의 일부가 물리적으로 비틀리거나 찢어지는 것 같은 강렬한 통증. 근육 경련이나 인대 손상 때 이래요.

Wrenching pain is a severe, twisting or pulling sensation that is often sudden and intense. It can feel as if the body part is being physically twisted. This type of pain might occur with severe muscle spasms, joint dislocations, or injuries that involve tearing of ligaments or muscles.

"I felt a wrenching pain in my knee when I twisted it during the game. It was like something inside was being wrung out, and it dropped me right to the ground."

"경기 중에 무릎을 삐끗했을 때 뒤틀리는 듯한 통증을 느꼈어요. 안이 짜내지는 것 같았고, 바로 바닥에 쓰러졌어요."

Raw:'까진 것처럼' 아픈 거예요. 피부가 벗겨져서 속살이 드러난 것 같이 예민하고 따가운 느낌.

Rawness usually affects the skin. When a patient describes their pain as "raw," they often convey a sense of irritation or inflammation that feels very tender and sensitive, almost as if the skin or tissue is exposed. Here's an example of how a patient might describe raw pain:

"The area around my surgical incision feels raw. It's like the skin is not just tender but almost exposed to the air. "

"If you have raw-feeling pain, your skin may seem extremely sore or tender. Sharp"

"수술 절개 부위 주변이 까진 것처럼 아파요. 피부가 단순히 예민한 게 아니라 거의 공기에 노출된 것 같아요."

실제 현장에서 자주 사용되는 순서를 보면 다음과 같습니다.

신경학적 통증: aching, penetrating, rqdiating, shooting, stabbing, spreading, tight, tingling, hot or cold

침해성 통증: cramping, crushing, beating, dull, hurting, pounding, pressing, pulling, sharp,throbbing

(Wilkie, Diana et al. (2010). Patient-Reported Outcomes: Descriptors of Nociceptive and Neuropathic Pain and Barriers to Effective Pain Management in Adult Outpatients With Sickle Cell Disease. Journal of the National Medical Association. 102. 18-27. )

어쩌면 통증을 표현하는 가장 합리적인 방법은 비교와 비유일 것입니다. 베이는 것 같다, 타는 것 같다, 때리는 것 같다 등 등 말이죠. 그래서, 언어를 벋어난 픽토그램이 도움이 될수 있습니다. 아래는 American Pain Foundation의 환자용 브로셔에 수록된 픽토그램입니다.

한국어 통증 표현과 비교해 볼까요? 다음 한국의 표준 통증 표현 어휘와 픽토그램연구를 보시죠. (김수빈 and 이현주. (2021). 메타포를 활용한 통증 유형 픽토그램 디자인 연구. Archives of Design Research, 34(1), 157-171.)

통증 어휘의 적합성 평가의 평균은 3.13으로 평균 이상이 나온 어휘는 위와 같이 총 53개이다. 일반인 대상 통증 어휘의 적합성 평가에서 가장 높은 평균 점수는 ‘쑤시다’이며 평균 4.55로 나타났다. ‘만지면 (아프다)’도 평균 4.54로 비교적 높은 점수를 보였다. ‘끊어질 듯(4.46)’, ‘욱신욱신하다(4.39)’, ‘따갑다(4.30)’, ‘따끔하다(4.30)’, ‘쓰라리다(4.27)’, ‘쥐어짜는 듯(4.27)’, ‘화끈거리다(4.24)’, ‘뭉친다(4.22)’, ‘후벼 파는 듯(4.20)’, ‘도려내듯이(4.17)’, ‘쓰리다(4.17)’, ‘시리다(4.14)’, ‘당기다(4.11)’, ‘결리다(4.10)’, ‘깨질 듯이(4.07)’, ‘꼬집듯이(4.07)’, ‘찌릿하다 (4.04)’, ‘베듯이(4.03)’, ‘누르는 듯(4.00)’이 평균 4.00을 넘어 통증 어휘로서 적합도가 비교적 높게 나타났다. 이후, 전문가들의 검증을 통해 최종 추출된 어휘는 총 46개로 아래와 같다.

Figure 9 Expert verification result of pain vocabulary

통증의 양상(quality of pain)을 이해하는 것은 진단에 큰 단서를 줍니다. 특히 기본적인 통증의 원인을 이해하는데, 도움이 되는데요, 먼저 통증의 종류 2가지를 꼭 기억해 두시기 바랍니다.

통증의 종류

1. Nociceptive pain

Nociceptive pain is the most common type of pain. This type of pain you usually feel when you have any type of injury or inflammation. Nociceptive pain can be either acute or chronic. It can also be further classified as being either visceral or somatic.

Visceral pain

Visceral pain results from injuries or damage to your internal organs.

Visceral pain is often described as:

pressure aching squeezing cramping You may also notice other symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, as well as changes in body temperature, heart rate, or blood pressure.

Examples of things that cause visceral pain include:

gallstones, appendicitis, renal calculi

Somatic pain

Somatic pain results from stimulation of the pain receptors in your tissues, rather than your internal organs.

Somatic pain usually feels like a constant aching or gnawing sensation.

Examples of somatic pain include:

bone fractures, strained muscles ,connective tissue diseases, such as osteoporosis, cancer that affects the skin or bones, skin cuts, scrapes, and burns, joint pain, including arthritis pain

2. Neuropathic(Neurogenic) pain

Neuropathic pain results from damage to or dysfunction of your nervous system. You may also feel pain in response to things that aren’t usually painful, such as cold air or clothing against your skin.

Neuropathic pain is described as:

burning freezing numbness tingling shooting stabbing electric shocks. Diabetes is a common cause of neuropathic pain. Other sources of nerve injury or dysfunction that can lead to neuropathic pain include:

facial nerve problems, such as Bell’s palsy, spinal nerve inflammation or compression shingles , carpal tunnel syndrome