The McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire is a widely used tool that measures sensory, affective, and evaluative dimensions of pain. It is most useful in the initial assessment and for research but is too cumbersome to be used for moment to moment pain treatment.
These are the words that the patient is asked to circle if applicable to their pain.
They are also asked to rate the pain on a scale of 1 - 5.
in English - in Spanish
Pain- Dolor
constant- constante
periodic- periodico
brief- breve
no pain- sin dolor
mild- moderado
discomforting- incomodo
distressing- angustiante
horrible- horrible
excruciating- agudisimo
pulsing- pulsante
beating- batiente
pounding- golpeante
throbbing- latiente
flickering- parpadeante
quivering- tremulante
pricking- punzante
boring- perforante
drilling- taladrante
stabbing- apunalante
lancinating- lancinante
sharp- agudo
cutting- cortante
lacerating- lacerante
pinching- pellizcante
pressing- apremiante
gnawing- carcomiente
cramping- acalambrante
crushing- triturante
wrenching- retorciente
pulling- arrancante
tugging- tironeante
cruel- cruel
killing- irresistible
dreadful- medroso
nauseating- nauseante
tearing- desgarrante
squeezing- estrujante
numb- entumecido, dormido
fearful- terrible
terrifying- aterrorizador
warm- tibio
hot- caliente
burning- ardiente, quemante
searing- cauterizante
penetrating- penetrante
piercing- traspasante
spreading- desparramante
radiating- radiante
jumping- brincador
flashing- relampagueante
shooting- disparante
burning- ardiente
itchy- picante
stinging- punzante
tingling- hormigueante
annoying- fastidioso
troublesome- dificultoso
miserable- lastimoso
intense- intenso
unbearble- insoportable
tender- adolorido, sensible
taut- tenso
rasping- raspante
splitting- rajante
blinding- enceguecedor
heavy- opresivo
dull- leve y constante
sore- dolorido
hurting- lastimado
aching- doliente
tiring- cansador
exhausting- agotador
weakening- debilitante
suffocating- sofocante
sickening- enfermizo
punishing- castigante
Gruelling- abrumador
vicious- maligno
agonizing- agonizante
torturing- torturante
nagging- machacante
drawing- estirante
tight- apretante
wretched- miserable
frightful- espantoso
cool- fresco
cold- frio
freezing- congelante
scalding- escaldante
Source:
The
McGill Melzack Pain Questionnaire,
translated to
Spanish by
Stanford University Hospital Interpreters and printed as a handout for a medical translators course I took at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore.