Table 1.

Pain descriptors used to identify pain qualities

Descriptor number	Pain quality
1	Aching
2	Heavy
3	Squeezing
4	Sharp
5	Stabbing
6	Shooting
7	Electric shock
8	Throbbing, pulsing
9	Jack-hammering
10	Exploding
11	Hot/Burning
12	Cold/Freezing
13	Tingling or “Pins and Needles”
14	Itching
15	Numbness
16	Tender
17	Pain caused by light touch
18	Tiring/Exhausting
19	Sickening
20	Fearful
21	Punishing/Cruel

Descriptors highlighted in bold are those found to be most prominent in this study.