#324: Talk about Health | Describe Common Aches and Pains in English

I’m not going to reveal my age, but I’ll say this: as the years go by, I’ve noticed those little aches and pains creeping in; especially after a long day at work sitting at my desk. Maybe you’ve also felt that stiffness when you finally get up after sitting too long, or that twinge when you twist the wrong way. 

And then there are those unexpected moments, like bumping your elbow just right on the kitchen counter, and suddenly your whole arm tingles. You know that feeling, right?

Whether you’re sharing a laugh with friends about these daily aches, talking about the challenges of getting older, or explaining symptoms to your doctor, I want you to feel confident and clear when expressing yourself in English. 

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to talk about your health and describe common aches and pains in English with ease, using phrases that make you sound natural and confident.

Stop Saying, ‘It Hurts’ | Better Ways to Describe Aches and Pains in English

General Aches and Pains

In this section, we’ll explore common ways to describe those everyday aches and discomforts. These phrases are especially useful when you don’t feel your best but can’t quite pinpoint why. 

To be aching all over
Definition: To experience a continuous, dull pain* throughout your entire body.
Example: I don’t want to do any chores today; my body is aching all over after that intense workout.

*A dull pain is a deep, aching sensation that can be persistent, like a headache or a sore muscle. We can contrast this with a sharp pain: a pain that is more intense but not persistent, like a paper cut or a tooth that is sensitive to cold foods such as ice cream.

To feel under the weather
Definition: To feel unwell or slightly sick — this includes a mildly sore throat, a slight headache, a runny nose, etc.
Example: Lisa is feeling under the weather, so I’ll handle the client calls this week.

To feel out of sorts
Definition: To feel slightly unwell or a little unhappy or annoyed without a specific reason. Consider, for example, how you feel when you lack sleep. You may become easily irritated and have an overall bad mood.
Example: I’m a little out of sorts today. Maybe I just need a walk to clear my mind.

To have a nagging pain
Definition: To experience a mild, recurring pain that doesn’t go away. This is similar to feeling a ‘dull ache.’
Example: I have a nagging pain in my shoulders from sitting at my desk all day. I think I need to work on my posture.

To have a gnawing pain
Definition: To feel a constant, persistent pain that’s hard to ignore or treat. It’s often quite intense and may require medical attention. Quite often, this is used to describe persistent pain that almost feels like burning in the stomach or abdomen.
Example: My daughter’s had a gnawing pain in her stomach for a couple of days and has had trouble eating.

Quiz:

Choose the phrase that best matches the scenario:

Scenario: Lisa doesn’t feel like her usual self today. She’s not in pain and not getting sick. It’s just a general “off” feeling.

• A) To feel under the weather
• B) To feel out of sorts
• C) To be aching all over

*Answers are available at the end of the lesson.

Aches and Pains in the Limbs & Joints

In this section, we’ll focus on how to describe pain or discomfort in specific parts of the body, particularly the limbs (arms and legs) and joints (where two bones meet, like the knees, elbows, or wrists).

These expressions are helpful when you need to explain an injury or describe that feeling when a body part just isn’t working quite right due to physical activity, a simple accident, or just sitting in an awkward position for too long.

[Something] fell asleep
Definition: To experience numbness (or loss of feeling) in a limb, often because of staying in the same position for too long.
Example: Hold on a moment. My leg fell asleep while I was sitting on the floor.

To pull a muscle
Definition: To injure a muscle by stretching it too far, resulting in pain.
Example: The doctor told Carrie to rest for a few days after she pulled her calf muscle during a morning run.

To get a charley horse
Definition: To experience a sudden, painful cramp (muscle tightening) in the arm or leg.
Example: Some people get a charley horse in their leg when they’re sleeping, which can wake them up.

To hit one’s funny bone
Definition: To accidentally hit the nerve on the outside of the elbow, causing a tingling or burning sensation.
Example: Argh! I hit my funny bone on the doorframe, and now my whole arm is tingling.

To have a glass arm
Definition: To have an arm that easily becomes stiff and sore after being used.
Example: After years of repetitive tasks at the factory, she developed a glass arm that often ached.

To skin one’s knee/elbow
Definition: To scrape the skin off the knee or elbow, causing it to bleed slightly.
Example: My son skinned his knees when he fell off his bike at the park.

To scrape one’s arm/leg
Definition: To create a shallow wound by rubbing or tearing the skin off.
Example: I scraped my arm against a rough brick wall while carrying boxes.

To stub a toe
Definition: To hurt a toe by accidentally hitting it against something.
Example: My husband stubbed his toe on the coffee table while rushing out the door.

To twist one’s ankle
Definition: To hurt the ankle by suddenly turning or pulling it in an awkward way.
Example: Ella twisted her ankle during a basketball game and had to sit out for the rest of the week.

Aches and Pains in the Head & Neck

This section will help you describe discomforts and pains you might feel in your head, neck, or throat. These expressions are useful for talking about everything from headaches to a sore throat, making it easier to explain what you’re feeling to a friend, colleague, or even a doctor.

[Something] is throbbing
Definition: To experience strong, pulsating pain in a specific area, like the head or neck.
Example: My head is throbbing. Could you turn off the lights?

To bump one’s head
Definition: To accidentally hit your head against something.
Example: I bumped my head on the window while cleaning.

To see stars
Definition: To see flashes of light in front of your eyes, often after hitting your head.
Example: When I slipped on the stairs, I saw stars.

To have a kink in one’s neck
Definition: To have a muscle or joint in the neck out of position, causing stiffness or pain.
Example: Jean has a kink in her neck, so she has to turn her whole body to see the screen.

The room/my head is spinning
Definition: To feel dizzy or like everything around you is moving.
Example 1: My head is spinning; I need to sit down for a moment.
Example 2: The room started spinning after I stood up too quickly.

To have a splitting headache
Definition: To have an intense, painful headache that makes it hard to focus.
Example: Oksana had to close the curtains and turn off the lights because of her splitting headache.

To have a frog in one’s throat
Definition: To have difficulty speaking because your throat is dry or hoarse.
Example: Dylan tried to present in the meeting, but he still had a frog in his throat.

To have a sore throat
Definition: To experience a painful, scratchy feeling in your throat, often worsened when swallowing.
Example: I’ve been drinking honey lemon tea to help soothe my sore throat.

To have slept wrong
Definition: To have slept in an awkward position, leading to a stiff or sore neck.
Example: I must have slept wrong last night; my neck is so stiff today.

Quiz:

Complete the following sentence:

Scenario: Janet’s throat felt dry due to the medication and she could barely speak. She had a ____________________.

• A) Sore throat
• B) Kink in her neck
• C) Frog in her throat

*Answers are available at the end of the lesson.

Painful Sensations

Now let’s talk about phrases that describe different types of uncomfortable sensations or reactions your body might have, such as tingling, intense pain, or feeling lightheaded. 

These expressions can help you describe how your body feels when it’s not at its best, especially when you need to explain unusual and painful symptoms to others.

To have pins and needles
Definition: To feel a tingling sensation in a limb that is regaining feeling after being numb. Tingling feels like tiny pins or needles poking your skin. It can happen when a part of your body “falls asleep,” like when you sit in one position for too long, and then you move. It’s not painful, but it can feel strange or ticklish.
Example: I’ve got pins and needles in my leg from sitting in the same position for too long.

[Something] is killing me
Definition: To experience constant and severe pain in a specific area.
Example: My back is killing me.

To break out in a cold sweat
Definition: To suddenly start sweating while feeling cold, usually because of illness, stress, or fear.
Example: The kids broke out in a cold sweat last night due to their high fever.

Feeling woozy
Definition: To feel lightheaded, weak, or slightly nauseous. Feeling lightheaded means you feel a bit dizzy or unsteady, like your head is floating or spinning. It can happen when you stand up too quickly or haven’t eaten for a while. When you feel lightheaded, you might need to sit down because you feel like you could lose your balance.
Example: I often feel woozy after spinning class, so I make sure to sit down and drink water afterward.

Quiz:

Complete the following sentence:

Scenario: The children were down with the flu and had a high fever. In the middle of the night, they _____________________, and their sheets were soaked.

• A) Had pins and needles
• B) Felt woozy
• C) Broke out in a cold sweat

*Answers are available at the end of the lesson.

Bonus Practice 

Now it’s your turn to use the new vocabulary you’ve learned today!

Consider these questions. Then share your answers in the comments below.

1. When was the last time you experienced an ache or pain?
2. How would you describe it now, using the expressions from today’s lesson? 

All my best,

~ Annemarie

P.S. If you were practicing with the quiz, here are the answers:

1) Answer: B – Because she feels slightly unwell and she’s not completely sick.

2) Answer: C – Because her inability to speak is due to dryness in her throat.

3) Answer: C – Because the sentence refers to a fever and bedsheets that got wet from sweat.

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