Table 4

Frequency of pain quality descriptors attributed to head and neck pain site

Neuropathic Descriptor

Frequency (%)

Nociceptive Descriptor

Frequency (%)

Affective and Evaluative Descriptors

Frequency (%)

Aching

25 (20.2%)

Beating

4 (3.2%)

Fearful

5 (4.0%)

Boring

7 (5.6%)

Cramping

0 (0%)

Frightening

3 (2.4%)

Burning

33 (26.6%)

Crushing

3 (2.4%)

Terrifying

0 (0%)

Cold

0 (0%)

Cutting

4 (3.2%)

Grueling

4 (3.2%)

Cool

1 (0.8%)

Dull

27 (21.8%)

Punishing

3 (2.4%)

Drawing

1 (0.8%)

Gnawing

6 (4.8%)

Cruel

0 (0%)

Drilling

3 (2.4%)

Heavy

2 (1.6%)

Vicious

2 (1.6%)

Flashing

5 (4.0%)

Hurting

16 (12.9%)

Killing

1 (0.8%)

Flickering

10 (8.1%)

Lacerating

5 (4.0%)

Tiring

31 (25%)

Freezing

1 (0.8%)

Piercing

11 (8.9%)

Exhausting

10 (8.9%)

Hot

9 (7.3%)

Pinching

2 (1.6%)

Wretched

2 (1.6%)

Itchy

0 (0%)

Pounding

2 (1.6%)

Blinding

1 (0.8%)

Jumping

4 (3.2%)

Pressing

13 (10.5%)

Sickening

0 (0%)

Lancinating

1 (0.8%)

Pulling

0 (0%)

Suffocating

2 (1.6%)

Numb

14 (3.2%)

Pulsing

9 (7.3%)

Annoying

51 (41.1%)

Penetrating

1 (0.8%)

Rasping

10 (8.1%)

Pricking

2 (1.6%)

Sharp

19 (15.3%)

Quivering

4 (3.2%)

Sore

40 (32.3%)

Radiating

1 (0.8%)

Splitting

4 (3.2%)

Scalding

2 (1.6%)

Squeezing

3 (2.4%)

Searing

4 (3.2%)

Taut

8 (6.5%)

Shooting

9 (7.3%)

Tearing

6 (4.8%)

Smarting

7 (5.6%)

Tender

43 (34.7%)

Spreading

2 (1.6%)

Throbbing

29 (23.4%)

Stabbing

11 (8.9%)

Tugging

3 (2.4%)

Stinging

0 (0%)

Wrenching

0 (0%)

Tight

0 (0%)

Tingling

12 (9.7%)

Min = 0

Min = 0

Min = 0

Max = 11

Max = 15

Max = 13

Mean = 2.5

Mean = 2.9

Mean = 2.2

SD = 2.3

SD = 2.5

SD = 2.4

Epstein et al. Head & Neck Oncology 2009 1:26   doi:10.1186/1758-3284-1-26