Has anyone else found themselves trying to decipher a patient’s symptoms that sound like they’ve come from a game of Pictionary? I had a guy the other day who talked about ‘a pain up and down’ like he was doing a weird dance. It turned into a comical back-and-forth trying to figure out if he meant his leg or his back. Just makes you wonder — who else has seen these hilarious miscommunications in the midst of serious work?
It’s true! Sometimes these assessments feel like a theatrical performance. I had a patient who described their pain as ‘like a rolling wave’ — I was half expecting him to start mimicking it.
I once had a patient describe their shoulder pain as ‘like a burrito rolling off a counter.’ It was hilarious but also made it tough to assess! Sometimes a good laugh can break the ice, though, so it’s worth embracing the humor when you can. Anyone else had a creative description that completely baffled you?
It’s like every patient has a unique way of performing their own symptom symphony! I had someone describe their chest pain as ‘like a lion creeping up on them’ — it really threw me for a loop! @SamNewGrad, ever try using drawings to help interpret this? Could lighten the mood a bit.