Pain Language Swap Sheet
Words Create Worlds—Choose Ones That Heal
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🔹 Purpose: To help clinicians reframe outdated, fear-inducing, or overly biomedical language into supportive, accurate, and empowering alternatives that reduce threat and build trust.
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🔹 Why This Matters: Words are not neutral in pain care. Language can amplify fear or invite safety. It can frame the body as broken… or as capable. This tool gives clinicians a quick-reference guide to rephrase common phrases so they align with modern pain science and trauma-informed care.
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🌀 How to Use:
▫️ Keep it printed in your clinic or added to your EMR cheat sheets.
▫️ Share with students, peers, or team members as a training tool.
▫️ Use it to reflect on your own patterns during patient interviews or education moments.
🗣️ Language Swap Examples:
🔴 Common Phrase ➡️ Try Instead ✅
“Your spine is out of alignment.” ➡️ “Your body may be moving a bit differently right now—but it’s adaptable.”
“Your core is weak.” ➡️ “We can help you feel more supported and stable through movement.”
“Don’t bend like that or you’ll hurt yourself.” ➡️ “Let’s find ways to move that feel strong and safe for you.”
“Your disc is herniated.” ➡️ “This area is sensitive, but your body knows how to adapt and recover.”
“That’s bone-on-bone.” ➡️ “There are changes on your scan, but many people still move well with them.”
“It’s all in your head.” ➡️ “Pain is real—and your brain and body are working hard to protect you.”
“You have the back of an 80-year-old.” ➡️ “Age-related changes are common and don’t always explain pain.”
“You just have a low pain tolerance.” ➡️ “Let’s explore what your system might be reacting to, and how we can support it.”
“You’ll have to live with this forever.” ➡️ “This might be persistent, but there’s still a lot we can do to help you feel better.”
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🔸 Bonus Prompts for Clinicians:
▫️ “What story is this phrase reinforcing?”
▫️ “Would I say this to someone I care about?”
▫️ “Does this language invite curiosity, fear, or trust?”
▫️ “Is my language aligned with what we know about pain neurophysiology?”
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🧠 Closing Thought:
Every phrase is a chance to either reinforce fear or restore trust. Choose language that moves the story forward.
This resource is part of The Wondering Clinician Toolkit. It’s not medical advice—just a tool to support learning, reflection, and healing. Always consult your clinician when needed.