US Medical Term · symptoms
Sharp Pain
Dolor agudo
Also: Dolor punzante (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Sharp Pain |
| Spanish (Español) | Dolor agudo |
| Chinese (中文) | 劇痛 |
| Korean (한국어) | 날카로운 통증 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Đau nhói |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Matalim na sakit |
| Portuguese (Português) | Dor aguda |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | อาการปวดแหลม |
| Japanese (日本語) | 鋭い痛み |
What it means
Sharp pain is an intense, piercing, or stabbing type of pain that typically comes on suddenly and is felt at a specific point. It is often brief but may recur in waves. Sharp pain can signal tissue injury, inflammation, or nerve irritation. Common causes include muscle tears, kidney stones passing through the ureter, appendicitis, pleurisy (inflammation around the lung), gallbladder problems, or a pinched nerve. This type of pain is the body's urgent signal that something may be seriously wrong. Seek immediate care if sharp pain is severe, sudden, occurs in the chest or abdomen, or is accompanied by other alarming symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or sweating.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I am having sharp, stabbing pain in my right side that comes and goes.
Tengo un dolor agudo y punzante en el lado derecho que va y viene.
The pain is very sharp when I take a deep breath.
El dolor es muy agudo cuando respiro profundo.
I have sharp pain in my lower back every time I try to stand up.
Tengo un dolor agudo en la parte baja de la espalda cada vez que intento levantarme.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026