Desencajado

Desencajado
 

I couldn't find a proper word in English matching desencajado in the phrase "rostro desencajado de dolor".

It's a physical thing, when a person's facial expression looks tense and distorted, a grimace, caused by experiencing a great deal of pain, short of fainting for that cause, during a long period.

Considering the great degree it implies, what English adjective could replace desencajado in this context? Should I use "a grimace of pain" as a substitute for the whole sentence instead?

I think "racked with pain" would fit the bill.

Thank you, Rusty!

I wonder if there's a way to link that expression to the "contorted" face of the person experiencing the pain.

His face was unhinged (out of joint, out of place, and thus contorted), but we don't usually couple that description "with pain." Although, if I had a face out of joint, I'd be in a lot of pain. So, "racked with pain" explains why someone's face could look contorted/twisted.

So, I might say

his face was racked with pain = tenía el rostro desencajado de dolor

and there's no reason for us to rack our brain(s) looking for a better match = y no hay razón para que nos rompamos el coco buscando una mejor alternativa

Thank you again, Rusty!

He grimaced with pain or he cringed with pain when they removed to bullet.
Her face cringed with pain when she heard the singer at the karaoke bar.

Thank you, poli!