There is something terribly morbid in the modern sympathy with pain. One should sympathise with the colour the beauty the joy of life. The less said about life's sores the better.
I have never had trouble with any actor being able to visualise things. They are amazing. As long as you have your monster head on a long stick so you can hold it up there and you can wave it around and let them see it and explain it to them they are just great.