EFE learning modules / Describing Specific Health Symptoms

scenario 2 a medical consultation between a doctor

Scenario Context

"A medical consultation between a doctor and a patient focusing on precise descriptions of physical pain and sensations."

Speakers
D

Dr. Sam

A thorough and attentive physician who specializes in pain management.

E

Elena

An intermediate English learner who is trying to describe her recent health issues accurately.

The Dialogue

Tap highlighted words to view vocabulary cards below.

Dr. Sam
Good morning, Elena. What brings you into the clinic today?
Elena
Good morning, Doctor. I have been having some unusual pain in my neck and head lately.
Dr. Sam
I am sorry to hear that. Can you describe the sensation for me?
Elena
It is hard to explain, but it feels like a sensation behind my eyes.
Dr. Sam
A pain usually feels like a pulse. Is it constant?
Elena
No, it is more like a ache most of the time, but then it becomes sharper.
Dr. Sam
When the pain increases, would you describe it as a feeling?
Elena
Yes, exactly. It feels like a quick, needle for a few seconds.
Dr. Sam
Is the pain to just one spot?
Elena
At first, it stays in one place, but then it starts down my shoulder.
Dr. Sam
How often does this happen throughout the day?
Elena
It is . It comes and goes every few hours.
Dr. Sam
On a scale of one to ten, what is the of the pain?
Elena
The ache is a three, but the pain is about an eight.
Dr. Sam
Does anything specific the symptoms?
Elena
Looking at my computer screen for a long time seems to it.
Dr. Sam
Do you ever feel any in your arms or hands?
Elena
Yes, I sometimes feel a slight in my left hand.
Dr. Sam
Is there any , like 'pins and needles'?
Elena
Yes, the starts right after the pain stops.
Dr. Sam
Have you noticed any dizziness when this happens?
Elena
Only slightly, if I stand up too quickly.
Dr. Sam
How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?
Elena
It started about two weeks ago after I finished a big project.
Dr. Sam
Does resting or lying down help alleviate the pain?
Elena
Lying down helps with the , but not the .
Dr. Sam
Are you taking any medication currently?
Elena
I took some ibuprofen, but it didn't help much.
Dr. Sam
Okay. I want to perform a physical exam to check your reflexes.
Elena
Thank you, I appreciate you being so thorough.
Dr. Sam
Does it hurt when I apply pressure here?
Elena
Yes, that is exactly where the pain is.
Dr. Sam
And when I move your neck to the side?
Elena
That makes the pain go down to my elbow.
Dr. Sam
I suspect it might be a pinched nerve or severe muscle tension.
Elena
Is that why I feel the and ?
Dr. Sam
Most likely. Nerve issues often cause those specific sensations.
Elena
What are the next steps for treatment?
Dr. Sam
I will order an MRI to see what is happening with the nerves.
Elena
That sounds like a good plan. Thank you for your help.

Scene Vocabulary

Practice vocabulary words & meanings.

Throbbing

/ትሮቢንግ/

ትርታ ያለው ህመም

Pulsating or beating with a strong rhythm.

ጠንካራ በሆነ ምት የሚመታ ወይም የሚርገበገብ የህመም ስሜት።

Dull

/ደል/

ደብዛዛ ወይም ዝቅተኛ ህመም

Not sharp or intense; a constant but low-level pain.

ሹል ያልሆነ ወይም ከፍተኛ ያልሆነ፤ ነገር ግን የማይለቅ ዝቅተኛ ህመም።

Stabbing

/ስታቢንግ/

እንደ ጩቤ የሚወጋ ህመም

A sudden, sharp, and intense pain like being pierced.

ድንገተኛ፣ ሹል እና ልክ እንደ መውጋት ያለ ከፍተኛ ህመም።

Localized

/ሎካላይዝድ/

በአንድ ቦታ የተወሰነ

Stayed or confined to a specific area of the body.

በአንድ የተወሰነ የሰውነት ክፍል ላይ ብቻ የሚገኝ ወይም የተወሰነ።

Radiating

/ሬዲዬቲንግ/

የሚሰራጭ ህመም

Pain that starts in one area and spreads to another.

ከአንድ ቦታ ተነስቶ ወደ ሌላ የሰውነት ክፍል የሚሰራጭ ህመም።

Intermittent

/ኢንተርሚተንት/

አልፎ አልፎ የሚከሰት

Occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous.

የማይቆራረጥ ያልሆነ፤ አልፎ አልፎ ወይም በየመሃሉ የሚከሰት።

Severity

/ሰቬሪቲ/

ጽኑነት ወይም ጥንካሬ

The quality or state of being intense or serious.

የአንድ ነገር ጥንካሬ፣ ጽኑነት ወይም ከባድነት ደረጃ።

Aggravate

/አግራቬይት/

ማባባስ

To make a problem, injury, or offense worse or more serious.

አንድን ችግር፣ ጉዳት ወይም ህመም ይበልጥ እንዲባባስ ወይም እንዲከፋ ማድረግ።

Numbness

/ነምነስ/

መደንዘዝ

The loss of sensation or feeling in a part of the body.

በአንድ የሰውነት ክፍል ላይ የስሜት ወይም የመሰማት ችሎታ ማጣት።

Tingling

/ቲንግሊንግ/

የመውጋት ወይም የመኮርኮር ስሜት

A slight prickling or stinging sensation.

ቀለል ያለ የመውጋት፣ የመቆርቆር ወይም የመኮርኮር ስሜት።