An English-speaking GP meets with a Chinese-speaking patient during a consultation about lower-back and leg pain.
- Doctor · turn 1
Good morning, Mr Wong. I'm Dr Smith. I understand you've been having some problems with your back. Could you tell me what's been happening?
早安，黃先生。我是Smith醫生。我知道您的背部一直有些問題。您可以告訴我發生了甚麼事嗎？
- Patient · turn 2
醫生您好。我這兩個星期腰一直很痛，而且疼痛會從臀部一路延伸到左腿，有時候連小腿和腳掌都會麻木。
Hello, doctor. I’ve had persistent lower-back pain for the past two weeks, and the pain travels from my buttock all the way down my left leg. Sometimes even my lower leg and the sole of my foot become numb.
- Doctor · turn 3
When did the pain first start? Did you injure yourself or lift anything heavy?
疼痛最初是甚麼時候開始的？您有受傷或搬過任何重物嗎？
- Patient · turn 4
一開始只是搬家後覺得腰有點痠，我以為只是勞損，休息幾天就會好。可是後來越來越嚴重，現在連坐著超過十分鐘都很難受。
At first, my lower back only felt a little sore after I moved house. I thought it was merely a strain and would improve after a few days’ rest. However, it became increasingly severe, and now even sitting for more than ten minutes is very uncomfortable.
- Doctor · turn 5
Does the pain shoot down the back of your leg, or is it only in your lower back?
疼痛會沿着腿部後方向下放射，還是只集中在腰部？
- Patient · turn 6
主要是沿著左腿後面一直往下痛，有時候像觸電一樣，咳嗽或打噴嚏的時候會更痛。
It mainly travels down the back of my left leg. Sometimes it feels like an electric shock, and it becomes more painful when I cough or sneeze.
- Doctor · turn 7
From what you've described, it sounds like you may have **sciatica**, which is pain caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. One common cause is a herniated disc in your lower spine.
根據您的描述，聽起來您可能患有**坐骨神經痛**，也就是坐骨神經受到刺激或壓迫而引起的疼痛。常見原因之一是腰椎椎間盤突出。
- Patient · turn 8
原來不是普通的腰痛。我還以為只是肌肉拉傷。這種情況嚴重嗎？需要開刀嗎？
So it isn’t ordinary lower-back pain. I thought it was only a pulled muscle. Is this condition serious? Will I need surgery?
- Doctor · turn 9
Not necessarily. Most people recover without surgery. I'd like to examine your back and legs today. I'll also check your muscle strength, reflexes and sensation to see whether any nerves are affected.
不一定。大多數人無需手術也能康復。今天我想檢查您的背部和雙腿，也會檢查肌肉力量、反射和感覺，以了解是否有任何神經受到影響。
- Patient · turn 10
好的。我最近還發現左腳好像沒有以前有力，上樓梯時特別明顯。
All right. Recently, I’ve also noticed that my left leg doesn’t seem as strong as before, particularly when I climb stairs.
- Doctor · turn 11
Have you noticed any problems controlling your bladder or bowels, or numbness around your groin?
您有沒有發現難以控制膀胱或腸道，或者腹股溝周圍出現麻木？
- Patient · turn 12
沒有，小便、大便都正常，也沒有那些地方麻木。
No. Urination and bowel movements are normal, and I don’t have any numbness in those areas.
- Doctor · turn 13
That's reassuring because those symptoms would require urgent treatment. Based on today's examination, I don't think this is an emergency, but I'd like to arrange an MRI scan to check whether you have a herniated disc pressing on the nerve.
這令人放心，因為那些症狀需要緊急治療。根據今天的檢查，我認為這不是緊急情況，但我想安排磁力共振掃描，以檢查是否有椎間盤突出並壓迫神經。
- Patient · turn 14
照 MRI 之前，我還可以繼續上班嗎？我的工作需要經常搬貨。
Can I continue working before the MRI? My job requires me to move goods frequently.
- Doctor · turn 15
I'd recommend avoiding heavy lifting until we know exactly what's causing your symptoms. I'll give you a medical certificate for one week of light duties, together with some anti-inflammatory medication and pain relief. I'll also refer you to a physiotherapist.
在確定症狀的確切原因之前，我建議您避免搬抬重物。我會為您開一張證明，安排一星期的輕便工作，並處方一些消炎藥和止痛藥。我也會轉介您接受物理治療。
- Patient · turn 16
我之前吃止痛藥好像沒什麼效果，而且我對青黴素過敏，這些藥會有問題嗎？
The painkillers I took previously didn’t seem very effective. I’m also allergic to penicillin. Will these medications cause any problems?
- Doctor · turn 17
Penicillin is an antibiotic, so it won't affect the pain medication I'm prescribing today. However, thank you for telling me about your allergy. I'll make a note of it in your medical record.
青霉素是一種抗生素，因此不會影響我今天為您處方的止痛藥。不過，謝謝您告訴我這項過敏情況。我會在您的病歷中註明。
- Patient · turn 18
那就好。我需要每天做復健運動嗎？
That’s good. Do I need to perform rehabilitation exercises every day?
- Doctor · turn 19
Yes. The physiotherapist will teach you some stretching and strengthening exercises. It's important to keep moving, but avoid activities that make the pain significantly worse. Most people improve within several weeks.
是的。物理治療師會教您一些伸展和肌力訓練。保持活動很重要，但應避免令疼痛明顯加劇的活動。大多數人會在幾星期內有所改善。
- Patient · turn 20
如果 MRI 顯示椎間盤突出，我一定要做手術嗎？
If the MRI shows a herniated disc, will I definitely need surgery?
- Doctor · turn 21
Not necessarily. Surgery is usually only considered if your symptoms don't improve after conservative treatment, if you develop significant muscle weakness, or if you lose control of your bladder or bowels. We'll review your MRI results before deciding on the next step.
不一定。一般只有在保守治療後症狀仍未改善、出現明顯肌肉無力，或失去膀胱或腸道控制能力時，才會考慮手術。我們會先審視磁力共振結果，再決定下一步。
- Patient · turn 22
明白了。謝謝醫生，我會按時吃藥，也會去做物理治療。
I understand. Thank you, doctor. I’ll take my medication as directed and attend physiotherapy.
- Doctor · turn 23
You're welcome. If the pain suddenly becomes much worse, or you develop numbness around your groin or problems passing urine or opening your bowels, please go straight to the Emergency Department. Otherwise, I'll see you again after your MRI.
不客氣。如果疼痛突然大幅加劇，或者腹股溝周圍出現麻木、排尿或排便困難，請立即前往急症室。否則，我們在您完成磁力共振後再見。
- Patient · turn 24
好的，我知道了。謝謝您，醫生。
All right, I understand. Thank you, doctor.
This is the read-only transcript view, for reviewing before or after a practice session.
Practice with AI Agents
Export this dialogue as an interactive prompt for ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini Voice.