颈腰痛 Back and Neck: Posture and Red Flags

By the end of this module you can…

• Use the words patients use for back and neck trouble, and the chart words beside them.
• Coach posture and lifting in short steps, without making bending sound dangerous.
• Ask where pain and tingling spread, and teach a few back and neck exercises.
• Ask the cauda equina questions with dignity, and say in Mandarin where the patient should go: keep going, the doctor, or the ER.
• Answer questions about MRIs, bed rest, braces and traditional treatments with respect.

Key vocabulary

Sixteen words from this module. Tap the speaker to hear each one.

The spine and its symptoms

• 颈椎jǐng zhuīCervical spine (the neck bones)
• 腰椎yāo zhuīLumbar spine (the low back bones)
• 椎间盘zhuī jiān pánDisc (between the vertebrae)
• 坐骨神经痛zuò gǔ shén jīng tòngSciatica
• 闪了腰shǎn le yāoTweaked (strained) my back
• 落枕lào zhěnStiff neck from sleeping awkwardly
• 发麻fā máTingling, going numb
• 驼背tuó bèiHunched, rounded upper back

Posture and everyday helpers

• 腰靠yāo kàoLumbar roll, back cushion
• 护腰hù yāoBack brace, support belt
• 枕头zhěn touPillow
• 热敷rè fūHeat pack, warm compress
• 冰敷bīng fūIce pack, cold compress
• 低头看手机dī tóu kàn shǒu jīLooking down at a phone
• 搬东西bān dōng xiLifting and carrying things
• 久坐jiǔ zuòSitting for a long time

Ten core phrases

The lines from this module’s take-home phrase sheet. In the course you can print them on one page for your pocket.

1. 疼会不会传到腿上？过不过膝盖？Téng huì bu huì chuán dào tuǐ shang? Guò bu guò xī gài?Does the pain spread to your leg? Past the knee?
2. 手有没有发麻？转头的时候会不会头晕？Shǒu yǒu méi yǒu fā má? Zhuǎn tóu de shí hou huì bu huì tóu yūn?Tingling in the hands? Dizzy when you turn your head?
3. 下面我要问几个比较私人的问题，每个腰疼的病人我都会问。Xià miàn wǒ yào wèn jǐ ge bǐ jiào sī rén de wèn tí, měi ge yāo téng de bìng rén wǒ dōu huì wèn.A few personal questions: I ask everyone with back pain.
4. 小便有没有解不出来，或者控制不住？大便呢？下身、肛门周围或者大腿内侧，有没有发麻、没感觉？Xiǎo biàn yǒu méi yǒu jiě bu chū lái, huò zhě kòng zhì bu zhù? Dà biàn ne? Xià shēn, gāng mén zhōu wéi huò zhě dà tuǐ nèi cè, yǒu méi yǒu fā má, méi gǎn jué?Trouble passing or holding urine? Bowels? Saddle numbness?
5. 这个情况要马上去急诊，不要等，别自己开车。我帮您联系。Zhè ge qíng kuàng yào mǎ shàng qù jí zhěn, bú yào děng, bié zì jǐ kāi chē. Wǒ bāng nín lián xì.This needs the ER now. Don’t wait or drive yourself. I’ll help you arrange it.
6. 从检查来看，您的腰挺结实的，只是现在比较敏感。Cóng jiǎn chá lái kàn, nín de yāo tǐng jiē shi de, zhǐ shì xiàn zài bǐ jiào mǐn gǎn.From the exam, your back looks strong; it’s just sensitive.
7. 适当活动比一直躺着恢复得快。Shì dàng huó dòng bǐ yì zhí tǎng zhe huī fù de kuài.Gentle activity beats bed rest.
8. 东西靠近身体，用腿的力量站起来。Dōng xi kào jìn shēn tǐ, yòng tuǐ de lì liang zhàn qǐ lai.Keep the load close; stand up with your legs.
9. 下巴往回收，像做个双下巴。Xià ba wǎng huí shōu, xiàng zuò ge shuāng xià ba.Tuck your chin, like a double chin.
10. 每半个小时，起来活动一下。Měi bàn ge xiǎo shí, qǐ lai huó dòng yí xià.Every half hour, get up and move around.

What’s in Module 6

1. Part 1 · Warm-UpWarm-Up: Your Own Back
2. Part 2 · Back and Neck WordsReading the Pinyin · Saying 腰突 vs. Charting 腰椎间盘突出症 · Vocabulary · Flash Cards
3. Part 3 · Moving SafelyLifting, Step by Step · The Back Pain Script · Words That Calm Fear · Key Patterns · Sitting, Sleeping, Getting Up
4. Part 4 · Neck, Nerves and ExerciseThe Neck · Pain Down the Leg · Back and Neck Exercises
5. Part 5 · Red Flags & ConcernsAsking the Hard Questions · Keep Going, Doctor, or ER? · Tuina, Cupping and Plasters · What Patients Say · Putting It Together
6. Part 6 · Role-PlayRound 1 · Guided Conversation · Round 2 · Controlled Practice · Rounds 3, 4 & 5 · Independent
7. Part 7 · Knowledge CheckModule 6 Knowledge Check
8. Part 8 · Wrap-UpModule 6 Homework · Take-Home Phrase Sheet · Module 6 Wrap-Up · 下次见