Read the following dialogue between a patient and her doctor as they discuss joint pain during an appointment. Practice the dialogue with a friend so you can feel more confident the next time you visit the doctor. A comprehension and vocabulary review quiz follow the dialogue.
Joint Pain
Patient: Good morning. Doctor Smith?
Doctor: Yes, please come in.
Patient: Thank you. My name is Doug Anders.
Doctor: What have you come in for today Mr. Anders?
Patient: I've been having some pain in my joints, especially the knees.
Doctor: How long have you been having the pain?
Patient: I'd say it started three or four months ago. It's been getting worse recently.
Doctor: Are you having any other problems like weakness, fatigue or headaches?
Patient: Well I've certainly felt under the weather.
Doctor: Right. How much physical activity do you get? Do you play any sports?
Patient: Some. I like to play tennis about once a week. I take my dog on a walk every morning.
Doctor: OK. Let's have a look. Can you point to the area where you are having pain?
Patient: It hurts right here.
Doctor: Please stand up and put weight on your knees. Does this hurt? How about this?
Patient: Ouch!
Doctor: It seems you have some inflammation in your knees. However, there's nothing broken.
Patient: That's a relief!
Doctor: Just take some ibuprofen or aspirin and the swelling should go down. You'll feel better after that.
Patient: Thank you!
Key Vocabulary
- joint pain = (noun) the connection points of the body where two bones connect including wrists, ankles, knees
- knees = (noun) the connection point between your upper and lower legs
- weakness = (noun) the opposite of strength, feeling like you have little energy
- fatigue = (noun) overall tiredness, low energy
- headache = (noun) a pain in your head that is steady
- to feel under the weather = (verb phrase) not feel well, not feel as strong as usual
- physical activity = (noun) exercise of any kind
- to have a look = (verb phrase) to check something or someone
- to have pain = (verb phrase) to hurt
- to put your weight on something = (verb phrase) put the weight of your body onto something directly
- inflammation = (noun) swelling
- ibuprofen/aspirin = (noun) common pain medicine that also helps reduce swelling
- swelling = (noun) inflammation
Check your understanding with this multiple choice comprehension quiz.
Comprehension Quiz
Choose the best answer to each question about the dialogue.
1. What seems to be Mr. Smith's problem?
- Broken knees
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
2. Which joints are bothering him the most?
- Elbow
- Wrist
- Knees
3. How long has he been having this problem?
- three or four years
- three or four months
- three or four weeks
4. Which other problem does the patient mention?
- He's felt under the weather.
- He's been vomiting.
- He doesn't mention another problem.
5. Which phrase best describes the amount of exercise the patient gets?
- He works out a lot.
- He gets some exercise, not a lot.
- He doesn't get any exercise.
6. What's Mr. Anders problem?
- He has broken his knees.
- He has some swelling in his knees.
- He has broken a joint.
Answers
- Joint pain
- Knees
- Three or four months
- He's felt under the weather.
- He gets some exercise, not a lot.
- He has some swelling in his knees.
Vocabulary Review
Fill in the gap with a word or phrase from the dialogue.
- I've had a lot of _________for more than a week. I'm really tired!
- Are you feeling _________the weather today?
- I'm afraid I have some _________around my eyes. What should I do?
- Could you please put your _________on your left foot?
- Take some _________and stay home for two days.
- Are you having any pain in your _________?
Answers
- fatigue/weakness
- under
- inflammation / swelling
- weight
- aspirin/ibuprofen
- joints
