common causes of back pain anatomy of the back and areas that are commonly painful pain descriptions in Spanish common tests and procedures to assess back pain Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see all of our lessons and get the latest videos right away!
Related lessons you may want to review: How to talk about pain in Spanish OLDCARTS History of the Problem in Spanish This post includes tons of vocabulary related to back pain in Spanish, so if you want to review any specific vocabulary in Spanish, just click on these menu items:
AnatomÃa relevante / Relevant Anatomy Let’s start with a quick review of the body parts related to the back pain and their names in Spanish 🙂
Spanish English El coxis The coccyx El cuello (la nuca) The neck (nape) El disco The disc El muslo Thigh El sacro The sacrum La cintura The waist La columna vertebral Spinal column – Cervical – Cervical – Toráxica – Thoracic – Lumbar (el espinazo, la espina dorsal)
– Lumbar (the spine, the spine)
La espalda The back La ingle The groin La médula espinal Spinal cord La pelvis Pelvis La vértebra The vertebra Las piernas The legs Los costados Sides Los glúteos Buttocks Los hombros Shoulders Los ligamentos The ligaments Los músculos The muscles Los nervios The nerves Los riñones The kidneys
Signos y sÃntomas / Signs and Symptoms Now you have mastered the basic anatomy, it’s time to learn and understand the most common signs and symptoms of back pain
Spanish English Debilidad Weakness Dolor: Pain: – Intenso – Intense – Muscular – Muscular -Punzante -Stinging – Que corre para abajo – That runs down – Moderado – Moderate Entumecimiento Numbness Fiebre Fever Hormigueo Tingle Movimiento limitado Limited movement Nausea Nausea Orina turbia Cloudy Urine
Causas comunes / Common Causes This is a short list of the most common causes of back pain both in English and Spanish that you can use to talk through a diagnosis with your patient.
Spanish English 1. Disco herniado o roto: 1. Herniated or broken disk: El disco es el cartÃlago entre las vértebras The disc is the cartilage between the vertebrae Si se comprime, sale de su lugar o rompe, causa mucho dolor e inhibe el movimiento If it is compressed, goes out of place or breaks, it causes a lot of pain and inhibits movement 2. Esguinces y Distensiones: 2. Sprains and strains: Un estiramiento excesivo o desgarro en el ligamento, tendón o músculo, puede ocurrir con levantar objetos pesados o torcerse de manera incorrecta Excessive stretching or tearing of the ligament, tendon or muscle can occur with lifting heavy objects or twisting incorrectly Pueden causar espasmos en los músculos de la espalda y provocar dolor They can cause spasms in the muscles of the back and cause pain 3. Estenosis espinal: 3. Spinal stenosis: El canal de una o más vértebras se estrecha y pone presión sobre la médula espinal y los nervios The canal of one or more vertebrae narrows and puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves Causa dolor, entumecimiento y debilidad It causes pain, numbness and weakness 4. La ciática y nervios comprimidos: 4. Sciatica and compressed nerves: Los nervios de la médula espinal a veces se comprimen o se pellizcan Nerves in the spinal cord are sometimes compressed or pinched Puede pasar después de un accidente, con ciertos movimientos, o por presión de un disco It can happen after an accident, with certain movements, or by pressure of a disc Causa dolor que corre, hormigueo, entumecimiento y debilidad It causes running pain, tingling, numbness and weakness 5. Artritis: 5. Arthritis: Una inflamación de las articulaciones en la espalda – los espacios entre las vértebras An inflammation of the joints in the back – the spaces between the vertebrae Esta inflamación provoca dolor y rigidez This inflammation causes pain and stiffness 6. Piedras renales: 6. Kidney stones: Son cálculos que forman en el riñón y no pueden pasar por las vÃas urinarias They are stones that form in the kidney and can not pass through the urinary tract Causan dolor lumbar, dolor al orinar, orina oscura y otros sÃntomas de infección They cause low back pain, painful urination, dark urine and other symptoms of infection 7. El embarazo: 7. Pregnancy: Por el peso extra que lleva la mamá en el útero, los músculos de la espalda se esfuerzan más para mantener la postura Because of the extra weight that the mother carries in the uterus, the muscles of the back try harder to maintain the posture Puede producir dolor, músculos adoloridos y rigidez May cause pain, sore muscles and stiffness
Exámenes y procedimientos / Tests and Procedures Now you are able to provide a diagnosis, it’s time to talk about the tests and procedure they might need from now on
Spanish English Para diagnosticar: To diagnose: Examen fÃsico Physical exam TomografÃa computada (TAC) Computerized tomography (CT) Resonancia magnética (RM) Magnetic resonance (MR) RadiografÃa (rayos equis) X-ray (X rays)
Sugerencias para ayudar y prevenir / Suggestions to Help and Prevent Finally, you can make some suggestions to your patient to improve their lifestyle and avoid feeling pain in the future
Spanish English Haga ejercicios de fortalecimiento y estiramiento: Do strengthening and stretching exercises: Ejercicios que fortalecen y estiran los músculos de la espalda y el abdomen le dan mejor equilibrio Exercises that strengthen and stretch the muscles of the back and abdomen give better balance Más fuerza y mejor equilibrio bajan el riesgo de lesionar la espalda More strength and better balance lower the risk of injuring the back Preste atención a la postura: Pay attention to your posture / position: Es importante pararse y sentarse con la espalda recta It is important to stand up and sit with your back straight También si usa una computadora en el trabajo hay que asegurar que el monitor y el teclado estén en buena posición Also if you use a computer at work you must ensure that the monitor and keyboard are in good position Levante objetos pesados con las piernas: Lift heavy objects with your legs: Hay que doblar las rodillas y mantener la espalda recta cuando levanta objetos You have to bend your knees and keep your back straight when you lift objects También es importante pedir ayuda cuando necesita mover objetos pesados It is also important to ask for help when you need to move heavy objects Cambie los movimientos repetitivos: Change the repetitive movements: Es bueno alternar actividad exigente y actividad menos exigente It is good to alternate demanding activity and less demanding activity Y si puede usar equipos para levantar y mover objetos, mejor And if you can use equipment to lift and move objects, that’s even better
Study this back pain in Spanish vocabulary here with these flashcards
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