Joint Pain Terminology and English for Medical Purposes

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

1. Joint pain
2. Knees
3. Three or four months
4. He's felt under the weather.
5. He gets some exercise, not a lot.
6. He has some swelling in his knees. 

Vocabulary Review

Fill in the gap with a word or phrase from the dialogue.

1. I've had a lot of _________for more than a week. I'm really tired!
2. Are you feeling _________the weather today?
3. I'm afraid I have some _________around my eyes. What should I do?
4. Could you please put your _________on your left foot?
5. Take some _________and stay home for two days.
6. Are you having any pain in your _________?

Answers

1. fatigue/weakness
2. under
3. inflammation / swelling
4. weight
5. aspirin/ibuprofen
6. joints