(The patient comes in)
P: Hello doctor.
D: Good morning, have a seat, please.What's your name?
P: Li Wei.
D: And your age?
P: 25
D: OK. Miss Li, what do you do?
P: I'm an accounting clerk.
D: OK, then what is your complaint?
P: My lumbus is getting terribly painful and I can't even move any more.
D: How long have you been like this?
P: About a week, and it's getting more and more painful I can hardly stand it.
D: How did it happen?
P: When I tried to get a heavy box off a high shelf, I suddenly felt a pain in my back.
D: Is there any pain in any other part of your body?
P: No
D: Is the pain located to just this spot?
P: No, I feel it go down my legs when I cough or sneeze.
D: Is the pain worse or lighter when you bend or stretch your back?
P: It's worse.
D: Dose anything help it?
P: The pain gets better after resting. But when I walk for a distance, it hurts again and I have to stop.
D: Is there any symptom in your lower limbs ?
P: No, I think they are OK.
D: Please stand up. Let me examine your back, please bend forward and backward... Good... And then turn to the right and left.... OK. Good, now please lie face down on the examination table. Yes , here... If I hurt you, please let me know... OK? Can you feel pain when I press?
P: Yes, here, here, right here. It's getting terribly painful.
D: Okay, get up please....Hum,You have a protrusion of the intervertebral disc. (ring...ring...ring)
Excuse me. (pick up the phone) Hello? Really? OK... OK...OK... I'll be here right now. Sorry, I have to go now, there is an emergency. You will be treated by my partner Doctor He. Wait for a munite , please.
P: OK.
(Doctor He comes in...)
H: Hi, I'm doctor He, your doctor have told me your situation, you have a protrusion of the intervertebral disc.
P: Yes, I know, I've been told before. Is it serious? Can it be cured?
H: Not so serious, don't worry. Actually people in your age and in your occupation often get this disease.
P: It has something to do with my job?
H: To some degree, yeah. Since you have to sit before your desk all day, your
intervertebral disc is under uneven stress, and this will lead to the protrusion of it. And there is higher chance for thin people like you to get this disease. But don't be worried, it can be cured though we need time.
P: All right.... What methods should be used to cure it?
H: I'll prescribe you some Chinese herbs. The treatment will promote blood circulation to remote blood stasis and promote circulation of qi to relieve pain and you should have acupuncture every other day.
P: How long will it take before I recover?
H: Oh, generally you'll be all right in two or three weeks. But there are some points you should keep in mind.
P: What are they?
H: First, sleep on a hard bed. You got a hard bed?
P: Oh, yeah. What's next?
H: Avoid carrying things which are too heavy for you.
P: Ennhen..
H: And keep a good posture when sitting down for long hours. And better sit up and walk for a few seconds after long sitting.
P: OK, I'll do whatever to treat this disease, it really hurts.
H: Yeah, that's it! Keep a good spirit! You will get well soon.
P: Thank you very much, doctor.
H: That's all right, good bye.。