Sciatica in Spanish

What it means

Sciatica occurs when there is pressure on or damage to the sciatic nerve. MedlinePlus explains that sciatica is a symptom of a more specific medical condition, so the underlying cause should be identified. Common causes include a slipped or herniated disk, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, pelvic injury or fracture, tumors, and spondylolisthesis. A herniated disk occurs when all or part of a disk is forced through a weakened part of the disk; spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal column. A health care provider performs a physical exam, and tests are often not needed unless the pain is severe or long-lasting; if ordered, they may include an X-ray or MRI of the spine. Sciatica often gets better on its own, but it is common for it to return.

Sciatica in Spanish

Spanish term: Ciática
Gender and article: feminine: la ciática
Pronunciation: SYAH-tee-kah

Other Spanish terms	Where it is used	Note
disfunción del nervio ciático	General	MedlinePlus en español lists this (sciatic nerve dysfunction) among the alternative names in its article on ciática.
radiculopatía lumbar	General	MedlinePlus en español lists "Radiculopatía lumbar - ciática" among the alternative names for ciática, and "Radiculopatía lumbar" among those for hernia discal.

The Spanish term is ciática, feminine: la ciática. MedlinePlus en español lists disfunción del nervio ciático and radiculopatía lumbar - ciática among its alternative names, and it describes ciática as a symptom of a more specific medical condition (una afección médica más específica) whose underlying cause, la causa subyacente, should be identified.

The words for the causes are worth learning alongside it. MedlinePlus en español titles its herniated disk article hernia discal and, in the list of causes of ciática, writes disco desplazado o herniado. Spinal stenosis is estenosis raquídea, piriformis syndrome is síndrome piriforme, and spondylolisthesis is espondilolistesis. For the workup, the physical exam is el examen físico, X-rays are radiografías, and an MRI is resonancia magnética.

Phrases for an appointment

What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:

Who	English	Spanish
Clinician	Have you been told before that you have sciatica?	¿Le han dicho antes que tiene ciática?
Patient	Yes, two years ago. They said it was caused by a herniated disk.	Sí, hace dos años. Me dijeron que la causa era una hernia discal.
Clinician	Has this episode lasted longer than four weeks?	¿Este episodio ha durado más de cuatro semanas?
Patient	About six weeks. It got better last year, but it came back.	Unas seis semanas. El año pasado mejoró, pero volvió.
Clinician	I am going to check your reflexes and the strength in your legs.	Voy a revisarle los reflejos y la fuerza de las piernas.
Clinician	I am ordering an MRI of your spine to look for the cause.	Voy a pedirle una resonancia magnética de la columna para buscar la causa.
Patient	Does the report say spinal stenosis or a herniated disk?	¿El informe dice estenosis raquídea o hernia discal?
Patient	Will I need to see a specialist for my sciatica?	¿Voy a necesitar ver a un especialista por la ciática?

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	Sciatica
Spanish (Español)	Ciática
Chinese (中文)	坐骨神經痛
Korean (한국어)	좌골신경통
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)	Đau thần kinh tọa
Filipino (Tagalog)	Sciatica
Portuguese (Português)	Ciática
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	อาการปวดร้าวเส้นประสาทไซอาติก
Japanese (日本語)	坐骨神経痛

Where you'll see it

chartEOBreferralmedical record

Related ICD-10-CM category

ICD-10-CM code: M54 → Dorsalgia

Related terms

Your right to an interpreter in the United States

If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.

You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»

More terms: Brain and nerves

All terms in this area: Brain and nerves — Cerebro y nervios

Sources

This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.