Unspoken Pain: The Impact of Cultural Differences on Symptom Reporting and Delayed Care in Sciatic Nerve Pain

Authors

• Sarah Mansour, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Medical Student
• Michael Balce, Corewell Health East Resident
• Roy Soto, Corewell Health East

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-18-2026

Abstract

A 55-year-old Iraqi man presented with worsening low back pain radiating down his right leg, associated with progressive weakness and difficulty ambulating. He initially described his pain as manageable which led to prolonged conservative management despite clinical findings suggestive of nerve root compression. Upon further discussion the patient revealed hesitancy in expressing the severity of his symptoms, influenced by cultural perceptions of resilience and reluctance to appear vulnerable. This case highlights how cultural differences in pain expression may contribute to under recognition of disease severity and misalignment between clinical findings and management decisions.

Comments

American Society of Anesthesiologists, The Anesthesiology Meeting, October 16-20, 2026, San Diego, CA

Recommended Citation

Mansour S, Balce M, Soto R. Unspoken Pain: the impact of cultural differences on symptom reporting and delayed care in sciatic nerve pain. Presented at: American Society of Anesthesiologists, The Anesthesiology Meeting; 2026 Oct 18; San Diego, CA. Available from: https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/21448/presentation/8979