Discussion: Assessing Muscoskeletal Pain
The body is constantly sending signals about its health. One of the most easily recognized signals is pain. Musculoskeletal conditions comprise one of the leading causes of severe long-term pain in patients. The musculoskeletal system is an elaborate system of interconnected levers that provide the body with support and mobility. Because of the interconnectedness of the musculoskeletal system, identifying the causes of pain can be challenging. Accurately interpreting the cause of musculoskeletal pain requires an assessment process informed by patient history and physical exams.
In this Discussion, you will consider case studies that describe abnormal findings in patients seen in a clinical setting.
By Day 3
Post an episodic/focused note about the patient in the case study to which you were assigned using the episodic/focused note template provided in week 5 resources. Provide evidence from the literature to support diagnostic tests that would be appropriate for each case. List five different possible conditions for the patient\'s differential diagnosis and justify why you selected each.
Case 3: Knee Pain
A 15-year-old male reports dull pain in both knees. Sometimes one or both knees click, and the patient describes a catching sensation under the patella. In determining the causes of the knee pain, what additional history do you need? What categories can you use to differentiate knee pain? What are your specific differential diagnoses for knee pain? What physical examination will you perform? What anatomic structures are you assessing as part of the physical examination? What special maneuvers will you perform?
The musculoskeletal system is responsible for our upright ambulation, body support, and for movement. The musculoskeletal system also provides protection for vital organs, and the bone marrow produces red blood cells and provides storage for essential minerals such as calcium and phosphorus.
Our skeleton system has 206 bones, which are connected by ligaments. Muscles should be almost half of our body weight, each connected to the bones by tendons. The bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons allow movement in the following directions: flexion, extensions, abduction, adduction, pronation, supination, circumduction, inversion, eversion, rotation, protraction, retraction, elevation, and depression.
Remember, you have to document that you performed these tests. You cannot just say patient has pain in the lumbar region, What tests did you perform to make sure there was no weakness etc?
