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Case Study: Susie

 

Susie's Initial Presentation

The first appointment of the morning is a new patient, Susie Little, a 39 year old female complaining of low back pain. She states she began having pain yesterday afternoon. She relates the pain to bending down and lifting a heavy vacuum at work.

Review an Initial Presentation Algorithm.

Susie enters the office...
Click to view patient morphology

She requests help with pain control because she really needs to keep working at her job. Susie has medical insurance but no medication coverage.

Susie's Vital Signs
Blood Pressure	146/92
Pulse	92
Respiration	18
Temperature	98.4
Weight	189 lbs.
Height	5'2"

 

Generalized Differential Diagnosis

Patient Checklist: Differential Diagnosis

Before you begin you need a general differential in mind. What would be in your differential of Susie?

Lumbar fracture	Differential diagnosis...
Lumbar muscle strain
Tumor
Herniated Nucleus Pulposus
Nephrolithiasis
Cauda Equina Syndrome
Psychiatric disorder

 

What would you like to do first for Susie?
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