A 68-year-old man presents with abrupt onset of unilateral s…
A 68-year-old man presents with abrupt onset of unilateral shoulder pain that began after repetitive overhead activity. He describes the worst pain at the tip of the shoulder, radiating down the deltoid into the upper arm. The pain is aggravated by lifting his arm overhead or bringing it across his body. On exam, there is localized tenderness over the superior aspect of the shoulder, mild bulging, and pain-limited active and passive ROM.
Read DetailsA 48-year-old woman presents with neck pain for three weeks….
A 48-year-old woman presents with neck pain for three weeks. She reports aching stiffness in the posterior neck and upper shoulders that worsens with prolonged sitting. She denies numbness, tingling, or weakness. On exam, neck range of motion is mildly limited by pain, but neurologic testing is normal. Which of the following best distinguishes axial neck pain from radicular or chronic neuropathic pain patterns?
Read DetailsA 62-year-old male presents to your clinic with concern for…
A 62-year-old male presents to your clinic with concern for shortness of breath. He describes the sensation as “tightness in the chest” that began gradually over the past three weeks. The dyspnea worsens with exertion and improves with rest. He rates the intensity as 6 out of 10 and denies wheezing, cough, or fever. He has a history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia but no known pulmonary disease. Which of the following symptom dimensions is least helpful in narrowing the differential diagnosis for this patient’s dyspnea?
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