Case Study: Numbness and Pain

Numbness and Pain

A 47-year-old obese female complains of pain in her right wrist, with tingling and numbness in the thumb and index and middle fingers for the past 2 weeks. She has been frustrated because the pain causes her to drop her hair-styling tools.

To Prepare:

Review this week’s Learning Resources, and consider the insights they provide about the case study.

Consider what history would be necessary to collect from the patient in the case study.

Consider what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be appropriate to gather more information about the patient’s condition.

How would the results be used to make a diagnosis?

Identify at least five possible conditions that may be considered in a differential diagnosis for the patient.

Write a description of the health history you would need to collect from the patient in the case study to which you were assigned.

Explain what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be appropriate and how the results would be used to make a diagnosis.

List five different possible conditions for the patient’s differential diagnosis, and justify why you selected each.