Nurse Key

Acute Low Back Pain Introduction Acute low back pain treatment requires the practitioner to determine which motion or position decreases the patient’s symptoms. Lumbar radiculopathies are commonly due to nerve…

Foot and Ankle Pain Introduction When approaching foot and ankle complaints, first be certain to rule out missed fractures or incomplete rehabilitation of a previous ankle sprain. Common causes of…

Neck and Upper Back Pain Computer screen time and the use of handheld phones has made upper back and neck pain a common finding. Acute pain can be related to…

Arm, Elbow, and Wrist Pain Falls and overuse plague the lower arms. Although mindfulness and attention are needed to lower the risk of falls, proper posture and form can help…

Knee Pain Introduction Knee pain can occur from direct injury to its bone, meniscus, and ligaments or can be referred from more proximal muscles and hip (Figure 12-1). Differential Diagnosis…

Upper Leg and Hip Introduction Upper leg and hip pain may be due to referred pain from the lower back. Hip pain can also refer pain up to the lower…

Acute Chest Discomfort Introduction Anytime a patient hints at “chest pain,” we focus on the heart first, then maybe the lungs. Yet in adults, musculoskeletal causes of chest pain are…

Shoulder Introduction In most adults who present with atraumatic shoulder pain, symptoms arise from impingement syndromes (previously called rotator cuff tendonitis). These symptoms become more common as patients age. The…