NM703 – Musculoskeletal Exam Questions with
Revised Answers| Verified 100% Correct
Neck Pain Diagnostics - ✔✔usually none
MAYBE CBC, ESR, CRP if infection is being considered
Xray, CT, MRI, EMG
Management for neck sprain or strain - ✔✔conservative care
heat for pain, ice for inflammation, massage
physical therapy for guided exercise
Pharmacological treatment for strains/sprains - ✔✔NSAIDs
muscle relaxants
Lifestyle management for neck pain - ✔✔work on appropriate posture (decrease
screen use)
avoid repetitive movement/lifting >10lbs
What is a potential medication option for short-term management of neck pain? -
✔✔A short course of opioids (2-3 days)
Which medication is an SSRI that can be used for neck pain management? -
✔✔Duloxetine
Name a muscle relaxant that can be used for neck pain management. -
✔✔Tizanidine, baclofen, cyclobenzaprine
,What medication will help with radiculopathy and restore sleep function? -
✔✔Gabapentin
When is a referral warranted for neck pain? - ✔✔- abrupt onset cervical myelopathy
associated with gait disturbance
- upper motor neuron signs
- bowel and bladder incontinence
- Incapacitating neck pain refractory to conservative methods
- trauma
- fracture or instability of cervical spine
- epidural steroids
- surgery
Low back pain Mechanical patho - ✔✔no primary source;
-direct injury, deformity, imbalance, or overuse of identifiable sources in the lumbar
spine
- Structural; wear and tear of the spine
Systemic medical illnesses for lower back pain - ✔✔Inflammatory infection,
neoplastic, visceral sources
Risk factors for low back pain - ✔✔-Broad
-Genetics
-Smoking
-Obesity
-Female
- >65 years old
, - physically or psychologically strenuous work
- sedentary lifestyle
- acute trauma
Priority differential dx for lower back pain - ✔✔spinal cord compression
fracture
inflammatory disease
neoplasm
infection
What are common subjective complaints associated with low back pain? - ✔✔Pain
disturbing sleep, work, or activities.
What characterizes the onset of acute low back pain? - ✔✔Acute onset.
How do patients often describe chronic low back pain? - ✔✔"I have had this for
years."
What can exacerbate low back pain? - ✔✔Prolonged activities.
What can help alleviate low back pain? - ✔✔Frequent position changes.
What is axial pain limited to? - ✔✔Lumbar spine
What symptoms can accompany axial pain? - ✔✔Varying degrees of gluteal
symptoms
Revised Answers| Verified 100% Correct
Neck Pain Diagnostics - ✔✔usually none
MAYBE CBC, ESR, CRP if infection is being considered
Xray, CT, MRI, EMG
Management for neck sprain or strain - ✔✔conservative care
heat for pain, ice for inflammation, massage
physical therapy for guided exercise
Pharmacological treatment for strains/sprains - ✔✔NSAIDs
muscle relaxants
Lifestyle management for neck pain - ✔✔work on appropriate posture (decrease
screen use)
avoid repetitive movement/lifting >10lbs
What is a potential medication option for short-term management of neck pain? -
✔✔A short course of opioids (2-3 days)
Which medication is an SSRI that can be used for neck pain management? -
✔✔Duloxetine
Name a muscle relaxant that can be used for neck pain management. -
✔✔Tizanidine, baclofen, cyclobenzaprine
,What medication will help with radiculopathy and restore sleep function? -
✔✔Gabapentin
When is a referral warranted for neck pain? - ✔✔- abrupt onset cervical myelopathy
associated with gait disturbance
- upper motor neuron signs
- bowel and bladder incontinence
- Incapacitating neck pain refractory to conservative methods
- trauma
- fracture or instability of cervical spine
- epidural steroids
- surgery
Low back pain Mechanical patho - ✔✔no primary source;
-direct injury, deformity, imbalance, or overuse of identifiable sources in the lumbar
spine
- Structural; wear and tear of the spine
Systemic medical illnesses for lower back pain - ✔✔Inflammatory infection,
neoplastic, visceral sources
Risk factors for low back pain - ✔✔-Broad
-Genetics
-Smoking
-Obesity
-Female
- >65 years old
, - physically or psychologically strenuous work
- sedentary lifestyle
- acute trauma
Priority differential dx for lower back pain - ✔✔spinal cord compression
fracture
inflammatory disease
neoplasm
infection
What are common subjective complaints associated with low back pain? - ✔✔Pain
disturbing sleep, work, or activities.
What characterizes the onset of acute low back pain? - ✔✔Acute onset.
How do patients often describe chronic low back pain? - ✔✔"I have had this for
years."
What can exacerbate low back pain? - ✔✔Prolonged activities.
What can help alleviate low back pain? - ✔✔Frequent position changes.
What is axial pain limited to? - ✔✔Lumbar spine
What symptoms can accompany axial pain? - ✔✔Varying degrees of gluteal
symptoms
