Henrietta Dawson presents with a chief complaint of pain and weakness in her arms and neck. After an H&P and review of diagnostic tests that include a myelogram, her doctor diagnoses a herniated nucleus pulposus at the __________ level of her spine.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pain and weakness in the arms and neck suggest a cervical spine issue, and a herniated nucleus pulposus is a common cause of such symptoms. The myelogram would have helped identify the level at which the herniation is present, and in this case, it is at the cervical level. Lumbar herniations can cause leg pain and weakness, sacral herniations can cause bowel or bladder dysfunction, and thoracic herniations can cause pain in the chest or back.

Henrietta Dawson Presents with a Chief Complaint of Pain and Weakness