Advanced Pathophysiology, Case Study Example

Introduction

Osteoporosis is a serious case of none problem that needs to be given specific attention to. Among the basic symptoms include backache. Backache, although it may be common to older individuals at the age of their retirement (ages 55-80), it is essential that acute pain be confirmed with diagnosis. Taking ibuprofen for pain may help for a short time, but the longer the situation exists, the worse the situation may become, especially if there are underlying medical cases that might be related to the pain. In this case, it is important to understand that pain is a signal that there is something wrong; that something ought to be done especially for the sake of controlling the situation that might be aggravating the daily routine of an individual [regardless of the patient’s age]. Addressing the situation immediately could help in alleviating the pain and improving the life process that the patient lives alongside with.

What is the primary diagnosis of this patient and the pathologic mechanism of that diagnosis?

The back pain she reports about is likely connected to her age. Relatively, this report is also being accounted for her past health situations which include long years of being a smoker. The lack of exercise that she has mentioned in her past activities basically aggravated the situation through time. Along with age, her past problems basically gave the situation a much more indicative effect on how her health turned out to be in her 60’s. Nevertheless, osteoporosis is one diagnosis to be seen to have a specific pattern of basis especially in relation to her age and her health background.

Basically, constant smoking does affect the human body a huge amount. Relatively, it could be understood that the capacity of the person’s body to filter the effects of smoking weakens through time and the mark it leaves the body would be harder to erase, especially if it already took up time to build up the waste that smoking produces in different parts of the body. Not being able to exercise regularly even worsens the situation [especially in relation to bone development] (McCance, et al, 2010). Considerably, this insists that perhaps the back paid does not only come from being old but from specific points of conditions that caused failure in the system. The weakening of the bones result to brittleness which, through time, develops into much indicative symptoms leading to the diagnosis of osteoporosis on the patient-this even heightens with the emergence of fractures that basically results from bone brittleness.

What other medical history questions, physical examination, laboratory and other diagnostic procedures (imaging etc.) would help to confirm this diagnosis?

Even though the patient did not report any incident of falling or any injury that might have been incurred recently or even in the past, an X ray would be helpful in determining the specific area where the pain might be coming from (McCance, et al, 2010). This will give way to a more focused process of treatment that ought to be provided for the patient in accordance to her need. This would help identify if there are any dislocations or uneven bone stretches or developments that are happening.

Since the back is a series of interconnected nerves, it is essential for such conditions to be examined thoroughly as they might present further problems later on. Hence, a CT scan may also be necessary especially to seclude particular cases of problems that might be related to nerve disruptions. The insertion of a colored dye could actually help in identifying areas where the anomalies may be evident. If everything else is confirmed and was noted clear, an MRI exam could help well [especially in terms when spinal troubles may already be causing the anomaly –which could cause the discovery of a tumor or spinal infection] (McCance, et al, 2010).

What patient education or management would be important for this patient?

Because of her age, it is important for the patient to be given proper guidance as to how she should deal with daily chores from this point on. Particular positions when completing chores might actually aggravate the situation. Noticeably, this could impose a more distinct impact on how the diagnosis of the case could be concluded. The patient needs to be given an advice on the do’s and don’ts of growing old and dealing with the regular activities that she might be involved in. When the case has already been diagnosed, the patient might be asked to take in medication [as needed] and undergo therapy depending on the anomaly that has been found with the application of the tests [previously mentioned].

Conclusion

In dealing with particular body-anomalies in aged patients, it is important to consider that diagnostic tests would be best to define the situation especially considering the background of the patient in relation to the health practices she engages with. The case noted herein gives a clear perspective on how lower back pain could be an onset of something else and should not be taken lightly by any medical practitioner. When a person comes in with such issues, it is important to give attention to the concerns of the person accordingly, hence making a distinct impact on how the patient would be treated accordingly. The desire to keep the situation at bay while the pain is being treated ought to be one of the concerns, but digging deeper to assure the accuracy of the diagnosis is an important aspect of the treatment and the complete recovery of the patient being addressed in the case (McCance, et al, 2010). Scans would best provide an inside look on the system of the patient allowing the practitioners to see through the case which would make it easier for them to become more effective in determining what causes the pain and how it should be dealt with [especially in pointing out how it could be prevented in the future from recurring]. Osteoporosis should not be set aside nor should it be kept out of the picture(Thompson, et al, 2011). Instead, simple symptoms need to be given specific attention to which basically increases the possibility of patients being able to recover from the situation accordingly. Dealing with osteoporosis as an old individual involves particular practices that basically allow a definite insistence of limited activities and controlled movements which could keep the patient out from completing particular tasks that she has been engaging with in the past. Teaching the patient regarding these practices is necessary especially for the sake of preventing further damages from happening and other complications from occurring.

References

Lower Back Pain in Adults. http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/low-back-pain-older-adults. (Retrieved on November 3, 2015).

Diagnosing lower back pain. http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/diagnosing-lower-back-pain. (Retrieved on November 3, 2015).

Back and joint pain in women over 50. http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/813454/back-and-joint-pain-in-women-over-50. (Retrieved on November 3, 2015).

Thompson, C. & Dowding, C. (2011) Essential Decision Making and Clinical Judgment for Nurses.

McCance, K., Heuther, S., Brashers, V., & Rote, N. (2010). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children. Maryland Heights, Missouri:   Mosby Elsevier.