← Differential Diagnosis class notes
FROM MY PT SCHOOL NOTES · DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS · UNIT 4 · CHAPTER 13
Skin, pain science and non-MSK clues
What can skin findings reveal about a painful presentation? Consider infection, vascular change, wounds and dermatomal rashes without assuming appearance alone establishes a diagnosis.
Key screening concepts
- Inspect skin when relevant for infection, vascular change, pressure injury, wounds or suspicious lesions and document objectively.
- The 2019 lecture title “non-organic pain” is historically situated; contemporary pain care avoids interpreting disproportionate symptoms as fabricated or purely psychological.
- Pain mechanisms are multifactorial, and psychosocial factors can coexist with serious pathology.
PT clinical connection
An expanding rash after possible tick exposure, or a new painful dermatomal eruption, warrants medical assessment. Appearance alone is not a sufficient diagnosis.
High-yield distinction
Skin findings can be visually essential: Clinical photographs can help distinguish a vesicular dermatomal rash from other lesions; visual appearance alone is not diagnostic.
Current reference: CDC Lyme disease diagnosis and testing. A single photograph or classic rash pattern does not represent every presentation.
Original class sources: 2 Skin (with pics from book).pdf; 4 Part 2 Non-Organic Pain.pdf. Personal PT-school notes with separately indicated new references; not a diagnosis, medical clearance, emergency triage protocol or substitute for appropriate evaluation and referral pathways.
