Question

Your patient is being seen for thoracic spine pain. She describes the pain as burning and gnawing which is increased at night after dinner when she lays down on the couch. You have an appointment with her directly after lunch. You put the patient supine and she states her pain is increasing and she describes a bad taste in her mouth. What medical pathology should you think about at this point for this patient?

a. GERD

b. peptic ulcer disease

c. liver disease

d. appendicitis

Answer 1

Considering the burning thoracic spine pain that increases when lying down, and the presence of a bad taste in the mouth after assuming a supine position, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most likely diagnosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Your patient is being seen for thoracic spine pain. She describes the pain as burning and gnawing which is increased at night after dinner when she lays down on the couch. You have an appointment with her directly after lunch. You put the patient supine and she states her pain is increasing and she describes a bad taste in her mouth. Considering the symptoms presented, the most probable medical pathology to think about at this point for this patient is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is characterized by the backup of stomach acid into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation, and can be aggravated when in supine position. The bad taste in the mouth could be due to the presence of refluxed material which is commonly seen in GERD patients.