The Chronic Headache: A Case Challenge

Abstract

The patient with a history of frequent headaches presents to her primary care provider for evaluation. Although the review of symptoms is consistent with her typical headache, the physical examination leads the nurse practitioner to consider alternative differential diagnoses and reprioritize her plan of care. This case challenge requires the reader to remain vigilant in the examination of patients with common somatic complaints, such as headache, and delve deep into the patient’s history to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.