A nurse is providing care for a patient in the emergency department who has been preliminarily diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Which diagnostic test should the nurse expect the healthcare provider to order?

Choice A rationale
Hyponatremia, or low sodium levels, is not typically a symptom of degenerative disc disease. It can be caused by a variety of conditions, but it is not directly linked to degenerative disc disease.
Choice B rationale
Paresthesia, or abnormal sensations such as tingling or prickling, can develop with degenerative disc disease. This is due to the fact that degenerative changes can lead to nerve compression, which can cause these sensations.
Choice C rationale
Foot drop, a gait abnormality, can be a symptom of degenerative disc disease. It can occur if the disease process affects the nerves that control the muscles involved in lifting the foot.
Choice D rationale
Intermittent pain is a common symptom of degenerative disc disease. The pain can vary in intensity and may be worse with certain activities or positions.
Choice E rationale
Hyperreflexia, or overactive reflexes, is not typically a symptom of degenerative disc disease. It is more commonly associated with conditions that affect the upper motor neurons.

Choice A rationale
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. It does not cause a sensation of tightness around the torso.
Choice B rationale

Lhermitte’s sign is a symptom of multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions where a person feels an electric shock-like sensation running down the spine and into the limbs. It does not cause a sensation of tightness around the torso.
Choice C rationale
The sensation of tightness around the torso in a patient with multiple sclerosis is often referred to as the “MS hug”. It is caused by a lesion or an area of active inflammation within the spinal cord.
Choice D rationale
Paroxysmal spasms are a type of muscle spasm experienced by some people with multiple sclerosis. These spasms are usually painful and involve the muscles of the legs, but they do not cause a sensation of tightness around the torso.