Diagnosing Whiplash

Whiplash is an extremely common auto accident injury, and it can be frustrating to diagnose and treat because it typically doesn’t cause symptoms right away. One of the reasons it is recommended to see a car accident doctor in Marietta GA, immediately after a collision, even if you feel fine, is that you could have whiplash and not know it. To diagnose whiplash, your car accident doctor may use a combination of techniques. At your appointment, here are some of the things you can expect.

Medical History

Your doctor will begin by asking questions about your medical history and about your accident. During this time, he or she will also ask you to describe your symptoms, if any. Although you may not have symptoms of whiplash in its early stages, by considering the nature of your accident coupled with the picture of your overall health, your car accident doctor can determine if whiplash is a possibility.

Physical Exam

During a physical exam, your doctor will evaluate the range of motion in your neck and shoulders. He or she will move your arms, shoulders, and neck into different positions and will ask you to perform a series of tasks. Through the exam, your doctor is looking for signs of things like a limited range of motion, motions that cause pain, and signs of tenderness in your neck and back that could indicate an injury. He or she may also test your reflexes and the sensation in your limbs.

Imaging Tests

Although whiplash cannot be seen on an imaging test, your doctor may order one or more test as a way of ruling out other conditions. You can undergo an X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or some combination of these tests so that your accident doctor can see the bones and tissues in your neck and along your spine. This allows your doctor to both diagnose other injuries that may have occurred during your accident and rule out injuries and conditions that could cause symptoms similar to whiplash