MVA whiplash diagnosis includes the clinical examination, often simple x-rays and MRI which is more sophisticated diagnostic imaging. If symptoms are more severe or continue longer than expected, the doctor may recommend following up with a specialist or more specific diagnostic test for MVA whiplash or cervical acceleration-deceleration (CAD) injury. These tests may help determine any damage to nerves, the soft tissues of muscles, tendons and ligaments that support the head. Whiplash or cervical acceleration-deceleration injury causes damages such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.
Myelogram
The myelogram is a special kind of x-ray test where a special dye is injected into the spinal sac. The dye shows up on an x-ray. It helps a doctor see if there is a herniated disc, pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerves, or a spinal tumor. Before the CT scan and the MRI scan were developed, the myelogram was the only test that surgeons had to look for a herniated disc. The myelogram is still used today but not nearly as often. The myelogram is usually combined with CT scan to give more detail.
Bone Scan
A bone scan is a special test where radioactive tracers are injected into your blood stream. The tracers then show up on special x-rays of your neck. The tracers build up in areas where bone is undergoing a rapid repair process, such as a healing fracture or the area surrounding an infection or tumor. Usually the bone scan is used to locate the problem and other tests such as the CT scan or MRI scan are then used to look at the area in detail.
Electromyogram (EMG)
An electromyogram (EMG) is a special test used to determine if there are problems with any of the nerves going to the upper limbs. EMGs are usually done to see if one or more nerve roots have been pinched by a herniated disc. During the test, small needles are placed into certain muscles that are supplied by each nerve root. If there has been a change in the function of the nerve, the muscle will send off different types of electrical signals. The EMG test reads these signals and can help determine which nerve root is involved.
McCormick Law Office attorneys collect the medical records including theses additional diagnostic tests, which may document damage consistent with the mechanism of MVA whiplash or cervical acceleration-deceleration injury. If nerve impingement is shown as a positive finding on the EMG, it can confirm clinical symptoms of radiculopathy, pain, tingling or numbness down an arm. This pinched nerve may be in the cervical region as a result of the herniated disc, hypertrophic changes or facet arthropathy.
