If you have recently been in a <strong>moderate to severe auto accident in Phoenix, AZ</strong> or the surrounding areas you may experience a myriad of related symptoms and injuries.  These problems will include but are not limited to pain anywhere in the body but especially in the neck, shoulders, mid and lower back. There may be pain and injury to the elbows wrists, hands, hips, knees and ankles.  Pain may be treated conservatively by a physical therapist or a chiropractor.  Pain may be treated more aggressively by a pain management specialist or an orthopedic surgeon.  Spinal pain and serious spinal pathology like a herniated disc may be evaluated and treated by a neurosurgeon or orthopedic back surgeon.

Another category of symptoms are neurological in nature.  These would include concussive symptoms such as headaches, loss of equilibrium, loss of memory, malaise (feeling of ill-being), forgetfulness and dizziness.  Another neurological symptom would be headaches not related to a concussion but rather are neuromuscular in nature.  Radiating symptoms also indicate nerve involvement. The most common of these symptoms are radiating pain and numbness in the arms and legs.  A neurologist would be the specialist of choice regarding the neurological category.

A category of symptoms related to an auto accident which can’t be diagnosed by physical diagnostics are psychological in nature. These symptoms would include the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as a fear of driving or being a passenger in a moving vehicle, sleeplessness, nervousness or reliving the accident when asleep.  These symptoms would most appropriately be diagnosed and treated by a licensed psychologist.

Another category of symptoms related to an auto accident are eye injuries.  These may be caused by facial contact with metal or glass, by shattering glass, by abnormal or even normal deployment of the air bags, by rapid  neck movement in a whiplash which may affect internal eye anatomy.  These symptoms may be minor to moderate in nature such as blurriness or loss of visual activity or may be found to be of a more serious nature such as shards of glass found, detached retina or damage to the lens or optic nerve.  These symptoms and injuries would best be examined and treated by an ophthalmologist, a specialist who is a licensed MD.

Symptoms that are related to an existing problem that are made worse are another result of an accident.  Many of these may be related to external organs such as the ears or norse or internal organs such as the lungs or heart.  Many persons have been in an accident after having a recent heart surgery, for example, and must be evaluated by a cardiologist as quickly as possible.  Arthritis is also a common condition irritated by an auto accident.  Breathing problems are often irritated in an accident.  Literally every internal organ system may be injured in a high impact collision.  Often pregnant women are involve in an auto accident and it is imperative for them to see an OB-GYN to make sure the integrity of their fetus is not compromised.

Dental injury leads to symptoms following an auto accident.  Pain both in the mouth and at the upper aspect of the jaw, known as temperomenibular joint syndrome (TMJ) are common in serious auto accidents and especially in motorcycle accident where the cyclist’s face hits the pavement.  Teeth can be dislodged and fractured and muscles and ligaments that attach to the mouth and jaw can be sprained.  The temple bone and mandible can be fractured.  Generally, a good dentist with experience in musculo-siceletal issues such as TMJ will suffice but in its worst form a plastic surgeon or orthopedic re-constructionist may be required.

Joint surgery may be required following a serious auto accident.  These are usually related to complete tears in muscles, tendons and other support structures of the joints.  It is estimated that 90% of all joint surgeries following an auto accident are related to the knees and shoulders. However, you would be surprised to learn that hand (wrist) and foot (ankle) injuries requiring surgery are very prevalent as well. Of the 206 bones in the body more than half are in the hands and feet along with hundreds of small muscles which allow for the dexterity and fine movements of these body parts.  General Orthopedic surgeons treat the knees and shoulders, but very well trained Orthopedics and Podiatrists are necessary for complicated hand and foot procedures.

Patients often visit a medical imaging facility in the aftermath of an auto accident.  These may occur in the ER on the day of the accident or as the result of a medical referral by a treating specialist.  These tests may include but  are not limited to MRI, CT, Diagnostic ultrasound and X-Ray.  These tests are usually crucial to the medical specialists to confirm their examination diagnoses.

It is said the skin is the largest organ in the human body.  It is the first outward line of defense and in a serious auto accident is often injured severely.  In the case of a shattered windshield, an ejection from the car or motorcycle, multiple contusions, abrasions and lacerations will occur.  Ultimately, permanent scars and discoloration will result.  Minor to moderate cases may require a primary care specialist but in serious cases involving the face and other more visible parts of the body a plastic surgeon who also has skills in reconstructive surgery is mandatory.

When the case is serious enough for the surgeon to prescribe surgery, he or she is just part of the surgery picture. A facility such as a surgery center is mandatory.  And, of course, an anesthesiologist is required to put the patient under anesthetic. These two specialties and the facility comprise the surgical triad.

In the course of this discussion the following facilities and specialists have been mentioned:  Physical therapists, chiropractors, pain management doctors, general Orthopedic surgeons, hand surgeons, foot surgeons, podiatrists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic back surgeons, psychologists, ophthalmologists, cardiologist, primary care specialists, arthritis specialists, dentists, TMJ specialists, anesthesiologists, plastic surgeons and resonstructivionists, surgery centers, hospitals and medial imaging facilities.  The injuries and body parts affected are numerous.  Injury Specialist LLC is an integrated network made up of all these types of specialists who are experienced in caring for the serious medical needs of an auto accident victim.