Personal Injury Medical Terms Part I – General

By: Heath C. Murphy + – Personal Injury

One of the more consistent and common characteristics of people who have been injured in an accident that I have noticed is a reluctance to ask questions about their medical condition or treatment plan. A doctor will tell his patient that he has a herniated disc with caudal migration and generally the patient simply nods whether they understand the diagnosis or not. I think the terminology is somewhat daunting for many people, so I decided to write a 6 part series which hopefully will provide an easy to understand guide to some personal injury medical terms.

Chiropractor

A Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) is a highly trained individual who specializes in the treatment of injuries by manipulation or adjustment of the spine. These manipulations or adjustments can relieve headaches, back pain and neck pain. They also provide advice on exercise and healthy habits that will enable their patients to remain pain free.

CT Scan – Computed Tomography

This is commonly called a CAT scan. This is a diagnostic imaging technique that produces cross sectional images of the internal organs, blood vessels, soft tissue, bone and other body structures. The images produced can be formatted in multiple ways on the computer to allow doctors different views of the scanned structures. The CT Scan utilizes radiation to create the images which it produces.

MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Many times after an accident the initial physician will refer the patient out to have an MRI performed. This is simply a medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field to produce detailed images of internal organs, soft tissues, bone and other body structures.

Neurologist

A neurologist is a medical doctor that specializes in treatment of the brain and spinal cord.

Orthopedist

An orthopedist is a medical doctor that specializes in injuries to the bones. An orthopedist will treat patients who have suffered an injury to a bone with surgery, casting or braces.

Physiatrist

Essentially, a physiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in rehabilitation. A physiatrist is a nerve, muscle and bone expert that will treat a patient’s injuries with non-surgical options and assist the patient in returning to normal life activities following an accident.

Physical Therapist

A physical therapist is a medical professional that works with assists with patients’ recovery efforts. A physical therapist will help patients regain motor skills, range of movement and will assist with pain management through physical activity. Generally, a physical therapist will create a plan for each patient that utilizes stretching, exercise and strength training to assist the patient in recovery.

Radiologist

A radiologist is a physician that is an imaging expert who specializes in reading x-rays, ct scans and MRIs.

Surgeon

A surgeon is a medical doctor that specializes in surgery. It is a broad term and there are many specialties within the broad classification of surgeon, such as neurosurgery which focuses on surgical solutions involving the brain or spine.

X-Ray

An X-Ray provides your physicians a picture of internal body structure. It is very good for the diagnosis of broken bones, but is much less effective than CT Scans or MRIs for the diagnosis of soft tissue and brain injuries.

Jones Law Group

Have you or a loved one been injured in an accident? Contact an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury law firm today. When you contact our office we will immediately set an appointment where you will meet your attorney and be provided with his/her personal contact information. If you do not have transportation or you cannot drive, your attorney will travel to meet you and discuss your case with you.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a slip and fall, a car accident, a motorcycle accident, a bicycle accident or a pedestrian accident, you should immediately call an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg at Jones Law Group at (727) 571-1333 during regular business hours or (727) 753-8657 on weekends or after regular business hours. We will evaluate your case for free and you will never pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for your injuries.

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