M. G.
Dec 17, 2019OUTCOME: Settled with negotiation.
Plaintiff was driving her vehicle on the I-90 freeway, westbound towards Seattle, coming home from work at about 4:30 p.m. As she slowed with traffic, Defendant caused a four-car collision. Plaintiff ... was hit from behind. Plaintiff went to a clinic on Monday and was seen by a Family Nurse Practitioner. At that time, Plaintiff reported neck pain, headache, and neck stiffness. The exam noted objective indications of neck muscle spasm on the left and posterior paraspinous tenderness on the left. The nurse advised Plaintiff regarding general precautions for a motor vehicle collision victim, including cooling the affected areas with ice over a barrier so that the skin does not get too cold, 20 minutes 3 times per day, taking up to 1000mg of Tylenol (acetaminophen) every 6 hours as needed for pain or taking Ibuprofen up to 600mg 4 times daily OR 800mg 3 times daily (with food to avoid an upset stomach). The nurse also advised Plaintiff regarding the assessment of cervicalgia, including advice to drink plenty of fluids and rest as much as possible. She issued a prescription for 21 cyclobenzaprine 10 mg tablets to be taken 0.5 - 1 tablet (orally) 3 times per day PRN (pro re nata)(as needed) for muscle spasms for 7 days. The prescription included a caution regarding sedation. The nurse also issued a prescription for 4 Ultram 50 MG tablets to be taken 1 tablet (orally) every 6 hours PRN for pain for 1 day. Plaintiff went to a chiropractor. Treatments continued there for approximately six months. Plaintiff had complaints of headaches, neck pain and lower back pain. Immediately following the accident, she felt a little shaky and nervous. She woke up the next day feeling dizzy and nauseous. The pain set in the following evening with a constant headache and left sided spine pain. She had numbness in the left posterior gluteal region, posterior thigh and leg. She felt weakness in the lower extremities. The headaches Plaintiff was having were of particular concern. The majority of the time, her symptoms at an intensity of 7/10 she was experiencing the symptoms 100 % of the time she was awake. The symptoms began gradually. Prolonged static loading aggravated the headaches. Stretching helped to relieve the pain. The headaches had a throbbing quality. Her symptoms were worse during the evening. There were associated symptoms of nausea, dizziness and sensitivity to light. She had had headaches before, but not to the extent she had them after the collision. Plaintiff’s neck and upper back pain were nearly constant and had an intensity of 8/10. They also began gradually after the subject MVA. Aggravating factors included lifting and bending her neck forward. Stretching helped to manage the neck pain. Her neck pains had a sharp, achy, throbbing quality. Her neck pains were worse during the evening. She had no neck pains prior to the accident. Plaintiff’s lower back pain was also nearly continuous with an intensity of 8/10. Her lower back pain also began gradually after the subject MVA. Bending forward at the waist and lifting aggravated the lower back pains and stretching helped to diminish them. The lower back pains had a sharp, achy and throbbing quality. Her lower back pains radiated with paresthesia in her left posterolateral glute, thigh, and leg. The lower back pain was also worse during the evening. She never experienced lower back pain prior to the accident. Also in accordance with the chiropractor’s recommendations and referrals, Plaintiff was seen and treated at another clinic on three dates. In addition to corroborating the chiropractor’s findings, it appears the clinic personnel recommended administration of Ibuprofen 800 mg x 3 daily for 3 days, Methocarbamol anti muscle spasm medication 750 mg, and Percocet for severe pain only.
