A healthy young adult presents to the primary care clinic fo…
A healthy young adult presents to the primary care clinic following a rear-impact motor vehicle crash while stopped at a stoplight. The incident occurred 48 hours ago. The patient is now seeking treatment for complaints of neck pain which first presented as stiffness about 12 hours after the crash. Currently, the patient reports pain at the base of the skull which is worsened with movement. On examination, the patient reports tenderness over the posterior cervical spine. Neurologic assessment of the upper and lower extremities is unremarkable. The patient has equal strength in both extremities. Range of motion of the cervical neck, particularly against resistance, is diminished. During the examination, the examiner is able to elicit radiating pain down the left arm when gently turning the head to the left and simultaneously exerting downward pressure on the top of the head. Describe how the nurse practitioner should document this finding AND the most likely differential diagnosis.