WHEELING - Is it a concussion or just a headache? A mild sprain or a torn ligament?
Now there's an easy - and affordable - way to find out.
Dr. Derrick Eddy, a board-certified physician in sports medicine at Wheeling Hospital, is holding Saturday Sports Clinics with the idea of athletes getting a free checkup to see if any other additional treatment is needed.
At 9 a.m. every Saturday, Eddy will see patients in his office in Tower 3 of the hospital. Appointments are not necessary.
And while the free session is held Saturday morning, prime time for those football injuries the night before, it is not limited to football.
Soccer, volleyball, cross country, etc., can come and be checked out by Eddy.
''It's designed to help those out so they don't have to wait around wondering what is going on and avoid the emergency room,'' Eddy said. ''So far, a lot of people have taken advantage of this and they seem to really like it.
''This is a way to get a quicker diagnosis and get treatment.''
Eddy looks at just about everything. From muscle tendons to ligament sprains to fractures, tears, and concussions.
''The most important thing is to not wait around if you think something is wrong,'' Eddy said. ''This way you can find out right away.''
There is no timetable for how long the day lasts as it is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Eddy encourages everyone that plans to get checked out to come as early as possible. He will check everyone, no matter how long it takes.
His clinic, which the only one done by a Wheeling-area physician, will run for about 10 weeks.
In addition to the Saturday Sports Clinic, Wheeling Hospital conducts concussion testing through its ImPACT program, which monitors the status and recovery of anyone suffering a concussive-type head injury. It is the same program used in the NFL and the NHL.
The Physical Therapy Department also provides baseline testing for all area student-athletes. Once a baseline is established, the department can retest the student-athlete who has suffered a concussion and compare the data.
''We've been making contact and trying to let people know about the program,'' Eddy said. ''We want all the coaches, parents, and athletes to know we are here to help.''