We understand the stress of automobile accidents. You are in pain. Your car is damaged or not working. You can’t return to work or you feel forced to work even though you are hurting. Your friends are giving you all kinds of different advice but you are not sure what course to take.
It started with a routine trip to the store. Suddenly you hear a screeching of tires and the harsh sound of metal hitting metal. In the split second before you can brace yourself, you feel your car moving from some unseen force! Automobile accidents can happen anytime and anyplace, causing damage to your vehicle, other property, and most importantly… your body.
It’s tempting to minimize your own injuries because your car has sustained little or no damage. Research shows that occupants can be injured considerably more than what you’d expect from a dented fender or a broken taillight. This same research also demonstrates that due to the accelerative forces in a low-speed accident, the injury may actually be greater than that of a higher-speed crash.
If you visit the emergency room, you may be given a clean bill of health because you don’t have any broken bones. Although you might get a prescription to reduce the muscle spasms caused by structural changes in your neck or lower back, you don’t have a drug deficiency. And muscle relaxants do not repair the damage. After what you’ve been through, you’ll need a health professional that truly understands soft tissue injuries, spinal biomechanics and rehabilitation strategies. We understand the biomechanical and physiological effects often experienced after an auto accident, specifically including whiplash and low back injuries, and pain in the extremities. Whiplash-type injuries are especially important to address as they may be associated with torn or damaged muscles, tendons and ligaments, inflammation (particularly in the joints), bruising or bleeding, and severe headaches.
Even a minor automobile accident can have major effects on your health. When one automobile is struck by another, thousands of pounds of force are exerted on the neck and spine. Whiplash occurs when the head and neck are thrown or “snapped” back and forth very quickly. The painful result is injury to the ligaments, soft tissue, and discs of the neck and spine. Whiplash also causes impingement, stretching, or irritation of the nerves and the spinal cord. Whiplash can also cause headaches, numbness, pins and needles in the face, chest, arms or hands, anxiety, neck pain, back pain, ear ringing, dizziness, hearing loss and/or blurred vision. Too many people who have been in a traumatic automobile accident do not receive chiropractic care. That is the reason why over half of the accident victims never completely recover from their injuries and may live on pain killers for years to endure repeated surgery. Chiropractic care can make the difference between true recovery and healing or lingering pain and disability. Unfortunately, Chiropractic is not yet available in emergency rooms and medical doctors are not trained to locate and correct spinal nerve stress. As a result, millions of accident victims leave the hospital with as much spinal nerve stress as they had when they entered. They may continue to suffer for months, years or even decades afterwards. Chiropractic Technique emphasizes a non-traumatic, non-forceful approach for human health care. This gentle chiropractic care helps restore nervous system function, helps heal sore muscles and damaged ligaments, and ensures rapid and complete recovery after an accident. Insurance companies realize the many advantages of Chiropractic Care. This treatment is generally covered in full by automobile insurance policies, whether you are a driver, a passenger, or a pedestrian… and regardless of who is at fault. Anyone who has been in a traumatic automobile accident, even if there are no obvious symptoms should have an examination. The damage from spinal nerve stress may take months or even years to surface. A simple Chiropractic exam and proper treatment can save an accident victim from much pain and disability later.
Work injuries can happen while doing even routine tasks. Sometimes it happens when you’re just doing your normal routine. Other times it may occur when you are in a hurry and deviate from your normal methods. Either way, work injuries are more common than you might expect. In fact back and neck injuries are the most common type of work injury and are well suited for the type of care you’ll receive from us. You qualify as a patient if you experience an injury after lifting a heavy object (especially in an awkward position), slipping and falling, or simply getting out of a desk chair. Industrial injuries often hurt a worker physically and financially. And the worker isn’t the only one who suffers, the employer also recognizes that it is in everyones best interest to restore the worker’s health.
Q: Why do I have pain in my arms and hands?
A: Because the nerves to the arms and hands exit the spine through the injured area of the neck, numbness and tingling are common. Even lower back pain can result directly from the trauma, or as a reaction to the loss of proper spinal curves.
Q: Why did my headaches start more than a week after my accident?
A: Whether you’ve been in an accident, stressed at work, or over-exerted yourself in the garden, your body is constantly adapting to the environment. When your capacity to adapt is exhausted, symptoms can appear. This can take days, weeks, months or years to occur. It is prudent to be checked immediately following an incident. Don’t wait until the pain comes.
Q: Will I ever be normal again?
A: It is important to complete the treatment prescribed by your doctor to ensure success. Many chiropractic patients report restored spinal curves and an end to their symptoms sometimes much sooner than expected.
Q: I was only in a minor accident years ago, why am I hurting now?
A: Those who delay seeking appropriate care often discover that scar tissue and spinal instability results in more problems later on. This can exacerbate the problem, making it more difficult to treat than if it was addressed promptly.
Q: How will I know if my work injury is covered?
A: According to the Industrial Commission, an injury is covered under workers compensation if it is job related. Please be aware that it is your responsibility to make sure the injury is reported to your supervisor/employer as soon as possible.