Back Clinic Car Accident Specialist Team. Most people think they should call their primary care doctor after an accident. Your primary doctor is probably an excellent physician and should inform them of your injuries. However, there are two reasons why you shouldn’t rely on them as the doctor that is going to treat your injuries. First, your primary doctor will most likely not want to get involved in treating accident injuries. Your primary care physician focuses their care on patients who have internal medical conditions. Rather than on spinal injuries, concussions, broken bones, etc…
Your primary care physician will likely refer you out to a specialist. Being involved in an automobile accident can be a stressful situation for many and suffering an injury as a result can create further complications. When the symptoms begin to interfere with the individual’s everyday lifestyle, it’s essential to seek immediate medical attention from a car accident specialist in order to relieve the individual’s pain and discomfort.
A chiropractor can treat a variety of injuries and conditions, including whiplash, a common type of neck injury during auto accidents, among other types of injuries. Dr. Alex Jimenez’s collection of articles specifically focus on describing how a healthcare professional can heal the body, restoring the individual’s original health after experiencing whiplash or another type of injury during a car accident. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900.
Studies on the effectiveness of chiropractic care for patients afflicted with pain secondary to whiplash injury are emerging. In 1996, Woodward et al. published a study on the efficacy of chiropractic treatment of whiplash injuries.
In 1994, Gargan and Bannister published a paper on the recovery rate of patients and found that when patients were still symptomatic after three months, there was almost a 90% chance they would remain injured. The study’s authors were from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery in Bristol, England. No conventional treatment was shown to be effective in these based chronic whiplash injury patients. However, high success rates have been found by whiplash injury patients through chiropractic care in recovering these types of patients.
Whiplash Treatment Study Results
In the Woodward study, 93 percent of the 28 patients studied retrospectively were found to have a statistically significant improvement following chiropractic care. Chiropractic care in this study consisted of PNF, spinal manipulation, and cryotherapy. Most of the 28 patients had prior therapy with NSAIDs collars and physiotherapy. The average length of time before when the patients began chiropractic care was 15.5 months post-MVA (range of 3-44 months).
This study documented what most DCs experience in clinical practice: chiropractic care is effective for individuals hurt in a motor vehicle accident. Symptoms ranging from headaches to back pain, neck pain, interscapular pain, and extremity pain related to paresthesias all responded to quality chiropractic care.
Normal & Whiplash X-Rays
Whiplash MRI Findings
The literature has also suggested cervical disc injuries aren’t uncommon after a whiplash injury. In a study published on chiropractic care for disk herniations, it was demonstrated that patients improve clinically and that repeated MRI imaging often shows decreased size or resolution of the disk herniation. Of the 28 patients studied and followed, many had disc herniations that reacted well to chiropractic care.
In a recent retrospective study by Khan et al., published in the Journal of Orthopedic Medicine, on whiplash-injured patients concerning cervical pain and dysfunction, patients were stratified into groups based on levels of a good outcome to chiropractic care:
Group I: Patients with neck pain only and restricted neck ROM. Patients had a “coat hangar” distribution of pain with no neurologic deficits; 72 percent had a fantastic outcome.
Group II: Patients with neurological symptoms or signs and limited spinal ROM. Patients had numbness, tingling, and paresthesias in the extremity.
Group III: Patients had severe neck pain with full neck ROM and bizarre pain distributions from the extremities. These patients often described chest pain, nausea, vomiting, blackouts, and dysfunction.
The results of the study showed that in class I, 36/50 patients (72%) reacted well to chiropractic care: in group II, 30/32 patients (94 percent) responded well to chiropractic care; and in group III, only 3/11 instances (27%) responded well to chiropractic care. There was a significant difference in outcomes between the three groups.
This study provides new evidence that chiropractic care is effective for whiplash-injured patients. However, the study didn’t consider patients with back injuries, extremity injuries, and TMJ injuries. It did not identify which patients had disc injuries, radiculopathy, and concussive brain injury (most likely group III patients). These types of patients respond better to a model of chiropractic care in combination with multidisciplinary providers.
These studies show what most DCs have already experienced, that the doctor of chiropractic should be the principal care provider in these cases. It’s a common opinion that in cases like group III patients, care should be multidisciplinary to achieve the best possible outcome in difficult scenarios.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Automobile Accident Injuries
Whiplash, among other automobile accident injuries, is frequently reported by victims of an auto collision, regardless of the severity and grade of the accident. Whiplash is generally the result of an abrupt, back-and-forth jolt of the head and neck in any direction. The sheer force of an impact can cause damage or injury to the cervical spine and the rest of the spine. Fortunately, a variety of treatments are available to treat automobile accident injuries.
Common Types of vehicle/automobile crashes and accidents. Most accidents and crashes are caused by driving errors, recklessness, distraction, or disregard of traffic laws. Some accidents are caused by safety system failure or defective parts on the vehicle. Individuals can suffer severe and/or permanent injuries, even death.
Types of Accident/Crashes
Single Vehicle Accident
This type of road, highway traffic accident where only one vehicle is involved. Most of these types of crashes are:
Run-off-road collisions
Collisions with fallen debris
Rollovers
Collisions with animals
Side Impact/T-bone Collision
These accidents, also known as broadside or T-bone collisions, impact the side of one or more vehicles. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, these crashes and accidents often happen at:
Busy intersections
Parking lots
When a vehicle runs a red light, and a driver that has the green light gets slammed.
These types of collisions account for a quarter of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.
Injuries from a side-impact collision can be severe but vary depending on where the vehicle was struck.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions account for around a fourth of all collisions. These accidents and crashes happen because of:
Driver inattention
Distraction – Driver distraction has become a common factor in many rear-end crashes.
Tailgating – When a driver tailgates, they reduce the reaction time to come to a safe stop.
Panic stops
Reduced wheel traction because of damaged roads/highways or dangerous road conditions caused by weather.
Head-on Collision
Head-on collisions are often fatal road and highway accidents and crashes. This can be caused by drivers not seeing or paying attention to:
Wrong-way signs
New construction
Construction detour directions
Street conditions
Staying in the proper lane
Impaired driving and going the wrong way have become common factors in head-on collisions.
Vehicle Rollover
These types of accidents and crashes can be complex and violent. Rollovers happen from:
Drivers speeding, making sharp turns, cutting across lanes to exit
Road conditions
Construction
Vehicle dysfunctions like an accelerator that gets stuck, loss of brakes,
Weather and environmental factors
Impaired driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA, research shows that around 85% of rollover-related fatalities result from a single-vehicle accident or crash.
When involved in a car crash or accident, the force of the collision can shift the spine and body’s joints out of alignment causing all types of injuries. Adjustments and realignment can help alleviate the pain and help heal the injury/s. Chiropractic treatment following a crash or accident is an important step that can benefit the body’s health.
Body Composition
Benefits of Dairy Intake
Packed Nutrient Profile
Dairy foods have an impressive nutrition label, and dairy is considered a healthy source of many essential nutrients.
A cup of cow’s milk provides close to 8 grams of protein. This exceeds the protein content of most non-dairy milk alternatives.
A glass of milk has seven of the eight nutrients considered essential for bone maintenance. This includes:
Protein
Calcium
Phosphorus
Magnesium
Zinc
Vitamin K
Studies have found that milk and dairy intake increases bone formation and bone mineral content during childhood and adolescence.
This means that the bones are stronger and are at less risk of fractures.
References
Christ, Daniel. “Simulating the relative influence of tire, vehicle and driver factors on forward collision accident rates.” Journal of safety research vol. 73 (2020): 253-262. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2020.03.009
Texas DOT: 2017 Crash Statistics
Texas DOT: Total and DUI Fatal and Injury Crashes Comparison
Thorning, Tanja Kongerslev et al. “Milk and dairy products: good or bad for human health? An assessment of the totality of scientific evidence.” Food & nutrition research vol. 60 32527. 22 Nov. 2016, doi:10.3402/fnr.v60.32527
Truide has been working for the past 20 years in claims resolutions. She works hand in hand with patients and is available to resolve dispute resolutions. She also works as the patient liaison for clinical and legal matters.
Truide Torres Jimenez (Brief Bio & Her Personal Message) Driven by the passion of doing what is in the patient’s best interest, I wake up every morning with the drive to help those in need. The claims process for health care is full of pits, valleys, and difficult obstacles designed to strike fear in those in need. My duty is to do what is within the confines of the law, “whatever it takes,” to get those involved to pay attention to those who need help. That is what I am honored to do for our patients.
My Purpose: In finding my purpose, I find the bigger “Why” behind my business. This is essential in the challenges I have seen in these times. Each day, I search for God’s message in my purpose, which I pray takes me to another level. At the end of the day, I, too, do not want to work for the sake of working. As humans and God-fearing individuals, we like to know we’re aligned with what we feel we are called to do. So getting with my purpose and my “why” has always so important to me. I love people, and I want to help them, especially when they are in need.
My Commitment As defined, commitment is “the state or quality of being dedicated to cause activity, etc.” Without commitment, it is difficult, if not impossible, to push through challenges to reach our goals. My commitment is to serve my fellow person in their clinical needs and find the right solution for them.
My Dedication: “The quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose is what I strive daily for every day.” I have always told my children that you commit to it once you have a purpose, and you see it through. I, too, try to live my life by those words. Yes, it’s work, and there is no substitute other than to dig in and get it done. There is no substitute for practice and preparation. Our success with our patients has always been dependent on the level of effort we as a team have been able to focus on with our independent and prioritized tasks mutually. I commit to being dedicated to our God-directed purpose.
Perseverance I believe that to persevere, you must show continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failures, or oppositions. With our patients and those we assist, we face many challenges and need and pray for the ability to push through and pick ourselves up when down. I can only imagine how my clients feel. For that reason, I push harder to help them. Simply put, each challenge we as a team overcomes, the closer we can help our patients and those in need. So we stay the course and overcome the fear and struggles our patients have and help them clinically persevere.
Personally, I have seen great injustices transpire on those that do NOT have a voice in today’s world. Whether a language barrier or just not knowing the rules. My job is to find out how I can help. If I personally can not help, I will find the right sources to open the possibilities. Then, I get the job done.
As a wife and mother of 2 children, 2 dogs and 3 cats, my passion is for God, Family, and the mission of serving my fellow man.
Call me if you need help with clinical matters:
Office 915-850-0900 / Cell: 915-252-6149
Truide Torres – Jimenez Patient Advocate: Injury Medical Clinic PA
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a chronic health issue which affects approximately 1 percent of the population in the United States. RA is an autoimmune disorder that causes the inflammation and degeneration of the synovial tissue, specific cells and tissue which form the lining of the joints within the human body. Rheumatoid arthritis may and generally does affect every joint in the body, especially as people get older. RA commonly develops in the joints of the hands and feet, severely restricting an individual’s ability to move, however, those with significant disease in the spine are at risk of damage like paraplegia. Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine is frequent in three areas, causing different clinical problems.
The first is basilar invagination, also referred to as cranial settling or superior migration of the odontoid, a health issue where degeneration from rheumatoid arthritis at the base of the skull causes the it to “settle” into the spinal column, causing the compression or impingement of the spinal cord between the skull and the 1st cervical nerves. The second health issue, and also the most frequent, is atlanto-axial instability. A synovitis and erosion of the ligaments and joints connecting the 1st (atlas) and the 2nd (axis) cervical vertebrae causes instability of the joint, which may ultimately result in dislocation and spinal cord compression. In addition, a pannus, or localized mass/swelling of rheumatoid synovial tissue, can also form in this region, causing further spinal cord compression. The third health issues is a subaxial subluxation which causes the degeneration of the cervical vertebrae (C3-C7) and often results in other problems like spinal stenosis.
Imaging studies are crucial to properly diagnose patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine. X-rays will demonstrate the alignment of the spine, and if there is obvious cranial settling or instability. It can also be difficult to demonstrate the anatomy at the bottom of the skull, therefore, computed tomography scanning, or CT scan, with an injection of dye within the thecal sac is arranged. Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is beneficial to assess the severity of nerve compression or spinal cord injury, and allows visualization of structures, including the nerves, muscles, and soft tissues. Flexion/extension x-rays of the cervical spine are usually obtained to evaluate for signs of ligamentous instability. These imaging studies entails a plain lateral x-ray being taken with the patient bending forward and the other lateral x-ray being taken with the individual extending the neck backwards.�The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, spinal injuries, and conditions. To discuss the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at�915-850-0900�.
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Neck Pain and Auto Injury
Whiplash is one of the most common causes of neck pain after an automobile accident. A whiplash-associated disorder occurs when a person’s head and neck moves abruptly back-and-forth, in any direction, due to the force of an impact. Although whiplash most commonly occurs following a rear-end car crash, it can also result from sports injuries. During an auto accident, the sudden motion of the human body can cause the muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues of the neck to extend beyond their natural range of motion, causing damage or injury to the complex structures surrounding the cervical spine. While whiplash-associated disorders are considered to be relatively mild health issues, these can cause long-term pain and discomfort if left untreated. Diagnosis is essential.
I got into a car accident, I was rear-ended on Valentine’s Day and things weren’t quite right in my body, the aches and pains started coming. So after I visited another chiropractor and talked to my client, they told me about this place and when I came I was like, okay, I’m not going back to the other place. And that’s how I head about him (Dr. Alex Jimenez) and I’m so grateful. – Terry Peoples
Based on information referenced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, approximately more than three million individuals are injured annually in automobile accidents throughout the United States alone. While the unique conditions of every car crash can ultimately result in a wide variety of injuries, some types of automobile accident injuries are more common than others.
Fortunately, a majority of automobile accident injuries may resolve on their own without the need for treatment, however, more significant health issues caused by the auto collision may require some amount of treatment and/or rehabilitation and others may unfortunately become permanent if left untreated. It’s fundamental for the victim of an automobile accident to seek immediate medical attention in order for them to receive a proper diagnosis for their motor vehicle injuries before proceeding with the most appropriate treatment option for them.
Prior to following any necessary medical procedure, understanding some of the most common automobile accident injuries can help you become aware of the steps you can take to ensure that you are getting the proper care for your health issues. Furthermore, the type and severity of motor vehicle accidents suffered by the victims involved in a car crash may largely depend on several variables, including:
Was the individual wearing a seat belt?
Did the person’s car get hit from the back, side or front?
Was the occupant facing straight ahead in the seat? Or was the person’s head or body turned in a particular direction?
Was the incident a low-speed collision or a high-speed crash?
Did the car have airbags?
There are two broad categories of automobile accident injuries: impact injuries and penetrating injuries. Impact injuries are generally characterized as those caused when a portion of the individual’s body hits some part of the interior of the car. Frequently, this can be a knee hitting a dashboard or the head hitting the seat rest or the side window during an auto collision. Penetrating injuries are generally characterized as open wounds, cuts and scrapes. Shattering glass or loose items flying inside the car on impact can often cause these types of automobile accident injuries. Below, we will discuss the most common automobile accident injuries and describe them in detail.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are some of the most common types of automobile accident injuries. A soft tissue injury is typically characterized as trauma, damage or injury to the body’s connective tissue, including tendons, ligaments and muscles. Soft tissue injuries can vary depending on the type of connective tissue it affects as well as on the grade and severity of the harm. Because soft tissue injuries do not involve open wounds, it may be challenging to diagnose these type of automobile accident injuries.
A whiplash-associated disorder, most frequently referred to as a whiplash injury to the neck and upper back, is a type of soft tissue injury. In this form of harm, the muscles, tendons and ligaments are stretched beyond their natural range due to the abrupt movements imposed on the neck and head from the force of the impact at the point of collision. These same mechanisms may additionally cause soft tissue injuries in other regions of the body, such as the back. Automobile accidents can also often cause mid-back and low-back muscle sprains, and at times, these may cause severe back injuries and even aggravate underlying conditions due to the sheer force from the impact on the spine.
Cuts and Scrapes from Automobile Accident Injuries
During an auto collision, any loose objects inside the car can immediately become projectiles which can be thrown about the vehicle’s interior. This includes cell phones, coffee glasses, eyeglasses, purses, books, dash-mounted GPS systems, etc.. If one of these objects strikes your body at the time of the incident, they can easily cause cuts and scrapes as well as cause additional trauma, damage or injuries.
Occasionally, these cuts and scrapes are relatively minor and require no immediate medical attention. More severe cases of these type of automobile accident injuries, however, could create a relatively large open wound and may require stitches to prevent blood loss. Cuts or scrapes can also occur when your airbag deploys from the auto collision.
Head Injuries
Head injuries in the form of automobile accident injuries can take a number of forms, where some can be considered comparatively minor and others can virtually be quite severe. The sudden stop or shift in direction by a motor vehicle during an car crash can cause an individual’s head and neck to jolt or jerk abruptly and unnaturally in any direction, overstretching the complex structures of the cervical spine beyond their normal range, leading to muscle strains and whiplash-associated disorders.
The head itself can also be injured during an auto accident. Impact with a side window or with the steering wheel may cause cuts, scrapes and bruises to the head, as well as even deeper lacerations. More severe collision impacts can cause a closed head injury. In that circumstance, the fluid and tissue inside the skull are damaged due to the abrupt movement or impact of the head. Less acute closed head injuries often result in concussions, while the most severe head injuries can cause brain damage.
Chest Injuries
Chest injuries are also common auto accident injuries. These type of injuries are usually identified as contusions or bruises, however, these can also take the form of much more severe injuries, like fractured ribs or internal injuries. Drivers often experience chest injuries due to their position behind the steering wheel, which offers very little space to move before the torso collides with the steering wheel. If an individual’s body is thrown forward during a motor vehicle collision, even if their chest doesn’t impact the steering wheel or dashboard, the torso will experience tremendously high amounts of force, specifically against the shoulder harness or seat belt, which may cause severe bruising.
Arm and Leg Injuries
The very same sheer forces which unexpectedly throw a person’s head and neck back-and-forth during a car crash can behave similarly on arms and legs. If your vehicle experiences a side impact, your arms and legs may be tossed hard against the door. In addition, if you’re a passenger, your legs typically have very little room to move. As a result, automobile accidents often cause an occupant’s knees to strike the dashboard or even chairs in front of them.
Based on the circumstance of the auto collision, automobile accident injuries to your arms and legs may include bruises, scrapes and cuts, however, sprains and even fractures in both the upper and lower extremities can happen. Keep in mind that some injuries aren’t apparent following a car accident. It may take days, weeks, or even months for symptoms to manifest. Therefore, if you’ve been involved in an automobile accident, it is best to seek immediate medical attention.
Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Insight
After being involved in an auto accident, it may sometimes take days, weeks, even months for symptoms to manifest completely. For your own health and wellness, it’s essential to seek immediate medical attention following the car crash. While many types of injuries can occur, there are several common automobile accident injuries which can develop due to the sheer force of the impact, such as whiplash-associated disorders. Whiplash is a prevalent auto accident injury which is characterized as a type of neck injury which happens when the complex structures surrounding the cervical spine are stretched far beyond their natural range of motion. Chiropractic care is a safe and effective treatment option which can treat a variety of auto accident injuries.
Chiropractic Care After an Automobile Accident
Many healthcare professionals are qualified and experienced�in the treatment of a variety of automobile accident injuries, especially chiropractors. Chiropractic care is a well-known, alternative treatment option which focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of numerous injuries and/or conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system. If you’ve been involved in an auto collision, chiropractic care can offer substantial benefits towards your current well-being, supporting your recovery process.
After a car collision, you may experience pain and discomfort, decreased range of motion, stiffness or soreness. Remember that these symptoms may not always manifest immediately after a motor vehicle accident. Through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, chiropractic care will help you manage painful symptoms, as well as help enhance flexibility, increase strength and improve mobility, promoting a faster recovery. In addition, it can prevent long-term symptoms from developing, such as migraines and chronic pain. The sooner you get chiropractic care after a car wreck, the more likely you are to recover fully.
By carefully restoring the original alignment of the spine, chiropractic care helps reduce pain and other painful symptoms. Furthermore, a chiropractor can recommend a series of exercises and physical activities to help pump oxygen, blood and nutrients to the injury site and enhance recovery. A doctor of chiropractic will develop a personalized treatment program targeted to your specific automobile accident injuries. Chiropractic care also makes it possible to avoid the need for surgical interventions. It strengthens ligaments, tendons and muscles, which shield the body’s structures. It’s also a far more cost-effective solution.
Chiropractic care can also restore function in patients with older vehicle collision injuries. You are still able to benefit from chiropractic care even if you had an accident years back. Employing spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, as well as rehabilitation techniques, it helps relieve old pain and improve function. Additionally, it is a non-invasive treatment option, and you won’t end up needing to rely on pain drugs and/or medications for relief of your symptoms.
Chiropractors can even treat vertigo resulting from a car crash. In as little as one treatment, they could fix a dysfunction in the vestibular system. Other types of chiropractic care treatment techniques include massage, ultrasound, ice and cold treatment, specific exercises and physical activities, and even nutritional advice. Chiropractic care is a safe and effective treatment approach which can help treat automobile accident injuries without the need for drugs and/or medications as well as surgery.
If you suffered a car accident injury, don’t delay any longer. Contact a chiropractor and allow them to help you follow the best treatment path. Chiropractors can provide you a consultation to perform a comprehensive evaluation and make a treatment strategy targeted to your injuries.�The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic as well as to spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at�915-850-0900�.
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most prevalent causes for disability and missed days at work worldwide. As a matter of fact, back pain has been attributed as the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience some type of back pain at least once throughout their life. The spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles, among other soft tissues. Because of this, injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief.
Every El Paso, TX. Resident Involved In A Car Accident Needs Car Accident Specialist
Car Accident Specialist: Did you know that nearly 300,000 car accidents occur in Texas every year? The Texas State police, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimate that in 2017 there were 286,115 car accidents across the state. Over 60,000 car accidents resulted in someone being injured.
Fortunately, most of these accidents result in only minor injuries. For those who have sustained a car accident, chiropractic treatment should be sought out. In fact, anyone who has been in a moderate or high velocity collision should be evaluated by a car accident specialist/chiropractor.
Effects Of Major Motor Vehicle Accidents On The Spine
Motor vehicle accidents account for nearly half of all spine injuries.1 High velocity car accidents can have devastating effects on the spine. In some cases, the spinal cord could be damaged, causing paralysis. Displacement or fracturing of the spine’s bones (vertebrae) can partially compress the spinal cord, which causes weakness and/or numbness. Spinal cord contusions from a vertebral bone dislocation can injure blood vessels around the spine, that can lead to permanent disability.
Trauma to the spine from a car accident can cause paralysis or long-term disability if not managed properly. If you have been in a major car accident, chiropractic evaluation is critical. Even if there are no immediate symptoms, you should still be evaluated.
Minor Motor Vehicle Accidents Can Affect The Spine
Symptoms from a car accident may not show up for hours or days after the accident. A concussion, for example, may take as many as 24 to 48 hours before symptoms present themselves. Whiplash is the same way. Even if you do not feel a headache or neck pain right after a car accident does not mean that there is no injury. Because symptoms of whiplash may occur hours to days after the auto accident.2
Whiplash is caused by the rapid bending of the neck, often caused by rear end or front end collisions. Half of all people who get whiplash have neck pain symptoms for at least one year after the accident.3
If you have symptoms of whiplash such as neck pain, muscle tightness, muscle spasm, headache that is especially bad in the back of the head, or any difficulty moving your neck or turning your head, you may have whiplash syndrome. It is important to have an evaluation by a spine specialist in El Paso, TX.� or a car accident doctor (i.e., a physician who is experienced in evaluating car accident injuries). Find a chiropractor who is experienced and local.
People Involved In A Car Accident Need An Auto Accident Chiropractor
Spine surgery is not always needed after an auto accident, but until you are evaluated by a spine specialist, you cannot know for sure. Likewise, not every doctor/chiropractor has the experience and qualifications to proper diagnose and treat these types of motor vehicle injuries.
Dr. Jimenez, a car accident specialist at Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic, because he has evaluated and treated a substantial number of El Pasoans�who have been injured in auto accidents, over the course of 20+ years of practice. While only a small number of these patients need spine surgery, Dr. Jimenez will provide a comprehensive spine evaluation and will formulate an appropriate, personalized treatment/rehabilitation plan.
Chiropractic Clinic Extra: Back Pain Treatment
References
Carroll LJ, Holm LW, Hogg-Johnson S, et al. Course and prognostic factors for neck pain in whiplash-associated disorders (WAD): results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). Feb 15 2008;33(4 Suppl):S83-92. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181643eb8
Kasch H, Bach FW, Stengaard-Pedersen K, Jensen TS. Development in pain and neurologic complaints after whiplash: a 1-year prospective study. Neurology. Mar 11 2003;60(5):743-749.
Spinal Cord Injury Information Network. Understanding Spinal Cord Injury: Part 1�The Body Before and After Injury. 2008;�www.spinalcord.uab.edu
Crash: Few instances shatter our normal world into pieces more quickly than an automobile accident. Never expected, a wreck causes bodily injury, stress, and, in some cases, ongoing financial litigation issues.
Unfortunately, the vast number of vehicles on the road today, as well as drivers’ penchant for distracted driving, dramatically increases an individual’s chances of being involved in a crash. If you already suffer from an injury or medical condition, you must do your part to ensure it is not aggravated or exacerbated.
If a car crash happens to you, it’s essential to recognize and follow these six tips to keep you safe and your injuries to a minimum.
Car Crash: Immediately Take Stock Of The Situation
The way you react seconds after a crash impacts the situation tremendously. Determine what area you are injured, and if you are in imminent danger in the vehicle.
For example, if the automobile is on fire, or you are sinking into a lake, rescue yourself as quickly as possible. Otherwise, stay inside your vehicle.
Analyze Your Injured Areas
How injured do you appear to be? Keep in mind you are not a doctor. So, even if you feel fine, your neck or back could still have been impacted. Identify which areas of your body hurts, and the intensity of the pain.
Wait For The Authorities
Stay calm inside your vehicle and wait for the police and ambulance to arrive. This is imperative if your vehicle has flipped and you are hanging from your seatbelt.
Many head and neck injuries result from automobile occupants releasing their seat belts after a crash that has left them upside down.
Inform The Emergency Technicians
Once help arrives, it’s vital to explain to them, if you can, the areas of injury. If you have previously suffered from injury or medical condition to your neck, back, or spine, let them know that, too.
This information helps them formulate the form of extraction and emergency treatment that minimizes the chance of creating further harm. Be calm and specific when you relay the information, using simple language and the 1-10 pain scale to describe your level of discomfort.
Visit Your Chiropractor
If your injuries are deemed minimal and you are released, be happy and grateful that you were not hurt worse! Then, make an appointment with your chiropractor, and explain the nature of the wreck.
Certain injuries take a few days to show up, and the crash could have impacted bones, joints, and ligaments that went undiscovered during the initial after-crash exam. Ask for a complete examination, and talk with your chiropractor about any treatment deemed necessary.
Minimize The Chances Of Another Automobile Accident
While you cannot control being in a wreck, you can take measures to guard against the occurrence, and give yourself a greater chance to avoid injury. Always wear your seatbelt, avoid distracted driving (this means your cell phone), maintain your vehicle’s brakes and tires, and understand the current traffic laws. Commit to driving at a safe speed depending on the weather conditions, and never, ever drive after imbibing alcohol.
Being in an automobile accident is scary business, and we hope it never happens to you. There is increased risk to individuals who already deal with medical conditions or bodily injuries from sports, work, or falls.
However, by maintaining a clear head and following these six tips, you can minimize the chance of being seriously injured in many car wreck situations and return to your normal life quickly, putting this awful incident behind you.
Basketball Hall Of Famer Nancy Lieberman Rear Ended
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By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Minor Motor Vehicle Accidents Can Affect The Spine
