Back Clinic Personal Injury Chiropractic Team. Injuries from an accident can not only cause physical harm to you or a loved one, being involved in a personal injury case can often be a complicated and stressful situation to handle. These types of circumstances are unfortunately fairly common and when the individual is faced with pain and discomfort as a result of trauma from an accident or an underlying condition that has been aggravated by the injury, finding the right treatment for their specific issue can be another challenge on its own.
Dr. Alex Jimenez’s compilation of personal injury articles highlights a variety of personal injury cases, including automobile accidents resulting in whiplash, while also summarizing various effective treatments, such as chiropractic care. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900 or text to call Dr. Jimenez personally at (915) 540-8444.
Question: My car was rear-ended. Since then, my neck hurts, feels rigid, and I have upper back pain. My wife says it’s whiplash and that I should see a physician. Is there anything that I can do to accelerate my recovery? Should I see my physician and/or chiropractor? How long will my pain last?
El Paso, TX
Answer: Your symptoms are typical of a whiplash injury caused by a vehicle accident. Whiplash is cervical spine strain caused when the head and neck are thrust quickly forward and backward. To fully grasp how whiplash can lead to neck pain, you want to recognize the head, which weighs 8-13 pounds and is supported and moved by the neck. Because of this, it’s easy to understand how soft neck muscles and ligaments are stretched during a whiplash accident!
The seriousness of whiplash is dependent on the force of the impact, the way you were seated in your vehicle, and if you were properly restrained with a shoulder and seat belt. By way of instance, if your head was turned, your neck injury may be more painful.
Whiplash Home Treatment Tips
1. Even though your neck injury occurred last week, you may try ice and heat. Ice will help to reduce swollen overstretched muscles and ligaments. Heat increases circulation and eases tight stiff muscles.
Ice: Apply an ice pack for 15 minutes as often as once each hour.
Heat: Apply warmth (moist is greatest!) For 15 minutes every 2 or 3 hours.
Skin Safety:
Never sleep with a ice or heat pack!
Wrap heat or ice in a towel to protect your skin.
Discard punctured store-bought ice or heat products.
2. If your doctor agrees, try an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication.
3. Move your neck softly to assist in preventing additional stiffness.
4. Should you work in a computer or desk, take regular breaks to relax your neck muscles.
5. Avoid cradling the phone between your shoulder and head.
6. Avoid carrying heavy packages, especially things such as a pocket book or backpack slung over only one shoulder.
Check With Your Doctor & Chiropractor
Neck pain is common either immediately after or several days following a whiplash injury. Other symptoms can develop too. Fortunately, most symptoms go away in two to four weeks. If your symptoms worsen, or you develop headache, dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, arm or hand numbness, check-in with your physician or chiropractor. If necessary, you’ll be referred to a spine specialist.
Your physician or chiropractor will carry out a physical and neurological examination, and acquire a neck X-ray. After they produce a diagnosis, treatment is coordinated for your recovery! Treatment may include prescription pain medication, anti inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, a cervical collar, massage and physical therapy.
Other�Symptoms Associated With Whiplash Or Neck Strain:
Headache
Dizziness
Ringing in your ears
Blurred vision
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Hoarse voice
Upper back, shoulder, and/ or arm pain
Back pain
Abnormal sensations such as numbness, burning or prickling
Fatigue and sleep problems
Keep in Mind
Most individuals with whiplash improve quickly within a matter of weeks. When you have concerns, we recommend you to speak to a doctor or chiropractor.
Federal employees face the same injury risks as those in the private industry and different areas of the public sector. Those risks can be serious. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that approximately 124 federal employees suffered fatal accidents in 2013.
Based on the BLS, the top causes of fatal injuries among workers are:
A federal worker who suffers a job-related private injury or illness (or even families of these employees who have been lost) can seek benefits through the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). These benefits include coverage of wages that are lost because of permanent or temporary disability. They also have death benefits for eligible survivors.
The following is a closer look at the most common leading causes of accidents among federal employees:
Transportation Incidents
Many federal jobs require travel between offices or even as a main function of the job. Postal work is the apparent example. Truck and car accidents, which are usually as a result of driver error, can be fatal or result in serious injury. In cases where another driver is at a motor vehicle’s error caused an accident or fault, a worker may consider filing an injury claim in addition to seeking workers’ compensation benefits.
Violence
Unfortunately, federal employees may also be hurt by violence. Incidents of violence include attacks by other creatures and dogs as a cause of harm. In acts of violence, the perpetrator or an animal’s owner may also be held responsible for the employee’s injury, which adds to compensation for the employee’s losses.
Struck by Object or Equipment
There are many ways from being struck by an object or equipment, a worker can suffer a head injury, eye injury, fracture, internal organ injury, cut, bruise or alternative injury. By way of instance, materials and tools can drop from above in a storeroom or roll off a truck. Material stacked can collapse. Debris could be ejected by means of a power tool. By, or a man who excursions can fall and hit at them, make them fall and be hurt.
Falls, Trips or Slips
Slipping or tripping onto a floor or falling off a ladder, scaffolding is a common source of injury in all walks of life. Falls can lead to broken bones, brain injuries, back and spine injuries and much more. In the workplace, using scaling ladders, step stools or other gear puts a worker in danger of falling. Meanwhile, as workers leave equipment or leave slippery and moist floors, this can result in falling accidents.
Harmful Substance Exposure
From being exposed to certain harmful substances such as chemicals, A worker can suffer catastrophic injuries such as burns. A worker may also create health issues from repeated exposure to asbestos, smoke, diesel exhaust or other dangerous substances.
Fire and Explosions
Compressed gases, flammable liquids, open-flames and chemicals are fire and explosion risks. At car depots with petrol or gasoline pumps for automobiles, trucks or equipment, fuel can be ignited. Some metals and synthetic substances that are organic in addition to many natural can form. Third-and-fourth-degree burns, if survived, typically require treatment that includes several surgeries and rehab and leave the sufferer disabled.
Caught-in / Caught-between Accidents
Employees involved in “captured” accidents can endure fractures and tearing accidents if their body parts or clothes become caught in machinery, or even when the worker is crushed between objects or torn from moving components. Caught-in accidents consist of trench, excavation or construction collapses, which may cause devastating injuries in addition to injuries.
Overexertion
Pressure and the stress from overexertion can harm nerves muscles and tendons in the neck, upper extremities and back. Work activities which can result in such musculoskeletal injuries include lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying and holding materials, tools and other objects. They can also be caused by bending, reaching working in awkward body positions and doing similar jobs repetitively or the exact same. Employees can suffer harms that cause numbness, swelling and debilitating pain and sprains, strains, tears, pinched nerves, herniated discs, hernia, carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Electrocution / Shock
Workers who come into contact may suffer electrocution, which can be death, or jolt, which encircles burns and other accidents caused . Electrical currents can also cause explosions, fires, arc flash and arc blast — each of which might cause burn injuries. Shock and electrocution may be caused by contact with bare wires , damaged fixtures, overhead power lines or faulty equipment or gear.
Seek Federal Benefits
It can be difficult for people people who have never before applied to document a federal workers’ compensation or disability benefits claim. The principles regulating benefits available to employees are lengthy and complicated. Workers who are eligible for numerous advantages may realize that they offset each other, so your total benefit might be less than what you deserve if your claim is organised improperly.
Various experts will allow you to sort through the confusion and work to pursue the advantages or reimbursement you deserve. They can work throughout the country with federal employees.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
Back pain is one of the most common symptoms reported among the general population. While back pain can occur due to a variety of injuries and/or underlying conditions, a work accident has often been associated as a frequent origin of back pain issues. Back pain can affect an individual at least once throughout their lifetime. Fortunately, federal employees who experience back pain, such as symptoms of sciatica, can benefit from programs like FECA.
Federal employees that are injured at work do not get benefits through workers’ comp insurance or their nation’s workers’ comp program.
Instead, federal employees receive workers’ compensation benefits through the Federal Employees Compensation Act, abbreviated as FECA, except for railroad workers, longshoremen, black lung coal miners, and refuge workers (that are insured under their own national laws for workers’ compensation). Members of the USA armed forces are also not considered federal employees for purposes of FECA.
FECA provides benefits and injury compensation for workers injured on the job, or even if their injury happened during the course and scope of their employment offsite. FECA covers both injuries and occupational diseases that arise over time work conditions. The United States Department of Labor, through the Office of Worker Compensation Programs, administers the workers’ comp benefits provided by the Federal Employees Compensation Act.
Qualifications
Coverage under FECA, or the Federal Employees Compensation Act, is supplied to all national government employees regardless of the number of years of service, nature of the position, or kind of job they perform. In order to be covered by FECA, you must be employed by the federal government, not a private government contractor. If you are currently working for a private business, the workers’ compensation laws in the state will cover you.
For the injury or illness to qualify under FECA, then you must have become injured while performing duties of your job or you developed a disease because of the conditions and hazards inherent in your job. This may consist of accidents occurring while working or traveling offsite as well.
FECA does not cover injuries and diseases that arise because of activities beyond the “course and scope of your employment.” Activities beyond the course and scope of employment include commuting to and from work, recreational excursions, and activities for private reasons. Injuries sustained while intoxicated or under the influence of non-prescription drugs will not be covered by the Federal Employees Compensation Act. FECA also provides benefits to surviving family members for employees that die on the job while performing work-related pursuits.
Back Pain in Federal Employees
As with anyone experiencing symptoms of back pain after being involved in a work accident, due to aggravated conditions or illness, or simply from wear-and-tear injuries, it’s essential for federal employees to seek the proper care and benefits for their symptoms to receive immediate medical attention. Spine issues resulting in sciatica can be debilitating and may affect an employee’s capability to work. Programs for federal employees like FECA may help substantially improve an individual’s overall health and wellness, allowing them to return to work as soon as possible.
FECA Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If your FECA workers’ compensation claim is permitted, you will start to receive workers’ compensation benefits to compensate you for your injury or illness and help you with the recovery. First, FECA will cover all necessary and appropriate claim-related medical therapy. This includes prescriptions, surgery and rehabilitation.
The Federal Employees Compensation Act provides compensation if a worker is disabled and unable to work as a result of industrial injury or occupational disease. You will be compensated by your service directly for your lost wages and more. Should your inability to work exceed 45 days, FECA will cover your wages that are lost.
If your workers’ compensation claim is based on an occupational disease, you’re entitled to compensation for lost salary from FECA after an initial three-day waiting period.
If your injury or illness results in permanent partial disability or permanent total disability, FECA will provide advantages and additional benefits. The total amount of the compensation is based on the severity of your permanent disability and the effect it has on your earning capacity. And if you have dependents, you will probably receive increased permanent disability compensation to account for your own requirement to supply for those dependents.
In the event that you need job retraining to return to the workforce after your injury or illness FECA provides compensation. Dependents are eligible to receive survivor’s benefits. For further details regarding the benefits of the Federal Employees Compansation Act, visit the�Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation (DFEC).
Speak to an Attorney
If your FECA employees’ compensation claim is refused, your claim may be more complicated, or your injury may have been considered more severe. You should carefully consider speaking to a lawyer in your area experienced in FECA employees’ compensation law. Although an attorney isn’t necessary to obtain workers’ compensation benefits, an attorney can help in ensuring you get all of the benefits you’re entitled to get, guiding you through the procedure.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
Back pain is one of the most common symptoms reported among the general population. While back pain can occur due to a variety of injuries and/or underlying conditions, a work accident has often been associated as a frequent origin of back pain issues. Back pain can affect an individual at least once throughout their lifetime. Fortunately, federal employees who experience back pain, such as symptoms of sciatica, can benefit from programs like FECA.
Various injuries can be caused by automobile crashes. One of the most frequent car accidents is the collision in which a vehicle is hit from behind. If you have been in these events you may be receiving neck pain therapy for a accident called whiplash that occurs when an occupant of this vehicle is thrust forth and back.
This injury may cause a herniated disc in the cervical (neck) area, in addition to a variety of other symptoms. A whiplash injury can include neurological impairment in mobility, joint aches, problems with concentration and chronic pain. Besides damaging the delicate tissues (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) that maintain the neck, it may also harm the cervical spine (the neck region of the backbone), inducing a herniated disc in the neck. The herniation can compress the nearby nerves, causing pain. Symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck may include tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness.
Pain from Previously Existing Conditions
In a study published in the journal Spine, doctors found that disabling pain in the back following whiplash may be due to a previously disc in the spine. These conditions may present no symptoms that are apparent before the accident. The researchers further concluded that pain was successfully treated following microdiscectomies for these discs.
Symptoms from whiplash injuries cannot be necessarily resolved with neck pain treatment, and can be tricky to diagnose since the pain lower back and even in the shoulder region can radiate to other regions of the body. It can be especially challenging for the physician when symptoms are vague and non-localized.
When the natural reactions of the body don’t operate properly, injuries occur. In the normal state, a C-shape is maintained by the cervical spine. On an S-shape as the portion extends and the upper portion of this area flexes, the individual’s cervical spine takes upon impact from behind. This phenomenon risks herniating a disc or tearing a ligament. If the human body’s protective response is working correctly, it will recognize the impact and signal the cervical muscles and make a supportive scaffold for the cervical spine and ligaments.
Although pain can heal on its own it may often require therapy. A treatment program for a herniated disc in the neck may consist of anti-inflammatory pain medication, rest, and physical therapy. With these conservative treatments, the symptoms generally improve over time. But if imaging tests find out that the damaged disc is compressing nearby nerves and/or the spinal cord, or if symptoms persist despite the treatment, neck surgery may be considered.
There are a few things you can do in order to stop whiplash injuries requiring neck pain treatment and increased risk for pain . These include maintaining fitness and good posture. You can start focusing on those goals.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to 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, are frequently reported by victims of an auto collision, regardless of the severity and grade of the accident. The sheer force of an impact can cause damage or injury to the cervical spine, as well as to the rest of the spine. Whiplash is generally the result of an abrupt, back-and-forth jolt of the head and neck in any direction. Fortunately, a variety of treatments are available to treat automobile accident injuries.
If given the opportunity, a herniated disc can occur as a consequence of trauma and can create a plethora of problematic symptoms which might become chronic pain conditions. Whiplash is most frequently associated with car collisions, but can actually happen from any injurious procedure that snaps the neck forward or back beyond its normal selection of movement.
This informative article will detail the prevalence of herniated discs related to whiplash events. We’ll investigate how whiplash occurs and how the process can enact disc injury in the cervical or upper thoracic spinal regions.
Whiplash Herniated Disc Incidents
Whiplash happens because of abrupt acceleration, or more commonly, sudden deceleration. Inertia is the force which can create harm to the spinal structures and the throat muscles at the neck and back.
The head is a really heavy weight that is supported by the slightly thinner and weaker vertebrae and intervertebral discs in the cervical spine. When inertia is applied to the entire body, the head will snap backwards or forward, causing both and typically hyperflexion or hyperextension. As it whips about causing an assortment of injurious events that are possible, including a herniated disc, this heavy weight places stress on the cervical spine.
Herniated Disc Pain and Discomfort
Whiplash typically occurs from severe trauma, such as an automobile accident, slip and fall, sports injury or act of violence. Any situation which causes the head to jolt abruptly back-and-forth, can cause whiplash.
Whiplash is a condition which sometimes occurs after an accident, but could also take some time to become apparent. The reasons for this time delay response vary, but are commonly linked to three possible causations:
First, it’s the pain relieving quality of adrenaline, which often fills the bodily systems during a crash. This can diminish the severity symptoms which might otherwise be debilitating when they occur. Second, is the psychological nocebo effect of the trauma, which could take some time to infiltrate and to come up within the subconscious mind. Finally, the secondary gain principle enacted by legal action having to do with the accident might causes time delay. It’s no coincidence that people begin to experience pain right around the time they seek professional help.
Whiplash & Herniated Disc Consequences
The vast majority of whiplash complaints are due to muscular injury, not damage to the spinal column. Neck muscle pain can be extremely severe, but is not a significant worry and should resolve with symptomatic treatment.
Extreme trauma or highly focused trauma can cause a bulging disc or even a ruptured disc in the neck or upper back. Symptoms are very likely to be painful for a number of weeks, but should resolve within 2 months, as is typical for practically any disc injury condition with the proper treatment and care.
Other less common effects of severe whiplash might incorporate a change in the natural curvature of the spine, a fractured or shattered vertebra or a torn ligament or tendon.
Whiplash Herniated Disc Guidance
A lot of men and women suffer whiplash traumas on a daily basis. These types of injuries are an inherent part of the fear we have towards spinal damage and are an integral component of litigation. Both of these factors make judging the actual degree of any whiplash neck injury complicated.
Pain is often worsened or perpetuated through psychosomatic or secondary gain factors, instead of structural anatomical problems. It is crucial, as a patient, to look past the psychological and legal implications of your injury and concentrate on your recovery.
The neck, like every other area of the human body, was made to heal, but will only do so in the event that you give it the mental and emotional support and trust it requires.
There isn’t anything more important than your health. Unfortunately, this is a lesson for those who endure a plethora of herniated disc treatments and eventual disc surgery simply to bolster a case that is legal. When the case is over, you might have some money, but is it really worth it to lose your freedom and functionality for the remainder of your life?
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to 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, are frequently reported by victims of an auto collision, regardless of the severity and grade of the accident. The sheer force of an impact can cause damage or injury to the cervical spine, as well as to the rest of the spine. Whiplash is generally the result of an abrupt, back-and-forth jolt of the head and neck in any direction. Fortunately, a variety of treatments are available to treat automobile accident injuries.
The accident-type most-associated with whiplash is being rear-ended. Let us take a glance at how this kind of accident happens. Most people think that when you could be rear ended, your head flies back. Although that is the logical way to consider the harm (it’s also how I will discuss it most of the time), it is not technically accurate.
Process of Whiplash Injury
When you are rear-ended what happens is that your body is driven out from under your head. Although there is a great deal of soft tissue stretching that occurs in the soft tissues (LIGAMENTS, TENDONS, MUSCLES, and particularly FASCIA) as your body travels forward at a significantly higher velocity than your head; at some point, these “soft tissues” cannot stretch anymore. This is the first point at which microscopic tissue tearing occurs. Realize that this is the beginning of the injury process. The body will be gradually caught up to by the head, and subsequently overshoot it at an extremely accelerated velocity, all in a fraction of a second.
The head is now accelerating forward faster than your entire body. When the body comes to a stop (i.e. your vehicle slams into whatever is in front of it), the head will continue to travel forward. This is actually where the term “whiplash” comes from, and where it occurs. It’s exactly the principle of physics that results in the tip of a bullwhip to ‘crack’ as it breaks the sound barrier. If this type of ‘whipping’ motion occurs in the neck, it can result in a great deal of soft tissue damage and subsequent formation of fibrosis and scar tissue. Additionally, it may lead to a great deal of occult (hidden) brain and nerve system trauma.
When tissue tears, it ordinarily doesn’t tear like we think of things tearing, in half. As a matter of fact, when you take a look at pulled muscles, these are actually pulled, over-stretched, or microscopically torn fascia. Fascia is the thin membrane that tightly surrounds the muscle. Fascial tearing and the subsequent fascial adhesions present a double-edged sword as far as chronic pain is concerned.
Surround your neck with too much scar tissue, and there is no way your neck will move normally as it did before the motor vehicle accident. Unfortunately, degeneration is caused by abnormal motion, and abnormal joint motion is caused by degeneration. Repeat ad infinitum. Whether or not this cycle was launched by an MVA is immaterial at this stage. The process leads to chronic pain. People who are living inside of this vicious cycle know. Same evaluations, same results. If you’ve been involved in an automobile accident and are experiencing neck pain or other symptoms due to suspected cervical spine damage or injury, seek immediate medical attention.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to 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, are frequently reported by victims of an auto collision, regardless of the severity and grade of the accident. The sheer force of an impact can cause damage or injury to the cervical spine, as well as to the rest of the spine. Whiplash is generally the result of an abrupt, back-and-forth jolt of the head and neck in any direction. Fortunately, a variety of treatments are available to treat automobile accident injuries.
Each year in america there are between 6.5 million and 7 million MVA’s affecting many individuals. Of those accidents, about three million involve some kind of bodily injury. About two thirds of these injuries, while not debilitating, are permanent. This means that if you play the odds, you’ll be during the course of your lifetime in 4 or 5 car accidents. They are undoubtedly the major cause although MVA’s are certainly not the sole cause of injuries, such as whiplash.
What is the significant whiplash sign we look for as far as imaging is concerned? A simple neutral lateral x-ray of the cervical spine is about as good as anything to demonstrate the extent of damage or injury.
When an individual experiences whiplash, their fascia is often damaged or injured as their head slams backwards. Sooner or later the individual begins to get neck pain, headaches, and a loss of range of motion in their neck. The problem is that a Fascial Adhesion in the SCM may be pulling on their neck. A restriction (Fascial Adhesion) in the SCM is going to pull the head forward.
Normal Cervical Curves
Although you should not have spinal curves that run from 1 side of your body to the other (Scoliosis), it’s absolutely crucial to have the proper spinal curves that run from front to back. The normal front-to-back curve in your neck, should be the same as the front-to-back curve in your low back (lordosis) — the opposite of the curve in your mid back (kyphosis). Normal curves allow for normal motion, they act as shock absorbers. Think for a moment about it. A normal curve will dissipate much of the force, spreading it out like a spring when you walk down the sidewalk.
Abnormal Cervical Curves
Abnormal curves of the cervical spine (neck) come in two forms. You have the loss of cervical lordosis. This is the “Military Neck” you see in the first x-ray. Secondly, you get a complete reversal of the lordotic curve (second x-ray). These are some of the steps on the road to Degenerative Arthritis.
For those of you understanding the nature whiplash injury and the NEW MODEL of Repair and Tissue Healing, this picture of the PLATYSMA MUSCLE should help. The Platysma is a thin muscle that covers the entire front portion of the neck. It is likewise covered in Fascia. This is just one more piece of the puzzle so far as explaining the Chronic Pain people struggle with after a whiplash injury — by imaging which is always negative, pain that is not explained. And like SCM Muscles that are injured, it helps to explain the cervical curves. It pulls, as it restricts, and as it pulls, the head will come. Think that Forward Head Posture is no big deal? THINK AGAIN.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to 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, are frequently reported by victims of an auto collision, regardless of the severity and grade of the accident. The sheer force of an impact can cause damage or injury to the cervical spine, as well as to the rest of the spine. Whiplash is generally the result of an abrupt, back-and-forth jolt of the head and neck in any direction. Fortunately, a variety of treatments are available to treat automobile accident injuries.
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