Recovering from Whiplash Injuries

by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic

The symptoms of whiplash generally occur immediately after the automobile accident, but occasionally, these can take several hours or even days to develop.

If you have been involved in a car crash, it�s important to take prompt action in order to minimize the recovery time. According to research presented at the World Congress on Neck Pain in Los Angeles, the initial level of pain after a whiplash-related injury as well as psychological factors, such as having positive expectations for getting better, can best predict which individuals will recover quickly from whiplash.

Most cases will resolve in a matter of a few days while others may take weeks or longer to heal. It�s always recommended to seek professional medical attention after experiencing pain and discomfort, but in the meantime, the individual can utilize home remedies to relieve their symptoms while they begin their recovery process.

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How Chiropractic Can Save Medical Costs

by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic

Healthcare assistance is implemented by a practitioner according to every individual�s health concerns and needs. The knowledge and experience of healthcare providers, the medical care preferences of the patient and the facts or evidence regarding the effectiveness of a vast majority of treatments available for specific types of injuries and conditions, are all essential considerations for people when seeking the appropriate healthcare services.

Aside from all these medical interests, with the current state of our economy and the unknown future of healthcare in the United States, consumers not only need the best options for relieving their pain and discomfort or promoting their overall health, people also need the best cost-effective treatments available to them.

After suffering an injury due to an accident or aggravating a previous condition, a simple medical office visit for neck or back pain can be a tremendous concern for many individuals in terms of cost, often progressing to thousands of dollars in medical expenses and medication dependence. An average visit to a medical office can vary widely in price depending on the doctor and nature of the visit. Even for individuals with insurance coverage, a deductible or large co-pay can rapidly add up to undesirable medical bills.

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PTSD Symptoms After an Auto Accident

by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic

Post-traumatic stress disorder, also referred to as PTSD, is a psychological or mental health condition that develops in people who have experienced a traumatic, horrifying event. PTSD is primarily associated with soldiers returning from combat, although, this emotional ailment is not limited to military combat situations. As a matter of fact, automobile accidents are one of the leading causes of post-traumatic stress disorder nationwide.

For most people involved in an auto collision, the feelings of shock and fear may be difficult to deal with at first, but with time, patience, and plenty of self-care, their emotional health will generally restore on its own. But, if the symptoms worsen or they last for months or even years without improvement and these begin to interfere with the individual�s everyday functioning, they could have developed PTSD.

The most difficult feature about identifying PTSD, and therefore treating it, involves the numerous, different ways the condition may arise for each person. While several people can experience the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder as bad dreams or nightmares, other can experience them as anxiety in crowded places.

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The Effects of Fibromyalgia on the Body

by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic

According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, the painful disorder affects approximately 10 million individuals, mostly women, in the United States alone. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies pain sensations by altering the way the brain processes pain signals.

The severity of fibromyalgia symptoms can vary from one individual to the next and these may even fluctuate in a single person depending on various triggering factors, however, pain and fatigue are nearly always present. Several individuals report feeling discomfort in a single or multiple yet specific areas of their bodies while others describe overall pain in their muscles and other soft tissues, such as tendons and ligaments, that has lasted for at least three months. Widespread pain is identified when it occurs on both sides of the body and both above and below the waist.

The grade of pain associated with fibromyalgia can range from aching, tenderness and throbbing sensations to sharper, shooting and stabbing sensations. Intense burning, numbness, and tingling sensations may also be present.

Some individuals affected with fibromyalgia only experience mild cases of fatigue, but many describe feeling entirely physically and mentally drained. Waking up tired often despite sleeping for long periods of time is occurs frequently among people affected with the condition. Sleep may also be disrupted by the pain many individuals experience and other sleeping disorders, such as restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea, can develop alongside common fibromyalgia symptoms. The excessive exhaustion in these people can begin interfering with all their daily activities, affecting their quality of life.

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Chiropractic Treatment is Effective and Affordable

by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a natural form of health care that targets disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system while focusing on the relation between the body�s structure, primarily the spine, and its functioning. A doctor of chiropractic, or DC, may utilize a variety of treatment approaches depending on the individuals type of injuries or conditions.

Through various studies, chiropractic has demonstrated to be a cost-effective alternative treatment option. Chiropractic care contributes to fewer medical expenses because, not only does it relieve the symptoms of an injury or condition, regular spinal adjustments and manual manipulations can actually help prevent further damage or injury as well as prevent the development of numerous conditions, thus avoiding additional medical expenses. When the body is functioning effectively, it has the ability to heal itself. Chiropractic treatment naturally helps restore the body�s own recuperative capabilities to promote a faster, safer rehabilitation process while avoiding side effects.

Furthermore, chiropractic helps individuals avoid other costly and often unnecessary medical procedures, including tests, surgery and expensive drugs.�

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Degenerative Scoliosis Pain and Chiropractic

by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic

Adult scoliosis, medically referred to as degenerative scoliosis, is distinguished by an unnatural, side-to-side curvature of the spine caused by a degeneration of the facet joints, which give the back flexibility and enable the spine to bend and twist smoothly. This condition occurs most frequently among individuals over 65 years of age. The characteristic scoliosis curve that generally forms into a �C� shape, commonly develops in the lumbar spine.

Many individuals are more familiar with adolescent scoliosis, also called idiopathic scoliosis, but the differences between the two conditions aren�t fully understood by the general population. Idiopathic scoliosis occurs in children and adolescents, typically ranging from 10 to 18 years of age and its cause still remains unknown to experts. In more severe cases of the condition, the lateral shift of the spine can progress immediately as the child grows, often requiring the utilization of a scoliosis brace or even surgery to slow down or stop the unnatural side-to-side curvature of the spine.

Unlike adolescent or idiopathic scoliosis, there is a known cause for adult or degenerative scoliosis. Degenerative scoliosis is caused by a gradual deterioration of the facet joints found in the back due to aging, the same type of process which leads to osteoarthritis of the spine. However, when scoliosis occurs in older adults, the pressure that builds up from the degenerating facet joints is known to be the leading cause for the once naturally straight spine, as viewed from the back, to begin abnormally shifting laterally, curving to one side.

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Sciatica Symptoms after an Auto Accident

by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic

The spine is a complex structure surrounded by muscles, tendons, ligaments and other types of tissues. Although it is designed to be strong enough to support the weight of the head and hold the upright posture of humans, the spine is not built to withstand the shock of an automobile accident. The impact strains the muscles and ligaments in the back and the facet joints frequently bear the brunt of the force. This can result in several types of injuries, including whiplash, fractures and disc herniation. Among all these injuries and conditions, sciatica is repeatedly diagnosed throughout many accident cases.

Sciatica is best described as a set of symptoms rather than a single condition, characterized by radiating pain along the sciatic nerve, the largest single nerve in the human body.

One of the most common causes of sciatica after an auto accident is a herniated disc. The vertebral discs in the spine primarily function as a shock absorber between each vertebra. The tough yet soft jelly-like structure of the discs acts as a form of cartilaginous joint or cushion to provide smooth mobility to the spine, also acting as ligaments to hold the vertebrae of the spine together. Because the discs can absorb the majority of the shock from any direct trauma to the spine, it is possible for a disc to herniate during a car crash.

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Whiplash Injuries Causing Weakened Ligaments

by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic

Whiplash occurs when the muscles and ligaments of the neck stretch further than their average range of motion. While symptoms of neck injury may not occur instantly, it�s essential to keep a close watch over any physical changes which may result following the accident and seek medical attention as soon as possible to properly diagnose the presence of any other spinal complications. Although whiplash is considered a relatively mild condition, it can cause long-term pain and discomfort.

During an auto collision, the sudden force of the impact causes an individual�s head to abruptly move back-and-forth in any direction, depending on the type of car crash. The rapid flexion and extension of the neck pulls and extends the muscles, straining the soft tissues around the cervical spine, occasionally causing them to tear.

After several years of research, it�s evident that the spinal ligaments can be stretched and/or torn during an automobile accident. Prior research has shown that the anterior longitudinal ligaments, the transverse ligaments, and the facet capsules, found within the neck, can be damaged or injured even in minor crashes.

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