Accidents and Injuries

As one of the most load-bearing joints in the body, the hips nearly affect every movement. If the hip joint is involved in a vehicle crash, the space in the joint/hip capsule can fill with fluid, causing joint effusion or swelling, inflammation, dull-immobilizing pain, and stiffness. Hip pain is a common injury symptom reported after a vehicle crash. This pain can range from mild to severe and may be short-term or last for months. No matter the level of pain being experienced, action must be taken quickly to avoid long-term damage. Individuals need high-quality, patient-focused care from experienced specialists as soon as possible to get on the road to recovery.

Vehicle Crash Hip Injury

The hip joints must be healthy and work as effectively as possible to stay active. Arthritis, hip fractures, bursitis, tendonitis, injuries from falls, and automobile collisions are the most common causes of chronic hip pain. Depending upon the type of injury, individuals may experience pain symptoms in the thigh, groin, inside of the hip joint, or buttocks. 

Associated Injuries

The most common injuries that cause pain in the hip after a collision include:

• Hip ligament sprain
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Hip labral tear
• Hip dislocation
• Hip fracture
• Acetabular fracture

Hip Ligament Sprains or Strains

• A hip ligament sprain or strain is caused by overstretched or torn ligaments.
• These tissues attach bones to other bones and provide stability to the joints.
• These injuries may only require rest and ice to heal, depending on the severity.
• Chiropractic, decompression, and physical massage therapies may be necessary for realignment and to keep muscles flexible and relaxed.

Bursitis

• Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa, or the fluid-filled sac providing cushioning/material between bones and muscles.
• It is one of the main causes of hip pain after an automobile collision and requires immediate medical attention.

Tendonitis

• Tendonitis is a type of injury that affects soft tissues like tendons and ligaments, as opposed to bone and muscle.
• Tendonitis can result in chronic pain and various discomfort symptoms in and around the hip area if left untreated.

Hip Labral Tear

• A hip labral tear is a type of joint damage in which the soft tissue/labrum that covers the hip's socket gets torn.
• The tissue ensures that the thighbone head moves smoothly within the joint.
• Damage to the labrum can lead to severe pain symptoms and affect mobility.

Hip Dislocation

• A hip dislocation means the femur ball has popped out of the socket, causing the upper leg bone to slide out of place.
• Hip dislocations can cause avascular necrosis, which is the death of bone tissue from a blockage in the blood supply.

Hip Fractures

• The hip bones can be broken down into three parts:
• Ilium
• Pubis
• Ischium
• A hip fracture, or broken hip, occurs whenever a break, crack, or crush happens to any one of these parts of the hip.

Acetabular Fracture

• An acetabular fracture is a break or a crack outside the hip socket that holds the hip and thigh bones together.
• A fracture to this body part is not as common because of the location.
• Significant force and impact are often necessary to cause this type of fracture.

Symptoms

If any of the following symptoms after a vehicle crash are experienced, it could be a hip injury and should be examined by a medical professional. These include:

• Soreness or tenderness at the site of injury.
• Bruising.
• Swelling.
• Difficulty moving the hip/s.
• Intense pain when walking.
• Limping.
• Loss of muscle strength.
• Abdominal pain.
• Knee pain.
• Groin pain.

Treatment and  Rehabilitation

A doctor or specialist should always evaluate hip problems and pain symptoms. With the help of a physical examination and diagnostics like X-rays, CT Scans, or an MRI, a physician can diagnose and recommend treatment options. Treatment after a vehicle crash depends on the severity of the damage. For example, hip fractures often require immediate surgery, while other injuries may only necessitate medication, rest, and rehabilitation. Possible treatment plans include:

• Rest
• Pain, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory medication.
• Physical therapy
• Massage therapy
• Chiropractic realignment
• Spinal decompression
• Exercise therapy
• Steroid injections
• Surgery - after surgery, a physical therapist can help stretch and work on muscles around the hip to gain mobility and flexibility for a complete recovery.
• Total hip replacement

Our team collaborates with the necessary specialists to provide the complete care needed to experience full recovery and healing for long-term relief. The team will work together to form a comprehensive treatment plan to strengthen the hip muscles for better support and increased range of motion.

Movement as Medicine

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, don't hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Cooper, Joseph, et al. "Hip dislocations and concurrent injuries in motor vehicle collisions." Injury vol. 49,7 (2018): 1297-1301. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2018.04.023

Fadl, Shaimaa A, and Claire K Sandstrom. "Pattern Recognition: A Mechanism-based Approach to Injury Detection after Motor Vehicle Collisions." Radiographics: a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc vol. 39,3 (2019): 857-876. doi:10.1148/rg.2019180063

Frank, C J et al. "Acetabular fractures." The Nebraska medical journal vol. 80,5 (1995): 118-23.

Masiewicz, Spencer, et al. "Posterior Hip Dislocation." StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 22 April 2023.

Monma, H, and T Sugita. "Is the mechanism of traumatic posterior dislocation of the hip a brake pedal injury rather than a dashboard injury?." Injury vol. 32,3 (2001): 221-2. doi:10.1016/s0020-1383(00)00183-2

Patel, Vijal, et al. "The association between knee airbag deployment and knee-thigh-hip fracture injury risk in motor vehicle collisions: A matched cohort study." Accident; Analysis and Prevention vol. 50 (2013): 964-7. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2012.07.023

Dr. Alex Jimenez and Dr. Mario Ruja discuss how chiropractic care can help individuals who have been involved in automobile accidents and the various functional treatments that can help the body’s overall wellbeing.

Auto Accident Doctors and Chiropractic Treatments

Most individuals see their family physician or general practitioner after an automobile accident or other common personal injury/s. However, seeing a chiropractor is more beneficial. Chiropractors specialize in treating, rehabilitating, and strengthening the musculoskeletal system after different types of personal injuries. Auto accidents are the most common personal injuries. The next most common type of injury comes from slip and fall accidents. These accidents are a leading cause of hip and head injuries. A chiropractor can help with injuries that involve the:

• Muscles
• Tendons
• Joints
• Ligaments
• Hips
• Neck
• Shoulders
• Spine
• Nervous System

Chiropractors are specifically suited to help individuals recover after one of these accidents. Because of this individuals are turning to chiropractic treatment after an auto accident or a slip and fall accident.

Who pays for chiropractic treatment after an accident?

There are many different factors that determine who pays for chiropractic treatment after an accident. However, the party that is at fault or the insurance company usually handles the chiropractic care expenses. A chiropractor also provides records and reports detailing an individual's injuries. This is for the chiropractic care that the at-fault party will be covering. However, an individual must prove, with the help of the chiropractor, that they did suffer an injury as a result of the accident. Pre-existing injuries typically are not covered. Chiropractic personal injury specialists are well-versed/trained on accident and injury claims.

Injury claims and chiropractic expenses

An injury claim usually covers most if not all chiropractic treatment expenses following an accident. This often involves dealing with insurance companies and lawyers. It depends on the situation/circumstances of the accident. A personal injury chiropractic specialist keeps updated records and provides the individual with the assistance needed for a successful claim, as well as, for treating the injuries and getting the individual back to optimal health.

Lawyers and chiropractors

After an accident, talking to a lawyer about filing a personal injury claim means they may recommend seeing a chiropractor. This is a normal procedure for personal injury claims. Personal injury cases are rarely closed before the individual filing the claim is fully healed. If the individual is still being treated, the total cost of the medical expenses is still unknown. Only when the treatment is done can a lawyer present the total cost of the medical bills. This is because chiropractors are also specialists that can diagnose and treat injuries that general physicians or doctors can miss. Whiplash and back problems are two common injuries that happen as a result of auto accidents.

How long to wait before seeing a chiropractor after an accident

How long the individual waits to see a chiropractor after an accident is up to the individual. However, it is highly recommended to see a chiropractor as soon as possible following an accident to get treatment going before the injury/s worsens and inflammation sets in. The injuries can still be treated, but it could take longer to heal them properly if they have set in. For example, whiplash treatment can take anywhere from 2 to several sessions, depending on the severity of the injury to the muscles and ligaments of the neck.

The benefits of seeing a chiropractor after an accident

The benefits of chiropractic treatment after an accident includes:

Specialized treatment

Most personal injury claims involve injuries to the back, neck, muscles, and joints. Chiropractic treatment provides effective care immediately.

Reduced pain and inflammation

Chiropractic treats the root cause of the pain, which helps reduce swelling and inflammation. A chiropractor will utilize various techniques/methods that include:

• Heat and ice
• Ultrasound
• Cold laser therapy
• Massage
• Electrical therapy

An improved frame of mind and range of motion

Two major benefits from seeing a chiropractor are an improved frame of mind and range of motion. Stiff muscles and a low mood can become lifted with chiropractic treatment that helps produce positive hormones as muscle tension is worked out and released.

Non-invasive and drug-free

Chiropractors use non-invasive and drug-free treatment methods. They do not prescribe medications or perform surgical procedures that could worsen or cause further injury.

Chiropractors work with other doctors/specialists

A chiropractor might not be able to help with every injury or aspect of the injury/s. But doctors of chiropractic are members of the medical community. If they feel that they cannot help the individual, they will refer the individual to someone who can or work closely with the individual's doctor to ensure that safety, overall health, and well-being are the first priority.

Chiropractic is ideal for whiplash

Whiplash is a common and often debilitating injury suffered during a motor vehicle accident. One study showed that 93% of whiplash patients showed improvement after chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic for whiplash can help speed up the healing process and involves:

• Pain relief
• Inflammation reduction
• Spinal manipulation
• Chiropractic massage
• Trigger point therapy
• Stretches
• Exercises

Chiropractic can help with stress after an accident

One of the major benefits of chiropractic is stress relief. An accident or injury can generate intense stress and stress and make things worse. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to improve the levels of beneficial chemicals in the body, that can reduce stress. Injuries along with the insurance companies, lawyers, court costs can contribute to sleep, and diet problems.

Conclusion

It is highly recommended to make an appointment with a chiropractor after an accident. They can provide a thorough diagnosis and treatment, reduce the pain and healing time for injuries, as well as provide the necessary records for a personal injury claim. Seeing a chiropractor as soon as possible after an accident is beneficial for rehabilitating and strengthening an individual's musculoskeletal health.

Body Composition

Body fat percentage

The body's fat percentage is a significant number but should not be relied upon as it does not provide an individual with a complete picture of their overall health. In order to maintain a healthy weight and understand the changes that the body experiences over time, an individual needs more specific values. If there is no comparison of body fat percentage to skeletal muscle mass, an individual will not be able to:

• Understand the increases and decreases in body fat percentage
• Maintain a healthy body fat percentage
• Maintain a healthy weight and muscle mass level
• Determine if the muscles are balanced

The body is a very complex system of many components that all work together. This is why it is important to get as much information as possible to understand, maintain a healthy weight and achieve optimal health.

Disclaimer

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP, CIFM, CTG*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
phone: 915-850-0900
Licensed in Texas & New Mexico

References

Jacobs, Craig L et al. “Musculoskeletal injuries and pain in dancers: a systematic review update.” Journal of dance medicine & science: official publication of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science vol. 16,2 (2012): 74-84.

Plaza-Manzano, Gustavo et al. “Changes in biochemical markers of pain perception and stress response after spinal manipulation.” The Journal of orthopedic and sports physical therapy vol. 44,4 (2014): 231-9. doi:10.2519/jospt.2014.4996

Accident/Collisions are seeing a rise and along with those crashes are spinal injuries. What you need to know about:

• Accident-related injuries
• Treatment
• Recovery
• Legal issues

We take a risk, however small, every time we get in the car/truck, of being involved in a car wreck that results in injuries and specifically a spinal injury/s. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center has seen that motor vehicle accidents/collisions with the majority being car/truck accidents.

However, with all the construction taking place nowadays, excavators, bulldozers, steamrollers, forklifts, and other vehicles are also seeing a rise in accidents. This is also generating a rise in spinal cord injury/s. Auto accidents are now ranked as the number one cause of spinal injury. The risk of an accident is small and the risk of a resulting serious spine injury is smaller still, it’s not anything. What you need to know about a motor vehicle accident/collision includes:

• Injuries
• Treatment
• Recovery
• Insurance
• Legal issues

Common Motor Vehicle Accidents/Collisions

Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most typical injuries following an accident, especially when rear-ended or a rear-end collision. Its a neck injury that happens when the neck snaps suddenly back and forth causing trauma to the tissues in the neck. Symptoms often develop a few days after the accident including:

1. Limited neck movement
2. Stiffness and pain in the neck
3. Pain or tenderness in the upper back, shoulders, and arms
4. Numbness or tingling in the arms
5. Dizzyness
6. Headaches starting at the base of the skull
7. Problems with concentration or memory
8. Ringing in the ears
9. Sleep issues
10. Depression

Herniated Disc

The discs in the spine cushion the vertebrae by absorbing the weight, force, and overall impact of a regular day. They are made of a soft, gel-like substance in the center that behaves like the gel in foot orthotics, shoes, mattresses, etc made to feel soft and comfortable. It has a tough outer membrane.

A herniated disc happens when that soft gel springs a leak/s out from a tear, meaning the shock-absorbing cushion has been compromised and is not delivering the absorption it's supposed to and places added pressure on the surrounding nerve/s and roots. Herniations can happen naturally from age and from jobs that involve consistent and constant repetitive:

• Pushing
• Pulling
• Bending
• Twisting

Herniations also happen after going through some type of physical trauma like a motor vehicle accident/collision. Symptoms depend on where the herniation occurs and include:

• Muscle weakness around the affected nerve/s
• Sharp shooting pain that can spread out from the shoulders to the arms, legs and low back
• Tingling in arms or legs
• Numbness
• There could also be no symptoms and no discovery of a herniated disc until tested for something else.

Vertebral Fractures

The vertebrae are highly susceptible to fractures of all types and can appear at any spot along the spine. For many, the injuries are mild and heal with non-surgical treatment and time. Major trauma to the spine can cause severe injuries/conditions which include:

Burst fractures

This is where the vertebra fractures in multiple places into bony fragments that fall into the spinal cord getting lodged inside with the jagged edges of the bones creating tears, cuts, etc that can result in paralysis and even death.

Flexion fracture

This is an injury seen in head-on collisions where the upper part of the body gets thrown forward and the bottom part stays in place likely from the seatbelt. This tears the vertebra apart resulting in a flexion teardrop fracture.

Vertebral compression

These types cause the front of the vertebra to collapse while the back keeps its position that forms a wedge-like shape. However, more often it is associated with osteoporosis, healthy individuals can experience a vertebral compression fracture from a serious traumatic event like an auto accident. Fractures can cause mild to severe pain that is exacerbated with movement. If the spinal cord is injured the individual could experience:

• Tingling
• Numbness
• Weakness in the limbs
• Loss of bladder/bowel function

Because of the increased safety features in today's vehicles, fractures of the spine are rare except for severe motor vehicle accidents/collisions.

Diagnosis and treatment

A doctor will review medical history along with the accident information. Imaging tests will follow like:

• X-ray
• CT or computed tomography scan
• MRI or magnetic resonance imaging

The way these techniques of imaging are done depends on the accident and the state of the spine. Being brought into the hospital from a motor vehicle accident/collision with a suspected spinal injury means the imaging will be done first to rule out or not potentially life-threatening injury/s to the spine. Treatment for spinal injuries can range from:

• Soft collar
• Chiropractic
• Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications
• Corticosteroid injection/s
• Nerve blocks
• Physical therapy
• Surgery to correct certain injuries when all other forms of treatment are not working

Recovery

Every case, accident, and injury is different and depends on several factors, like age, health, and how severe the accident/collision was. Severe and extreme injures like a burst fracture can take a long time to heal.

Legal Issues

Individuals with a spinal injury can face thousands in medical bills. If there is medical equipment involved along with therapeutic services for long-term care, like physical therapy then bills will accumulate.

Also, a personal injury claim could be necessary to pay for everything, especially, if the accident/collision is no fault of your own. Compensation could help with:

• Loss of employment
• Employment benefits
• Wages lost
• Ability to work/earn income
• Medical expenses
• Pain
• Suffering
• Consult with a specialist when considering filing a personal injury claim

Work Compensation

If a spinal injury accident happens at work there could be worker's compensation. Workers’ compensation is insurance that replaces wages and medical benefits to workers that have been injured while doing their job. These are injuries that happened during the operation of a motor vehicle, like a truck, or forklift. 

The worker must file an injury report immediately so there is documentation supporting the injury claim. Waiting to file can make the employer question if there even was an injury. A workers’ compensation claim works differently than a personal injury claim, based primarily on what is covered under the job's insurance policies.

An example is the legal term pain and suffering. This is not covered by workers’ compensation. However, a work training accident would be covered by work comp in the event that the individual cannot return to their job/occupation after the injury. However, any injury/s after a motor vehicle accident/collision should never be taken lightly or ignored. Individuals must be proactive in their treatment after an accident/collision. This is to prevent and avoid further injury.

Auto Accident Doctors & Chiropractor Treatments

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Neck pain caused by a whiplash injury definitely warrants a visit to a chiropractic whiplash specialist that can provide non-surgical treatment and pain relief.

Whiplash is an injury to the neck muscles from a rapid forward and backward motion of the neck caused by trauma from a car accident, sports injury, slip and fall accident or even just turning one's head but doing it with a fast whipping motion that causes the neck/spine muscles to become swollen and irritated. It can cause acute short-term neck pain and restricted movement.

How a Whiplash Injury Is Diagnosed

A chiropractor evaluates the spine in its entirety. If you go to a chiropractic clinic with neck pain following trauma. The chiropractor will examine the whole spine because the other areas of the spine could be affected and not just the neck region.

The chiropractor locates the areas where motion is restricted if there are any disc injuries, muscle spasms, and ligament injuries. They will first apply motion and static palpation diagnostic techniques where they feel and touch the various areas where the pain is present, as well as where there is no pain. A chiropractor will also feel for:

• Tenderness
• Tightness
• How well the spinal joints move

They will also analyze the patient's walk noting their posture and if there is possible spinal misalignment. This will help the chiropractor understand the patient's body's mechanics and what their spine is doing to compensate for the injury. This can mean:

• Leaning to one side
• Getting up in a very careful way so as to avoid pain
• Hunching over
• Only turning in one direction

In addition to the evaluation, they will also order an x-ray or an MRI to evaluate any deteriorating changes that could have existed before the whiplash injury. The images and physical and neurological evaluation results are compared to figure out and develop the best treatment plan.

Whiplash Treatment Stages

After a whiplash injury happens a chiropractor works to reduce neck inflammation with various therapies like:

• Massage
• Ultrasound
• Light stretching
• Soft manual therapy techniques

They may also recommend applying an ice pack on the neck and light neck support for a short time. As the inflammation and pain decrease the chiropractor will begin applying gentle spinal manipulation along with other techniques to restore the normal motion to the neck's facet joints.

Chiropractic Whiplash Injury Treatment

A treatment plan depends on the severity of the whiplash injury. Some manipulation techniques used are:

• Flexion-distraction technique

This is a gentle non-thrusting type of spinal manipulation that helps treat herniated discs. A whiplash injury can cause an aggravated bulging or herniated disc. If this happens a chiropractor uses a slow palm pump action on the disc rather than direct thrusting force.

• Instrument-assisted manipulation

This technique also non-thrusting utilizes a hand-held instrument. A chiropractor generates force without thrusting directly into the spine. This therapy is great for older patients who may have degenerative joint syndrome.

• Specific spinal manipulation

Spinal joints that are restricted or have abnormal motion are identified. Then the chiropractor restores motion to the joint with a gentle thrust. This stretches the soft tissue and stimulates the nervous system to bring back normal motion.

Along with these spinal therapies/techniques, a chiropractor also uses manual therapy to treat the soft tissues like the ligaments and muscles. Some examples of manual techniques are:

1. Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy is where a chiropractor uses an instrument/s like the Graston technique, that gently treats any injured soft tissues. They will gently apply the instrument along the injured area with repeated strokes.
2. Manual joint stretching and resistance therapy is a form of manual therapy that uses the muscle's own energy to create isometric contractions that help relax the muscles, and help lengthen the muscles.
3. Therapeutic massage is where a chiropractor or physical therapist performs massage to ease and relax muscle tension in the neck.
4. Trigger point therapy identifies specific tight painful points/areas of muscle by applying direct pressure with the hands or fingers on these points to alleviate the muscle tension.
5. Interferential electrical stimulation This technique uses low-frequency electrical current to stimulate the muscles and reduce inflammation.
6. Ultrasound increases blood circulation and helps reduce muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. This happens by sending sound waves deep into the muscle's tissue which generates low heat and increases circulation.
7. Therapeutic exercises to restore normal spinal motion and reduce whiplash symptoms.

Chiropractic medicine looks at the whole person and not just the symptoms. Neck pain is different for everyone, so chiropractors don’t just focus on the pain because the whiplash injury could have affected other areas that the patient doesn't feel pain or anything.

But as the spine is a complex structure that works as a unit, a problem in one area can slowly or quickly start to create problems in other areas of the spine much like falling dominoes.

With these techniques, a chiropractor will help increase a patient's daily activities back to normal as quickly as they can, depending on the severity of the injury. They will work as hard as they can to address any added spinal or nerve-related causes/injuries stemming from the original whiplash injury and treat them as well until normal movement is restored and there is no longer pain.

Remember that prevention is the key to optimal long-term health!

Our team has taken great pride in bringing our families and injured patients only clinically proved treatment protocols.  By teaching complete holistic wellness as a lifestyle, we also change not only our patient’s lives but their families as well.  We do this so that we may reach as many El Pasoans who need us, no matter the affordability issues.

Chiropractic Neck Pain Treatment El Paso, TX.

Denise was unfortunately involved in an automobile accident that resulted in lower back pain. When she realized that she could not sit or sleep for lengthy periods of time without having debilitating symptoms, Denise discovered chiropractic care with Dr. Alex Jimenez at El Paso, TX. After she received therapy for her automobile accident injuries, Denise experienced relief from her symptoms and she managed to participate in her regular activities once more. As a result of the education and maintenance Dr. Alex Jimenez supplied, Denise recovered her initial health and overall wellness.

Lower Back Pain Chiropractor Treatment 

Back pain is one of the most common health issues today, with approximately nine out of ten adults undergoing it at any time in their lifetime, where about five working adults will develop it annually. Some quote that about 95 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. It is undoubtedly the typical cause of chronic pain, since it's also a substantial contributor of missed work and handicap. In the USA alone, severe cases of lower back pain would be the fifth most frequent reason for doctor visits and triggers 40 percent of missed days off work. What's more, according to statistics, back pain is the only top cause of disability worldwide. 

We are blessed to present to you El Paso’s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic.

Our services are specialized and focused on injuries and the complete recovery process. Our areas of practice include: Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Treatment, Sport Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Stress Management, and Complex Injuries.

As El Paso’s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center, we passionately are focused treating patients after frustrating injuries and chronic pain syndromes. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities.

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Chiropractor 79936: Truide Torres, office manager at Injury Medical Clinic, discusses several common questions regarding what type of insurance Dr. Alex Jimenez's chiropractic care office accepts, what is the process that the staff must go through when patients are involved in an automobile accident or a work accident. Finally, Truide Torres describes what is the best route to take if the patient's personal insurance is able to cover the damages and injuries to the individual. Truide Torres encourages patients to contact Dr. Alex Jimenez's chiropractic office to discuss any matter involving their insurance and she recommends Dr. Jimenez as the non-surgical choice for neck and back pain..

Chiropractor 79936 

It is important to comprehend the expenses involved in chiropractic care, exactly what your insurance policy covers, and also what your fiscal responsibilities may be. Insurance coverage for chiropractic care may depend on a variety of factors. Most plans cover the cost of chiropractic care for severe (short-term) conditions. But many patients frequently have a co-pay in the time of the visit. When longer-term care is required for conditions that are chronic, severe, or occur together with another health problem, make sure you talk to your insurance company to find out your benefits. Overall prices for patients receiving treatment for back pain have been reported lower for people who receive treatment from a chiropractor.

We are blessed to present to you El Paso’s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic.

Our services are specialized and focused on injuries and the complete recovery process. Our areas of practice include: Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sport Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Stress Management, and Complex Injuries.

As El Paso’s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center, we passionately are focused treating patients after frustrating injuries and chronic pain syndromes. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities.

If you have enjoyed this video and/or we have helped you in any way please feel free to subscribe and share us.

Thank You & God Bless.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, C.C.S.T

Facebook Clinical Page: https://www.facebook.com/dralexjimenez/

Facebook Sports Page: https://www.facebook.com/pushasrx/

Facebook Injuries Page: https://www.facebook.com/elpasochiropractor/

Facebook Neuropathy Page: https://www.facebook.com/ElPasoNeuropathyCenter/

Facebook Fitness Center Page: https://www.facebook.com/PUSHftinessathletictraining/

Yelp: El Paso Rehabilitation Center: http://goo.gl/pwY2n2

Yelp: El Paso Clinical Center: Treatment: https://goo.gl/r2QPuZ

Clinical Testimonies: https://www.dralexjimenez.com/category/testimonies/

Information:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralexjimenez

Clinical Site: https://www.dralexjimenez.com

Injury Site: https://personalinjurydoctorgroup.com

Sports Injury Site: https://chiropracticscientist.com

Back Injury Site: https://www.elpasobackclinic.com

Rehabilitation Center: https://www.pushasrx.com

Fitness & Nutrition: http://www.push4fitness.com/team/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dralexjimenez/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralexjimenez

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crossfitdoctor

A uto Accident Injuries: Alfonso J. Ramirez, retired, has been pursuing a life full of health and wellness. Before he began following this type of lifestyle, however, Mr. Ramirez was hit by a car and suffered many injuries. He was treated accordingly at the time but was then referred to Dr. Alex Jimenez for chiropractic care. Once he received his first spinal adjustment, Alfonso Ramirez experienced tremendous relief from his symptoms. Grateful for all the medical services he's been provided with, Mr. Ramirez expresses how Dr. Jimenez has helped restore his quality of life. Alfonso J. Ramirez recommends Dr. Alex Jimenez as the non-surgical choice for a variety of injuries and conditions.

Auto Accident Injuries Chiropractor 

Millions of people are injured in automobile accidents every year, and many of these incidents can unfortunately result in long-term injuries and disability. Even if you are not in immediate pain following a car crash, seeking prompt chiropractic care may help prevent years of chronic pain. Chiropractic care is among one of the most popular ways for treating auto accident injuries. Chiropractic adjustments correct misalignments in the spine and help restore normal function to the nervous system so that the body can heal naturally. A chiropractor can help cure auto accident injuries without drug use. Also, chiropractic care can help with recovery without surgery.

We are blessed to present to you El Paso’s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic.

Our services are specialized and focused on injuries and the complete recovery process. Our areas of practice include: Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sport Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Stress Management, and Complex Injuries.

As El Paso’s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center, we passionately are focused treating patients after frustrating injuries and chronic pain syndromes. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities.

If you have enjoyed this video and/or we have helped you in any way please feel free to  subscribe and  share us.

Thank You & God Bless.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, C.C.S.T

Facebook Clinical Page: https://www.facebook.com/dralexjimenez/

Facebook Sports Page: https://www.facebook.com/pushasrx/

Facebook Injuries Page: https://www.facebook.com/elpasochiropractor/

Facebook Neuropathy Page: https://www.facebook.com/ElPasoNeuropathyCenter/

Facebook Fitness Center Page: https://www.facebook.com/PUSHftinessathletictraining/

Yelp: El Paso Rehabilitation Center: http://goo.gl/pwY2n2

Yelp: El Paso Clinical Center: Treatment: https://goo.gl/r2QPuZ

Clinical Testimonies: https://www.dralexjimenez.com/category/testimonies/

Information:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralexjimenez

Clinical Site: https://www.dralexjimenez.com

Injury Site: https://personalinjurydoctorgroup.com

Sports Injury Site: https://chiropracticscientist.com

Back Injury Site: https://www.elpasobackclinic.com

Rehabilitation Center: https://www.pushasrx.com

Fitness & Nutrition: http://www.push4fitness.com/team/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dralexjimenez/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralexjimenez

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crossfitdoctor

Injury Medical Clinic: Physical Injury & Chiropractic

Approximately more than 3 million people are injured every year as a result of an automobile accident. The type and severity of the auto accident injuries can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the car crash. Soft tissue injuries affecting the neck and back, such as whiplash, are some of the most common types of injuries resulting from auto collisions. Head injuries can also occur as a result of the force of the impact. It's essential for the victim involved in the automobile accident to seek immediate medical attention for their injuries.

Please Recommend Us: If you have enjoyed this video and/or we have helped you in any way please feel free to recommend us. Thank You.

Recommend: Dr. Alex Jimenez – Chiropractor

Health Grades:   http://www.healthgrades.com/review/3SDJ4

Facebook Clinical Page:  https://www.facebook.com/dralexjimenez/reviews/

Facebook Sports Page: https://www.facebook.com/pushasrx/

Facebook Injuries Page: https://www.facebook.com/elpasochiropractor/

Facebook Neuropathy Page: https://www.facebook.com/ElPasoNeuropathyCenter/

Yelp:   http://goo.gl/pwY2n2

Clinical Testimonies: https://www.dralexjimenez.com/category/testimonies/

Information: Dr. Alex Jimenez – Chiropractor

Clinical Site: https://www.dralexjimenez.com

Injury Site: https://personalinjurydoctorgroup.com

Sports Injury Site: https://chiropracticscientist.com

Back Injury Site: https://www.elpasobackclinic.com

Linked In:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralexjimenez

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/dralexjimenez/

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/dralexjimenez

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crossfitdoctor

Recommend: PUSH-as-Rx ®™

Rehabilitation Center: https://www.pushasrx.com

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/PUSHftinessathletictraining/

PUSH-as-Rx:   http://www.push4fitness.com/team/

Mr. and Mrs. Dominguez share their wonderful story of health and recovery. After being injured in a car accident, Manuel Dominguez and his wife needed help healing their injuries.

That’s when they found Push-as-Rx ® and their path to recovery began. With the help of Dr. Jimenez, Mr. and Mrs. Dominguez started the therapies that changed their lives completely and together with the exercises given to them by the trainers at Push as Rx, little by little, they regained back their health. With great gratitude, Mr. and Mrs. Dominguez give their thanks for the magnificent service they received at Push-as-Rx ®.

El Sr. y la Sra. Dominguez nos dieron a conocer su maravillosa historia de salud y recuperacion. Despues de salir lastimados en una accidente de auto, Manuel Dominguez y su esposa necesitaban ayuda para curar sus lesiones. Ahi fue cuando encontraron la clinica de Push-as-Rx ® y empezaron su camino a la recuperacion. Con la ayuda del Dr. Jimenez, el Sr. y la Sra.

Dominguez comenzaron a recibir terapias que cambiaron sus vidas por completo y junto con los ejercicios de los entrenadores de Push as Rx, poco a poco fueron recuperando su salud. Con mucho agradecimiento, el Sr. y la Sra. Dominguez dan las gracias por el magnifico servicio que recibieron en la clinica Push-as-Rx ®.

PUSH-as-Rx ® is leading the field with laser focus supporting our youth sport programs. The PUSH-as-Rx ® System is a sport specific athletic program designed by a strength-agility coach and physiology doctor with a combined 40 years of experience working with extreme athletes. At its core, the program is the multidisciplinary study of reactive agility, body mechanics and extreme motion dynamics.

Through continuous and detailed assessments of the athletes in motion and while under direct supervised stress loads, a clear quantitative picture of body dynamics emerges. Exposure to the biomechanical vulnerabilities are presented to our team. Immediately, we adjust our methods for our athletes in order to optimize performance. This highly adaptive system with continual dynamic adjustments has helped many of our athletes come back faster, stronger, and ready post injury while safely minimizing recovery times.

Results demonstrate clear improved agility, speed, decreased reaction time with greatly improved postural-torque mechanics. PUSH-as-Rx ® offers specialized extreme performance enhancements to our athletes no matter the age.

Please Recommend Us: If you have enjoyed this video and/or we have helped you in any way please feel free to recommend us. Thank You.

Information: Dr. Alex Jimenez – Chiropractor: 915-850-0900
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralexjim…
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dralexjimenez/

Recommend: PUSH-as-Rx ® 915-203-8122
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crossfitelpa…
PUSH-as-Rx: http://www.push4fitness.com/team/

If you've been injured in an automobile accident, an already traumatic situation can quickly spiral into a nightmare.  When you're worried about you and your families injuries, finances and property damage, you don't have time to worry about whether or not you're being treated fairly or if you are getting the best possible legal solution. Call us now at

915-490-0063 and let the Martinez Law Firm ensure you and your family get the best possible legal solution and compensation for your injuries, time and missed work. www.mlfattorney.com

T-bone accidents/collisions, also known as side-impact or broadside collisions where the front end of one car slams into the side of another, can result in severe injuries and tend to have a more devastating effect on the body. Side impact collisions account for 24% of driver or passenger deaths; even at 30 mph, side-impacts regularly cause injuries to the occupants of the struck car. Modern vehicles have many safety features, including safety belt features, airbags, and collision avoidance systems that protect drivers and passengers from front and rear collisions; however, when it comes to side-impact, occupants tend to remain unprotected.

T-Bone Side Collision Causes

T-bone accidents usually happen at intersections. Usual Causes of T-bone accidents involve someone failing to yield the right of way. The most common causes include:

• A driver makes a risky left turn at an intersection, believing the other car/s will stop.
• A driver decides to run a red light crashing into a vehicle making a left turn.
• A driver runs through a stop sign, slams into a vehicle, or gets slammed.
• Distracted driving.
• Defective automotive equipment like faulty brakes.

Injuries

T-bone collision-related injuries include the head, neck, arms, shoulders, chest, ribs, abdominals, pelvis, legs, and feet:

• Abrasions
• Bruising
• Cuts
• Gashes
• Soft tissue strains
• Whiplash
• Nerve damage
• Dislocations
• Fractures
• Internal damage to the organs
• Concussions
• Brain trauma
• Partial or complete paralysis

Back injuries can damage the spinal cord causing herniated discs, sciatica, and chronic pain that can radiate to the rest of the body.

Treatment and Recovery

Individuals have different recovery times and depend on the severity of the injury and on any pre-existing conditions. Brain injuries and spinal issues can take months to recover fully. Fractures placed in a hard or soft cast to heal for weeks or months can lead to muscle atrophy. Chiropractic therapeutic massage and decompression strengthens muscle weakness, resets and realigns the spinal column,  improves range of motion/movement, strengthens grip, and relieves pain.

Neurosurgeon Explains DRX9000

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Gierczycka, Donata, and Duane Cronin. “Importance of impact boundary conditions and pre-crash arm position for the prediction of thoracic response to pendulum, side sled, and near side vehicle impacts.” Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering vol. 24,14 (2021): 1531-1544. doi:10.1080/10255842.2021.1900132

Hu, JunMei, et al. “Chronic widespread pain after motor vehicle collision typically occurs through immediate development and nonrecovery: results of an emergency department-based cohort study.” Pain vol. 157,2 (2016): 438-444. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000388

Lidbe, Abhay, et al. “Do NHTSA vehicle safety ratings affect side impact crash outcomes?.” Journal of safety research vol. 73 (2020): 1-7. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2020.02.001

Mikhail, J N. “Side impact motor vehicular crashes: patterns of injury.” International journal of trauma nursing vol. 1,3 (1995): 64-9. doi:10.1016/s1075-4210(05)80041-0

Shaw, Greg et al. “Side impact PMHS thoracic response with a large-volume airbag.” Traffic injury prevention vol. 15,1 (2014): 40-7. doi:10.1080/15389588.2013.792109

After an auto accident that might not have caused serious damage, individuals often believe that they're fine only to find out later that there is a serious injury. How do these hidden injuries happen?  It is because of the body's fight or flight response that it activates into high gear. It does whatever is necessary to get out of harm’s way. The result is that individuals might not realize/discover that they have been injured until after the dangerous circumstances have passed. Auto accident doctors and chiropractors are very familiar with these types of hidden injuries.

The injuries sustained from non-damage-causing auto accidents are often not visible. This can be internal injuries and joint and muscle misalignments that can often only be seen through extensive x-rays, MRIs, or detailed physical examination. However, a professional chiropractor can determine the root causes of an injury from a single consultation.

Hidden Injuries

Whiplash

Some injuries, like delayed whiplash, do not present immediately because it can take days for symptoms to develop. This is the most common injury caused by an auto accident. This is when the head snaps back and then forward rapidly/violently during a collision. The jolting back-and-forth motion causes muscle strain, sprain, which can stretch and/or tear the tendons and muscles in the neck. The injury can be worsened as the individual does not realize that they have this injury, and they turn, rotate, and crane their necks like normal. Symptoms include:

• A stiff/tight neck
• Dull neck pain
• Upper back pain
• Shoulder stiffness, aches, and pain

It is recommended to see a doctor or chiropractor as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.

Muscle, Tendon, and Ligament Injuries

Muscle, tendon, and/or ligament injuries can happen due to whiplash, but they can also happen in other parts of the body like the hands, elbows, knees, and ankles.

Contact Injuries Bruises and Swelling

Drivers and passengers can bruise and swell from contact with hard surfaces like the steering wheel, dashboard, and doors. Seat belts can also cause injury from quick/rapid braking or a crash.

Concussion

This is when the brain forcefully makes contact with the skull resulting in bruising/injury to the brain. It is recommended to see a doctor immediately if any of the following  are experienced after an auto accident:

• Dizziness
• Loss of balance/equilibrium when standing and walking
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty remembering things

Spinal Trauma

The spine can sustain separate injury/s or trauma as a result of an auto accident. This includes:

• Dislocation/s
• Fractures
• Compressed vertebrae
• Crushed vertebrae
• More symptoms can present after the shock wears off.
• This often reveals severe, debilitating injury/s that affect the nerves and muscle control of different organs and body parts.

Bio-Chiropractic Treatment and Rehabilitation

One of the most effective and recommended ways to relieve pain and properly heal hidden injuries is chiropractic treatment and rehabilitation. A professional chiropractor can prevent further injuries from developing while easing and alleviating current pain.

No Medication Necessary

More people are becoming addicted to prescription medications following accidents and other trauma. Chiropractic care treats the cause of pain without medications. This allows the body to heal naturally and for movement to come back naturally.

Reduces Long Term Pain

Many continue to deal with back, neck, and other chronic pain conditions after an accident. Chiropractic gets to the root of the problem. A chiropractor will recommend exercises and stretches to keep the body strong and flexible to help prevent pain. The therapy sessions manipulate the body and help naturally restore the body's total range of movement.

Reduces Scar Tissue

After the body goes through a trauma like an auto accident, muscles and ligaments can be stretched and torn. This can cause areas of internal scar tissue can develop. This can limit movement. Chiropractic helps reduce scar tissue by keeping the tissues loose and relaxed. This allows a normal range of movement.

Inflammation Alleviation

Auto injury/s can lead to long-term inflammation that can make life miserable. Chiropractors are trained to spot hidden micro-tears that x-rays are not able to scan. However, it is microscopic tears inside the muscles that are often the leading cause of inflammation. With physical manipulation, the body will be able to rerelease IL-6 substances naturally. This is a vital anti-inflammatory.

Healthy Body Composition

Personalized Functional Medicine

Personalized functional medicine is a new model of medicine that considers an individualized approach when making health recommendations. The body works as an integrated system, not as individual parts. This form of medicine combines new technology approaches, including recent gene expression and life and behavioral sciences discoveries. Personalized functional medicine looks at the subject of nutrigenomics. 

Nutrigenomics is defined as the relationship between nutrients and gene expression. Like identifying individual body composition, nutrigenomics testing can help individuals understand how dietary components influence their genes. This can help prevent the development of chronic diseases.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico* 

References

Calil, Ana Maria et al. “Mapping injuries in traffic accident victims: a literature review.” Revista latino-americana de enfermagem vol. 17,1 (2009): 120-5. doi:10.1590/s0104-11692009000100019

Dindi, Kuru et al. “Road traffic injuries: Epidemiology, challenges, and initiatives in India.” The National medical journal of India vol. 32,2 (2019): 113-117. doi:10.4103/0970-258X.275355

Minich, Deanna M, and Jeffrey S Bland. “Personalized lifestyle medicine: relevance for nutrition and lifestyle recommendations.” TheScientificWorldJournal vol. 2013 129841. 26 Jun. 2013, doi:10.1155/2013/129841

Palmnäs, Marie et al. “Perspective: Metabotyping-A Potential Personalized Nutrition Strategy for Precision Prevention of Cardiometabolic Diseases.” Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) vol. 11,3 (2020): 524-532. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz121

Sims, J K et al. “Automobile accident occupant injuries.” JACEP vol. 5,10 (1976): 796-808. doi:10.1016/s0361-1124(76)80313-9

After being involved in an auto accident, it could be weeks before the full effects of the trauma present. Visiting a chiropractor after an auto injury can help the body heal quicker and helps to prevent further injury. Benefits include:

• Inflammation is reduced
• It is non-Invasive
• It is highly effective for pain treatment
• Helps to lessen and avoid pain medications
• Treats whiplash effectively
• Reduces stress
• Promotes quicker healing and recovery time
• Reduces and prevents scar tissue

Especially for those that believe they are okay after an accident, it is highly recommended to get checked by a doctor of chiropractic just in case. This can help prevent more serious issues from developing.

Injury From An Accident

There could be a wide range of injuries that an individual can suffer after an accident. These include:

Soft and Hard Tissue Injuries

• Minor scrapes
• Bruising/Contusions
• Whiplash
• Neck/Back injuries
• Concussions
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Fractures
• Broken bones
• Internal Bleeding
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Burns

Chiropractic After Auto Injury

During an auto accident, the joints in various parts of the body are often jolted, shaken, and banged up. This damages the joints and the spine. Chiropractors specialize in treating these types of injuries. Chiropractic is a full-body approach that also includes inflammation alleviation and long-term injury therapy.

Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to trauma. But inflammation and swelling that doesn't go away can be detrimental to an individual's health. Chiropractic treats the underlying injury reducing swelling for the body to heal in an optimal fashion. Because inflammation causes pain, chiropractic addresses inflammation, and pain in different ways. These include:

• Heat and ice therapy
• Massage
• Physical rehabilitation
• Anti-inflammatory diet
• Ultrasound therapy
• Cold laser therapy

The quicker chiropractic treatment is put into effect after an auto injury, the faster an individual can get back to normal.

Effective Pain Treatment

The spine can experience intense trauma after a car accident. This can cause it to slip out of alignment leading to pain in the back muscles. Auto injuries that result in a bulging or herniated disc that is pressing on a nerve can generate pain that can spread out to the:

• Head
• Neck
• Shoulders
• Arms
• Abdomen
• Legs

Chiropractic adjusting will bring the spine back into alignment, and treat the cause of the pain. This helps prevent/avoid long-term issues and complications that go with surgery or medications.

Whiplash Treatment

Whiplash is a common injury after an auto accident. The pain can take days or weeks to present. Without treatment, long-term whiplash injuries can become a chronic condition. Whiplash is an injury to the muscles and ligaments of the neck. Common treatment options include:

• Massage
• Spinal manipulation
• Trigger Point exercises
• McKenzie exercises
• Stretching

Reduce Stress and Promote Healing

Even minor auto injuries can cause massive stress in one’s life. Dealing with the insurance, getting the car fixed, and dealing with the pain can take a serious toll. Chiropractic can help reduce stress through therapeutic massage which promotes optimal blood flow, which helps flush toxins and speeds up the healing of damaged and stressed muscles.

InBody

Snack Benefits

Fullness and Satisfaction

• Snacking can help to stay full between meals
• Feeling satisfied between meals helps to avoid excessive hunger and prevents overeating
• Certain types of snacks will help avoid hunger between meals

An example is almonds have more influence on satisfaction when eaten as a snack, instead of with a meal. And high-protein yogurt promotes healthy satisfaction more than chocolate or crackers.

Metabolism

Eating a high-protein diet has shown to increase the body's Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). This process uses a lot of energy, meaning the body burns more calories when eating a high-protein snack.

Body Composition

For those wanting to build muscle, a high-protein diet is recommended. This is because when exercising muscle is broken down. Protein from the diet has amino acids that repair and rebuild Skeletal Muscle Mass. High-protein snacks can help meet protein recommendations to build Skeletal Muscle Mass.

Post-Workout

A healthy snack is perfect for replenishing the body’s energy after a workout. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of energy, and protein helps repair the muscle fibers that were broken down. For top results, look for a snack that offers a balance of carbohydrates and protein.

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

References

National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. (2020) “Spinal Cord Injury: Facts and Figures at a Glance.” https://www.nspine injurysc.uab.edu/Public/Facts%20and%20Figures%202020.pdf

Kelsey L Corcoran, DC, Lori A Bastian, MD, Craig G Gunderson, MD, Catherine Steffens, Alexandria Brackett, MA, MLIS, Anthony J Lisi, DC, Association Between Chiropractic Use and Opioid Receipt Among Patients with Spinal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, Pain Medicine, Volume 21, Issue 2, February 2020, Pages e139–e145, https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnz219

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955315000582

A Burst Fracture

A burst fracture describes an injury to the spine where the vertebrae get compressed severely. These types of injuries occur from severe trauma, like an automobile accident or a serious fall, sports injury, work injury. These injuries entail a great deal of force into the spine, so much so that a vertebra can get crushed.

When crushed in the front of the spine, a wedge-shaped fracture occurs and is known as a compression fracture.

But if the vertebral body gets crushed in all directions this is known as a burst fracture.

The term burst means that the vertebral body spreads out in all directions.

Severe Injury

This is a much more severe injury than a compression fracture. With the bones crushed and possible rough jagged edges, if they spread out the spinal cord has a high probability of being injured. The fragments can bruise the spinal cord causing paralysis or partial neurologic injury. The spine becomes far less stable than from a compression fracture.

Nerve Injury

Neurologic injuries from a burst fracture can range from no injury to paralysis. This depends on the amount of force present at the time of the injury and how much the spinal canal is compromised.

• A greater amount of force equals more bony fragments that can be forced into the spinal canal and cause higher loss of spinal cord function.

This can cause loss of:

• Strength
• Sensation
• Reflexes below the injury

With an incomplete spinal cord injury, partial paralysis or partial reflex loss occurs.

With a mild burst fracture, only short-term symptoms could be present and no neurologic injury. 

Intense Pain

Burst fractures can cause intense pain and the pain is right where the trauma took place.

But pain can also present in the legs and feet depending on how the spinal nerves were affected, shifted or pinched. Patients complain of an electric tingling or shooting type sensation in their legs with spinal cord compression. With a burst fracture, individuals are unable to walk right after the trauma. But the pain percentage present is severe enough that they know not to try and walk.

Diagnosis

If at the sight of the accident the patient says that they have severe back pain should not be in a seated flexed position. They need to be kept lying flat and transported in a flat position.

If they stand or sit with a burst fracture, it can increase the possibility of a neurologic injury.

Burst fractures require immediate medical attention from an orthopedic or neurosurgeon. The patient is taken to an emergency room and x-rays, CT scans are gathered.

The diagnosis of a burst fracture is typically made with x-rays and a CT scan.

Sometimes, an MRI will be ordered to assess the amount of:

• Soft tissue trauma
• Bleeding
• Ligament injury

The CT scan and x-rays allow the doctor to determine the level of the fracture, and if it is a:

• Compression fracture
• Burst fracture
• Fracture-dislocation

This will determine how much the spinal canal has been compromised and if its angulation or angle has taken an abnormal bend or curve. These factors all contribute to the development of an optimal treatment plan.

The physical exam will document:

1. Spinal deformity and Angulation of the spine
2. Tenderness of the spine where the fracture is located
3. Neurologic exam

Neurologic exam should include testing:

• Muscle strength
• Sensation
• Reflexes of the lower extremities
• Testing of bowel and bladder control

Treatment & Recovery

A stable burst fracture can be treated without surgery.

A stable burst fracture falls into these parameters:

1. There is no neurologic injury
2. The angulation is less than 20 degrees
3. The amount of spinal canal compromise is less than 50%

With this type of treatment, a brace along with physical therapy/chiropractic can have excellent results.

A turtle or clamshell brace TLSO (Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis) is a body cast used in the treatment of a burst fracture.

The brace is worn for eight to twelve weeks for adequate and optimal healing.

There are times when a fracture thought stable and treated can start to angulate. This may require surgery. However, all burst fractures require some form of treatment.

Recovery

• Nonsurgical treatment patients stay in the hospital for one or two days while their brace is fit.
• X-rays are done in the standing position to make sure the spine stays stable.
• Pain medications are prescribed for three to four weeks
• Non-narcotic medications can begin after the final week

When the brace is removed, physical therapy and chiropractic are instituted to help return strength to the core and lower extremities.

Surgical patients will remain in the hospital for three to five days.

• They will be fitted with a brace after the incisions present less pain and are recovered from the surgery.
• They can walk within one or two days with the help of a physical therapist.
• X-rays are taken to follow the position of the spine and see how the healing is progressing.
• Chiropractic/Physical therapy is implemented to help with core strength and lower extremity strength.

Recovery time depends on the severity of the neurologic injury.

• Patients that don't have a neurologic injury can make a full recovery with return to most activities.
• Patients with partial neurological injuries can also expect to fully recover.
• Unfortunately, with permanent neurologic injury, recovery can be limited.

But treatment for burst fractures today is superior to what they were years ago, especially with spine specialists and specific spinal procedures.

Chiropractic Rehab

Chiropractic is not a treatment for fractures but is a treatment for subluxations and rehabilitation with these types of fractures. Once a fracture has stabilized and healed properly, a chiropractic evaluation can rule out any lingering subluxation, herniation, and joint restriction. The adjustments are safe and effective in establishing optimal function to a subluxated joint.

Chiropractic Treatment For Auto Accident Injuries El Paso, Texas

We focus on what works for you. We also strive to create fitness and better the body through researched methods and total wellness programs. These programs are natural and use the body’s own ability to achieve goals of improvement.

Physical therapists or PT's are healthcare professionals that help treat/rehabilitate patients of all ages with various types of injuries.

• Personal
• Work
• Sports
• Auto Accidents

A primary care physician, physiatrist, orthopaedist, spine surgeon, or neurosurgeon may refer an individual to a physical therapist as part of a non-surgical treatment plan.

A physical therapy program may be an integral part of your after-care following surgery.

PTs practice in various settings like:

• Chiropractic clinics
• Outpatient clinics
• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation centers
• Gym/Fitness centers
• Nursing homes
• Wellness Centers 

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy aims to:

• Improve/maintain functional ability
• Build physical strength/endurance
• Increase flexibility
• Reduce pain
• Prevent further injury

Therapists teach patients how to:

• Exercise safely
• Improve physical fitness
• Move safely
• Biomechanics
• Ergonomics
• Injury prevention

Physical therapists also help patients with physical disabilities like spinal cord injury.

It includes active and passive treatments the therapist administers to the patient.

Treatments include:

• Ultrasound
• Massage
• Myofascial release
• Ice
• Heat

Some treatments are done prior to active therapeutic exercise. 

Conditions therapists treat

• Sciatica
• Whiplash
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spondylosis (spinal arthritis)
• Post spine surgery therapy

Therapists want to help patients rebuild strength, flexibility, and endurance after any type of intense surgery, as well as help with any specific physical necessities related to post-surgery.

Team Care

Therapists often work directly for or with a doctor/chiropractor to coordinate a treatment plan.

A doctor may send the therapist:

• Diagnosis
• Current medications
• Imaging/scan results

During the consultation, the physical therapist talks about medical history, diagnosis, and symptoms.

This can include:

• Conditions
• Medications being taken
• Diet
• Supplements

Type of Pain like:

• Acute
• Chronic
• Episodic

The location of the pain that will also include:

• Severity
• Type
• Factors that decrease or increase pain

Training

Physical therapists have completed an accredited physical therapy program and passed a required state licensing examination.

In the United States, physical therapy programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

The program includes:

1. Academic learning
2. Medical ethics
3. Evidence-based medicine
4. Clinical application

Therapists graduate with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.

The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties through a series of classes/tests therapists can become board-certified specialists in specific areas like:

• Orthopedics
• Pediatrics
• Geriatrics
• Sports

These are just a few, but there are many areas of specialization.

Physical Therapist

Many states allow individuals to go to a physical therapist without a referral from a doctor.

Definitely ask your doctor for a recommendation, but also think about what you want in a therapist.

Things to consider:

• Physical therapist’s education/training background
• Do they treat my condition regularly
• Will my insurance cover the therapy
• How many sessions will I need
•  Will, there be a customized home treatment plan
• Male or female physical therapist, which is right for you 

Take Charge

Physical therapists are valuable healthcare professionals and members of the medical community. 

Physical therapy can be challenging but don't let that get you down, because they will help get you back to optimal health, along with building a stronger, healthier body.

Whiplash Chiropractic Massage Therapy El Paso, TX.

Physical therapist Sandra Rubio describes how whiplash-associated disorders resulting from an automobile accident can cause symptoms of neck pain.

An injury to the cervical spine can damage the complex structures of the neck, including:

• Vertebrae
• Intervertebral discs
• Soft tissues
• Tendons
• Ligaments
• Muscles

Neck pain can come from various structures in the neck including vascular, nerve, airway, digestive, and musculature or it can originate from other areas of the human body.

Most cases can be treated with assistance or using self-help suggestions and techniques.

Shane Scott was involved in an automobile accident when he heard about Dr. Alex Jimenez, chiropractor, from a friend. After experiencing headache, neck and low back pain, several days after the incident, Shane Scott's quality of life, especially as a new father, was tremendously affected. Thankfully, treatment with Dr. Alex Jimenez has helped Shane Scott return to his regular daily activities. Shane Scott highly recommends Dr. Alex Jimenez as the non-surgical choice for neck pain treatment, encouraging many others to visit him.

Chiropractic Neck Pain Treatment El Paso, TX 

Neck pain (or cervicalgia) is a frequent problem, where two-thirds of the populace will experience neck pain some time in their lives. Neck pain can be brought on by numerous other spinal issues. Neck pain may arise due to muscle tightness in either the neck and upper spine, or pinching of the nerves emanating from the cervical vertebrae. Joint disturbance in the neck generates pain, as does joint disruption in the top back. The head is supported by the lower neck and upper spine, and it is these places that commonly cause neck pain. 

We are blessed to present to you El Paso’s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic.

Our services are specialized and focused on injuries and the complete recovery process. Our areas of practice include: Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sport Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Stress Management, and Complex Injuries.

As El Paso’s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center, we passionately are focused treating patients after frustrating injuries and chronic pain syndromes. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities.

If you have enjoyed this video and/or we have helped you in any way please feel free to subscribe and share us.

Thank You & God Bless.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, C.C.S.T

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Auto Accidents: Mr. and Mrs. Dominguez were involved in an automobile accident which left them with pain and discomfort. In their search to find relief from their symptoms, Manuel Dominguez and his wife found chiropractic care with Dr. Alex Jimenez. The couple expresses how much their lives have changed since receiving chiropractic care and rehabilitation at Push. Mr. and Mrs. Dominguez are happy and grateful for the help they've received for their automobile accident injuries and they highly recommend and invite others to seek chiropractic care.

Chiropractic Care For Auto Accidents 

Chiropractic care helps the body recover optimal spinal alignment, which is often lost during traumatic episodes like automobile accidents. Throughout treatment, chiropractors frequently use a method called spinal manipulation or adjustment. This system entails the use of controlled power to re-align vertebrae and stop them from putting painful pressure on spinal nerves. The exact routine of physical therapy will be different depending upon the individual and type of injury sustained. Treatment may include hands-on stretching or strengthening exercises, ice and/or heat, or other techniques.

We are blessed to present to you El Paso’s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic.

Our services are specialized and focused on injuries and the complete recovery process. Our areas of practice include: Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sport Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Stress Management, and Complex Injuries.

As El Paso’s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center, we passionately are focused treating patients after frustrating injuries and chronic pain syndromes. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities.

If you have enjoyed this video and/or we have helped you in any way please feel free to subscribe and share us.

Thank You & God Bless.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, C.C.S.T

Facebook Clinical Page: https://www.facebook.com/dralexjimenez/

Facebook Sports Page: https://www.facebook.com/pushasrx/

Facebook Injuries Page: https://www.facebook.com/elpasochiropractor/

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Clinical Testimonies: https://www.dralexjimenez.com/category/testimonies/

Information:

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Clinical Site: https://www.dralexjimenez.com

Injury Site: https://personalinjurydoctorgroup.com

Sports Injury Site: https://chiropracticscientist.com

Back Injury Site: https://www.elpasobackclinic.com

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Injury Medical Clinic: Accident Treatment

Back Pain Management: Denise was involved in an auto accident which resulted in low back pain. When she realized she couldn't sit, walk or sleep for extended periods of time without experiencing painful symptoms, Denise found chiropractic care with Dr. Alex Jimenez in El Paso, TX. Once she received treatment for her auto accident injuries, Denise experienced relief from her symptoms and she was able to perform her everyday activities once again. Thanks to the education and care Dr. Alex Jimenez provided, Denise regained her original health and wellness.

Auto Accident Back Pain Management

Back pain is common, with roughly nine out of ten adults experiencing it at some time in their life, and five from ten working adults developing it every year. Some estimate around 95 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some time in their lifetime. It's by far the usual cause of chronic pain, as it is also a significant contributor of missed work and disability. In the United States alone, acute cases of lower back pain are the fifth most common reason for physician visits and causes 40 percent of missed days off work. Furthermore, it is the only leading cause of disability globally. Back pain management is possible through chiropractic treatment. For Answers to any questions you may have please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900

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Information: Dr. Alex Jimenez – Chiropractor

Clinical Site: https://www.dralexjimenez.com

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Whiplash Injuries Explained: Whiplash Associated Disorders

• Approximately 15 to 40% of those injured in automobile accidents will struggle with chronic pain for the rest of their life. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 2007
• Whiplash injuries not only increase your chances of chronic neck and shoulder pain, they also increase the probability of other seemingly unrelated health problems. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2001
• Chronic Pain does bad things to people. According to standardized assessment tests, 100% of those struggling with chronic pain caused by whiplash injuries have abnormal psychological profiles. The only way to resolve these abnormal psychological profiles is to relieve / remove the chronic back pain, neck pain and headaches. Counseling / Psychiatry has not been shown to improve the pain nor the psychological profiles of people suffering from the effects of their automobile accident. Pain, 1997
• The longest-running study ever done on whiplash patients looked at the overall health of whiplash patients almost twenty years after their automobile accident. Nearly two decades after their accident, 55% of those patients still deal with chronic pain. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2002
• Unless you have a fracture or specific ligament tear, Cervical Collars are no longer recommended for treating patients with whiplash injuries. When cervical collars are used as a whiplash injury treatment, there is a 90% probability that you will still have chronic neck pain in six months. Spine, 2000
• One in one hundred people around the world (1% of the population, or just over 70 million people) suffer from ongoing chronic neck pain due to an automobile-induced whiplash injury. Injury, 2005
• One in fifty people injured in Whiplash-like accident deal with chronic pain severe enough to need diagnostic testing, medications, and doctor visits, on an ongoing basis ----- nearly eight years after the accident occured. Pain, 1994

"Statistically, every American can expect to be in a motor vehicle collision once every ten years. Motor vehicle collisions have been the number one cause of death of our children for decades. Since 9/11 (September 11, 2001), about 3,000 Americans have died as a consequence of terrorism; about 360,000 Americans have died in motor vehicle crashes. Since the start of the American Revolution in 1775, about a million Americans have died in our wars. Since Henry Ford introduced the mass-produced motorcar in 1913, more than 2.5 million Americans have met their deaths on the road. And millions of Americans who did not die from motor vehicle collisions were injured." Orthopedist and one of the world's foremost experts on whiplash, Dr. Dan Murphy. There are 3,000,000 new cases of whiplash in the US every year.

Whiplash Injuries Explained

The word “whiplash” is a layperson’s term ---- and although it is typically associated with Car Crashes, crashes are certainly not the only way to get a whiplash injury. Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) are typically referred to in the medico-legal literature as “Acceleration / Deceleration” injuries, or "Hyperflexion / Hyperextension" injuries. And, as many of you have come to understand the hard way, they can be incredibly violent — even in seemingly minor accidents that had surprisingly little vehicular damage. With over three million new cases of Acceleration / Deceleration injuries occurring each year, and over 50% of those progressing to at least some degree of unresolved or “chronic” symptoms, it is clear that Whiplash Associated Disorders are taking a massive toll on our country financially, physically, and emotionally.

When people think of “whiplash” they tend to think of motor vehicle accidents (MVA’s). Although MVA is probably the single most common cause of the symptoms most frequently associated with and experienced by those suffering with Whiplash Associated Disorders (neck pain, upper back pain, shoulder pain, fuzzy thinking, numbness, tingling and / or weakness of the hands, dizziness, etc), whiplash can occur in about a thousand and one different ways. And while there are certain symptoms that we see over and over and over in our clinic (neck pain and headaches, for instance), whiplash can seemingly cause about a thousand and one different symptoms as well. Some of the most common causes of WAD that I see in my office include sports injuries, work injuries (think logging here), spousal abuse, fights, horse accidents (falls), and almost anything else that has the capacity to “snap” your head suddenly and violently.

Although the most common problems associated with Whiplash Associated Disorders are related to the neck (neck pain, numb hands, headaches), scientific research shows that Acceleration / Deceleration injuries routinely cause all sorts of other injuries as well. For instance, I commonly see people whose low back pain started with an MVA. I even see people whose FIBROMYALGIA was brought on by the emotional and physical stress of an MVA! One of the most shocking conclusions concerning Whiplash Associated Disorders, was written by a pair of the most well known whiplash researchers on the planet — medical researchers, not chiropractic researchers. Drs. Gargan & Bannister stated in a study that was done in the 1990′s, that whiplash-like injuries frequently result in a whole host of, “bizarre and seemingly unrelated symptoms“. Although there are plenty of malingerers, fakers, scam artists, money-grubbers, and drug seekers out there; far too many people are lumped into these categories simply because their problems do not show up on traditional medical tests such as MRI / CT.

Even though there are literally scores of scientific studies concluding that Whiplash Associated Disorders are difficult (often to the point of being impossible) to image on x-rays, CT's, or MRI’s, these are still the chief method the medical community is using to determine whether or not you were injured, and just how serious this injury might be. The problem is, if the vast majority of soft-tissue injuries (injuries to LIGAMENTS, TENDONS, MUSCLES, FASCIA, etc) do not image well with advanced imaging techniques, and imaging is the medical community’s chief method of diagnosis; unless you have a herniated disc, you will invariably be treated like nothing is really wrong with you — like you are a scam artist trying to extort a huge settlement from an insurance company. Stop and think for a moment about how problematic that fascia, arguably the single most pain-sensitive tissue in your entire body, will not show up on any tests ---- including MRI.

When you are taken the the ER, you will have some tests run and the doctor will look at you and say, “Thank God Mrs. Smith. Nothing is broken! Now, go home and rest, and call your family doctor tomorrow. In the mean time, wear this collar, and take these Anti-Inflammatory Medications, pain pills, and muscle relaxers. Oh, and don’t forget to use a heat pack as well.“ Is this good advice? Sure it is — if you own a medical clinic! Follow this advice and you are certain to become a lifetime ARTHRITIC! The truth is, when it comes to the evaluation and treatment of injuries to fascia and other elastic, collagen-based connective tissues, all of our hi-tech equipment with its bells and whistles is simply not helping diagnose or help most injured people. You are reading a page on whiplash ---- my guess is that you completely understand this concept because you have been there, and done that! The Old Model of tissue injury evaluation and treatment went out the door about 25 years ago. It just seems like no one has remembered to tell treating physicians about the NEW MODEL.

Brain Based Injury

Your short drive to work was no different than any other day ---- until you began slowing down for the school bus stopping in front of you. Just as you're coming to a complete stop, BAM; your world explodes as someone plows into your car from behind, knocking you into the bus. Turns out the kid driving the full-sized crew cab pickup truck that hit you was texting, and never even hit his brakes. You're having a hard time remembering exactly what happened. You remember a flash of light and your head being slammed backwards over the top of your headrest. You vaguely recall that your head rocketed forward as you hit the bus -- almost hitting the windshield. You step out of your 1997 Toyota Camry to take stock of the situation. There is no blood or guts. In fact, you don't even have a bruise to show for your trouble. But by the time the State Troopers arrive to work the accident, you not only have a neck pain unlike anything you have ever felt before, you have a banging headache as well. You're having trouble putting the pieces in order for them. They ask if you need an ambulance, but you do not want to go to the Emergency Room. But a few weeks later, you're still having trouble with your memory. Work is not going well because on top of the pain and exhaustion (yeah, since the accident you can't sleep either), everything seems fuzzy, foggy, and hazy. Who would have thought that whiplash could cause these sorts of symptoms ----- particularly without any overt / obvious injuries?

Whiplash Injuries are particularly dangerous because they are a common cause of MTBI (Mild Traumatic Brain Injury). MTBI results from the brain bouncing off the inside of the skull during the hyperextension / hyperflexion of the neck. As you can imagine, this damages / destroys nerve cells. Depending on which part of the brain is injured, a person might have problems in some of the following areas...

• Walking / Moving
• Balance
• Coordination
• Strength / Endurance
• Ability to Communicate
• Ability to Understand
• Ability to Think
• Memory
• Strange or Unexplainable Pain Patterns or Symptoms (these are some of the "bizarre and seemingly unrelated symptoms" talked about by whiplash researchers Gargan and Bannister.)
• Altered Psychological Profiles

Because these symptoms are often subtle, not very specific, and do not show up on standard medical tests such as x-rays or MRI's, it’s common for patients with MTBI not to complain about them --- at least initially. For many people it can be embarrassing "complaining" to the chiropractor or doctor about these vague and difficult-to-describe symptoms that have no external findings to relate them to (bruising, abrasions, broken bones, etc). Believe it or not, many patients are relieved to find out that there is a physiological reason that they feel the way they do, and that it is not "all in their head". The good news is that with the correct kind of care, most of the patients who are struggling with these injuries will recover within a year's time. But unfortunately, not all do. It is for this group of people that the term MTBI or "Post Concussive Syndrome" is used.

Factors That Worsen Whiplash Injury

The “old” model of whiplash said that WAD was simply caused by stretched or torn tissue, which was solely the result of the head flying around upon impact. That model simply did not explain the injuries being reported in low-speed collisions (15 mph and under). The most current whiplash models shows that a wave is “shot” through the spine upon impact ---- quite similar to the wave you create to move the garden hose a couple of feet to the left. This wave, which occurs in a fraction of a second, can tear both connective tissue and nerve tissue microscopically. It also momentarily induces a tremendous amount of pressure in the smallest blood vessels (capillaries) which is known as “blood hammer”. Blood Hammer, FASCIAL TEARING, and subsequent Neurological Damage, helps to explain some of these "bizarre and seemingly unrelated symptoms" that are almost epidemic in those who have suffered whiplash injuries due to MVA's.

What Can Make Whiplash Injury Worse?

FACTORS THAT POTENTIALLY INCREASE WHIPLASH SEVERITY

• Unaware of approaching impact
• Being Female (less muscle mass)
• Incorrectly positioned headrest (too low)
• Wet, Icy, or Slick roads (or gravel)
• Automatic Transmission
• Your vehicle is small and light or struck by a larger vehicle
• Elderly or arthritic spine (or history of previous whiplash injury)
• Head turned at impact
• Angled or side-impact accidents (rear-enders are particularly bad)

FACTORS THAT POTENTIALLY DECREASE WHIPLASH SEVERITY

• Aware of approaching impact
• Being Male (more muscle mass)
• Headrest positioned at mid-ear
• Dry Pavement
• Manual Transmission
• Your vehicle is large, heavy, or struck by a much smaller vehicle
• Younger or more flexible and healthy spine (no previous injury)
• Head facing forward at impact
• Straight impacts

Relationship: Severity Of Injury & Amount Of Vehicle Damage

"Different parts of the human body have different inertial masses. The mechanism of injury from a rear-end motor vehicle collision, is, as a rule, an inertial injury. This means the injury does not occur as a consequence of direct contact of vehicle parts to the patient’s body; rather, injury occurs as a consequence of different inertial masses moving independently from one another." Dr. Daniel Murphy, Board Certified Orthopedist and Leading Expert in Whiplash Diagnosis and Treatment

In 1687, famed astronomer / mathematician / physicist / philosopher / and theologian, Sir Issac Newton, wrote his still-renowned Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathmatica (now referred to as Principia or simply "Principles"), that is still considered to be the greatest scientific textbook in human history.

In Principia, Newton laid out his three Laws of Motion. These laws are able to explain whiplash and the subsequent injury that follows better than anything else I have seen thus far. For understanding whiplash injuries and their relationship to vehicle damage, Newton's first law is the most important ---- The Law of Inertia. Channel your 8th grade science class and stay with me here as we take a brief science / physics review. Newton's First Law: Objects at rest remain at rest unless they are acted on by an outside force. Likewise, objects in motion stay in motion unless they are acted on by an outside force. And remember this; Like Dr. Murphy described above, whiplash injuries occur because different parts of your body can and will have different inertias --- sometimes very different inertias.

Let's say that you are sitting at a stoplight and minding your own business. You're humming along to Manfred Mann's Blinded by the Light, when all of a sudden ---- BAM! You are slammed from behind and launched across the intersection like you were shot from a cannon! You are not sure what happened, but you feel like you just got knocked into next week. PHYSICS LESSON: When your vehicle was struck from behind, it shot forward. Much of this had to do with the fact that you were driving a 1992 Toyota Corolla, and the kid that hit you (he was texting of course) was headed to the sale barn for his dad, driving a F-350 Supercab, and pulling a stock trailer loaded with eight steers. When he hit you, there was a huge instantaneous change in momentum. In a fraction of a second, your Corolla was accelerated from zero to over 50 mph. Let's look at this event in frame-by-frame fashion.

As the Corolla shot forward, so did your torso that was sitting in the seat. Follow me, because here is the precise point where whiplash occurs. As your body was accelerated forward, your head (at least in the initial milliseconds) did not move. The head is much smaller (and lighter) than your torso, and attached by a thin column of muscles, tissues, and tiny vertebrate we call the neck or Cervical Spine. Because of the weight difference between the head and the body, as well as the fact that the connector between them (the neck) is stretchy and relatively thin; the head has a completely different inertia than the body. This was magnified by the fact that the seat back kept your torso from moving very far backwards, but did nothing to stop your neck --- and unfortunately, your head restraint was not adjusted to the proper height. In other words, your body was essentially driven out from under your head; then a fraction of a second later, your head not only caught up with your body, it actually accelerated to a greater velocity than your body, and overshot it as your head slammed forward.

Let's review: As the vehicle, the seat, and your body rocketed forward with the explosive energy and momentum shift from the impact, your head remained stationary for a split second. Your body was essentially driven out from under your head, making it appear that your head slammed backwards. As your head's momentum began catch up to that of your body, the tissues in your neck began to stretch and deform. Unfortunately, when the force of the accident is greater than the forces holding your tissues together, these tissues begin to tear ---- at least on a microscopic basis (remember, most of the time this tearing and SCAR TISSUE will not show up on an MRI). The result was a whiplash injury ---- an inertial injury to the SPINAL LIGAMENTS, SPINAL DISCS, FASCIA, TENDONS, and other soft tissues of the neck and upper back. In fact, there are studies showing that even though they are too small to be effectively imaged with current MRI technology, there are often (usually) microscopic fractures of the FACET JOINTS present with intense whiplash injuries. Frequently, there is also sub-clinical brain injury as well.

Interestingly enough, one of the things that make muscles contract with greater intensity is to maximally stretch them (think of the windup and cocked arm of a baseball pitcher here). When the neck is stretched to such a great degree, it's muscles contract to an equally intense degree. When coupled with the acceleration and subsequent deceleration of the vehicle, this causes the neck to slam forward causing still more tissue tearing in the neck and upper back. And the most important thing to grasp is that your neck and head never hit anything throughout the entire process. The injury to the neck itself (which happened in a matter of milliseconds) occurred because of a huge momentary shift in momentum, energy, and inertia between your body and your head ---- just like what you see in Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Although you are slightly dazed, you get out of your Corolla and begin to appraise the situation. You look at your limbs. They look intact. You can move. You are breathing. There's no blood. Nothing looks bruised or feels broken. In fact, you do not have as much as a scratch on you. You do not want to go to the Emergency Room, but the State Trooper working the accident talks you in to it. You have several spinal x-rays and a CT of your neck. Everything is negative. The ER doctor comes in, pokes you, prods you a couple times, and has you move a bit. He then delivers a short monologue --- one he has delivered hundreds of times previously, "Wow Mr. Jones. Sounds like you were born under a lucky star. Thank God nothing is broken. Neurologically you check out fine. You'll be sore, but just go see your family doctor tomorrow. You'll get some PAIN PILLS, NSAIDS, CORTICOSTEROIDS, and MUSCLE RELAXERS. Don't worry. You'll be just fine."

But that's just it. You saw your doctor, and as the weeks go by, you're not fine. Far from it. You are in pain, and it's getting worse. But you have nothing to show for it. Like I said, there were no broken bones and no bruises. Heck, there was not even a cut or scratch. There is nothing that would alert anyone (let alone a doctor who is not up on the most current research) that you are in pain ---- and that it's getting worse. And on top of that, the damage to the rear end of your Corolla looked surprisingly light compared to how hard you were hit and the way that you feel (for Pete's sake, the car is actually drivable). The other fellow's insurance company paid you $2,000 for your Toyota, which was over double the Kelly Blue Book value. They took care of the ambulance ride and Emergency Room visit, and even offered you $1,500 for pain and suffering. You hired an attorney, but he acts like he does not really believe how much you hurt either. What's going on here?

Almost half a century ago (1964), the prestigious medical journal, American Journal of Orthopedics revealed a still well-concealed fact --- that there is no relationship (none, nada, zilch, zero) between the damage done to the vehicle and the amount of injury to the vehicle's occupants. Since that time, the medical and scientific communities have proved this fact over and over and over again via research. It is a fact that I have heard verified over and over and over again by the Law Enforcement Officers and Paramedics that I adjust on a regular basis. Although most of the time, Insurance Companies and the Attorneys that represent them would have you believe just the opposite (there was not enough vehicle damage to have an injury), it's just not true. Decades worth of scientific studies tell us that the severity of the vehicle damage cannot predict....

• If patients will suffer whiplash injuries.
• How severe those injuries might be.
• How long it will take to effectively treat / heal the injury --- or whether they will ever really heal at all.
• Whether or not the injured party will end up with Chronic Pain and / or Arthritis as a direct result of the accident.

Dozens upon dozens of studies on Motor Vehicle Accidents have shown that vehicles that do not crumple upon impact will be accelerated with a far greater force and momentum. The faster that your vehicle is accelerated upon impact, the greater the inertial stresses to the neck and upper back. This is why today's vehicles are made with "crumple zones". You are much better off if the force of impact is absorbed by vehicular deformation, than by deformation of your body, particularly the soft tissues and discs of your neck. The larger the inertial stresses to the neck and upper back, the greater the damage to the soft tissues of the cervical spine / neck.

So, it stands to reason that harder impacts and greater amounts of vehicle damage lead to greater amounts of bodily injury. Not only is this not true, but most of the medical research on whiplash injuries today is being done on the effects of low speed impacts (those under 15 mph). Here are a few of the Scientific / Medical / Legal profession's journals saying that there is no relationship between the amount of vehicular damage and the amount of injury to the vehicle's occupants.

• The Spine, 1982
• Orthopedic Clinics of North America, 1988
• Society of Automotive Engineers, 1990
• Injury, 1993
• Trial Talk, 1993
• Injury, 1994
• American Journal of Pain Management, 1994
• Society of Automotive Engineers, 1995
• Society of Automotive Engineers, 1997
• Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 1998
• Journal Of Whiplash & Related Disorders, 2002
• Spine, 2004
• Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 2005
• Spine, 2005
• Whiplash Injuries, 2006

One of the problems, however, with whiplash injuries is that they frequently end up causing DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS. This has to do with the fact that these inertial injuries damage tissues in ways that cannot be imaged using even the most advanced technologies. Because most doctors are not up on current whiplash research, and feel you are looking for a big settlement, they frequently treat you like a malingerer (faker). However, these injuries cause the microscopic fibrosis that causes abnormal joint motion over time. This leads to arthritis so frequently, that I can often predict with a great deal of accuracy when a person's injury occurred --- just by looking at a current x-ray of their neck.

Arthritis After An Automobile Accident

• X-rays taken an average of seven years after a whiplash injury revealed that arthritis in the neck's spinal discs in almost 40% of the patients. The study's uninjured group showed only a 6% rate of arthritis. What did the authors conclude? “Thus, it appeared that the injury had started the slow process of disc degeneration.” The Cervical Spine Research Society, 1989
• Whiplash patients who already had degenerative arthritis of their cervical spine (neck), showed evidence of degenerative arthritis at previously non-arthritic discs and vertebrates in 55% of cases. The Cervical Spine Research Society, 1989
• Compared to the necks of uninjured patients, a single incidence of whiplash increases the occurance of neck arthritis by 10 years. The Journal of Orthopedic Medicine, 1997
• Pre-exisiting arthritis of the neck / Cervical Spine, greatly worsens the effects of a whiplash injury. Numerous studies show how this slows recovery times and increases the probability of ending up with Chronic Pain and even more arthritis than you started with. British Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 1983; The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 1987; Orthopedic Clinics of North America, 1988; Spine, 1994; British Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 1996
• A great example of Inertia Injuries involves the sport of soccer. Soccer players who regularly "head" soccer balls, speed up degenerative arthritis of the neck by as much as twenty years. European Spine Journal, 2004 This is not new information, however. I wrote a newspaper column on the subject clear back in 1993. We saw that professional soccer players had double the amount of neck arthritis as their non-soccer playing peer group.

Whiplash Disorders: Difficult To Diagnose Despite Advanced Imaging

WAD is difficult to properly diagnose or evaluate using standard medical tests. X-rays do not ever show soft connective tissues, and dozens of studies show that MRIs, contrary to popular belief, do a poor job of imaging injured soft tissues --- ESPECIALLY FASCIA. This is why you might feel like you are “dying”, but all of the tests are negative. People go through this experience over and over. They are then sent home from the E.R. or doctor’s office with pain killers, muscle-relaxers, and anti-inflammation drugs which can actually cause injured tissue to heal approximately 1/3 weaker and less elastic than it otherwise would, and told that in time it will heal. Just like a broken arm that is cocked off at a funny angle but never set or put in a cast; it will heal….. It just won’t heal the right way or with the proper amount of joint function / motion.

So just how should a problem like this be addressed? The key to a functional recovery is controlled motion. CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, specific stretches, and strengthening exercises are the number one way to accomplish this! Because FASCIAL ADHESIONS are usually part of the whiplash equation, you will probably need to undergo some form of Tissue Remodeling as well. Restoring movement, function, and strength (both to individual joints or vertebrate, and to the spine or limb as a whole) is the only proven method that is effective in truly reducing the symptoms of whiplash. Contrary to popular belief, using drugs to simply cover symptoms, is never a good option.

If the only treatment you receive for your whiplash injury is palliative (meaning covering symptoms with drugs, without addressing the underlying cause of those symptoms), then any relief achieved is temporary, and the end product of this process will likely be dysfunction, degeneration, and chronic pain!

Doctor/s Cannot Find Anything Wrong: What To Do

I would seriously consider getting a new doctor. As you have already read, whiplash is frequently a "clinical" diagnosis. This simply means that it is not going to show up well on standard imaging tests such as x-rays, CT, and even MRI. If your doctor is not up on the most current whiplash research, you lose --- in more ways than one. Let me show you the results of one study that wanted to determine if the effects of whiplash were real ("organic") or in the patient's head ("psychometric"). By the way, this study comes from a 1997 issue of one of the planet's most prestigious medical journals, The Journal of Orthopedic Medicine. They compared a large control group to a large whiplash group, ten years after the accident. Not only does this give us a long-term look at the effects of whiplash, it also removes the potential effects of litigation on the research as any legal issues would have been long settled.

NON-WHIPLASH INJURED GROUP

• Neck Pain
• Headaches
• Numbness, Tingling, Pain, Paresthesia in Arms / Hands
• Combined Back and Neck Pain
• Neck Degeneration as Seen on X-rays

WHIPLASH INJURED GROUP

• Eight Times more Neck Pain
• Eleven Times more Headaches
• Sixteen Times more Numbness, Tingling, Pain, Paresthesia in Arms / Hands
• Thirty Two Times more Combined Back and Neck Pain
• Neck Degeneration was Ten Years Advanced when Compared to the Control Group

Hyperflexion/Hyperextension Of The Cervical Spine

With Hyperflexion, the spine goes forward, which drives the Nucleus of the disc to the back. This is why Herniated Discs are a frequent result of Whiplash Injuries. In Hyperextension, the spine is slammed backward. Although this rarely if ever results in frontal Disc Herniations, it jams the facets (the two little joints to the rear and on either side of the disc). This can lead to a degenerative condition called Facet Syndrome.

Notice in this Flexion / Extension X-ray that there is Spinal Degeneration occurring at the level of the C5-C6 Spinal Disc. This means that either this X-ray is being taken years (maybe decades) after an injury, or that this person had pre-existing degeneration (bone spurs, thin discs, and calcium deposits) prior to this latest injury. Either way, the individual being X-rayed had a Flexion / Extension injury of some sort probably 20 years ago or so. How can we predict this. Although there is a certain degree of "guesswork" that goes into knowing this, we know that DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS occurs due to loss of joint motion over time, and that whiplash tends to strike worst at C5-C6.

Soft Tissue Injuries
: How Long Do They Take To Heal?

That the spine and its supporting Connective Tissues can take up to two years to heal is not really new information. It can be found at least as far back as a 1986 issue of the Canadian Family Physician. More recent studies showing these longer healing times include a 1994 issue of the journal Pain, a 1994 issue of the journal Spine, and a 2005 issue of the medical journal Injury. In fact, the 1994 issue of Spine said that appropriately treated whiplash patients took an average time of over seven months to heal. This means that for every person who took 4-6 weeks to heal from their injuries, someone else is taking well over a year.

For people injured in Automobile Accidents, falls, Horse Accidents, Motorcycle Crashes, or any number of other ways that people end up with "Whiplash Injuries", this is a commonly-asked question.  But it's also a commonly asked question for those whose soft tissue injury was not traumatic, but was due to chronic, repeated, sub-maximal loading.  It's more than understandable.  No matter how the injury occurred or what it is, everyone wants to know how long it is going to take to get better.  Just bear in mind that healing takes time.  And although you will often hear "6-8 weeks" bantered around, this is only partially true.  If you will notice the chart below, you can see that after about 3-4 weeks, the only thing going on is "Maturation and Remodeling".  Do not be fooled!  This phase is not only critical, but far too often ignored by those who have a financial interest in your injury.

Tissue Repair & Healing Phases

STAGE I (Inflammatory Phase): This phase lasts from 12-72 hours, and is characterized by a release of inflammatory chemicals by injured cells. When cells are injured and die, they rupture and release their contents into the extracellular fluid (WHAT IS INFLAMMATION). These “Inflammatory Chemicals” that are released from ruptured cells are a necessary and vital component of the healing process. However, in excessive amounts, they can cause a great deal of pain. They also promote excessive microscopic scarring. Be aware that if you visit your doctor for a soft tissue injury, you will be given anti-inflammatory medications. These have serious side-effects (heart, liver, kidneys, etc). However, the real kick in the teeth is the fact that this class of drug has been scientifically proven to cause injured connective tissues to heal significantly weaker and with less elasticity than they otherwise would. Nowhere is this more true tha with Corticosteroids. Do a quick search of the Medico-Scientific Literature on Corticosteroids and soft tissue injuries. You will see over and over again that they are detrimental to the healing process and should play no part in the treatment of these injuries (HERE is an example from the field of Sports Injuries).

STAGE II (Passive Congestion): In this phase that begins by the 2nd to 4th day, we begin to see swelling (sometimes we do not see it, because it is not on the body’s surface). Remember; “inflammation” is not synonymous with swelling. Inflammatory Chemicals released by dying cells attract the fluid that causes swelling. This is why using cold therapy (ice) to control both inflammation and swelling is such an important part of the healing process — particularly in its earliest stages. However, the best method for moving out this "Congestive Swelling" is via controlled motion if possible. Oh, and your doctor may tell you to use heat during these initial two phases of soft tissue healing; don't do it. Use ICE to control the inflammation!

STAGE III (Regeneration & Repair Phase): The Repair Phase is where new collagen fibers are made by fibroblasts. The body then uses these collagen fibers as a sort of soft tissue “patch”. Just like with your old blue jeans, a patch is not ideal. But once those old Levis tear or rip, what else are you going to do? In the body, this collagen patch (scar tissue) tends to be different than the tissue around it in a number of ways. Scar Tissue is weaker, less elastic, MUCH MORE PAIN SENSITIVE, has SEVERELY DIMINISHED PROPRIOCEPTIVE ABILITIES, etc). Be aware that the Repair Phase of tissue healing only lasts about 6 weeks, with the majority being completed in half that time. WARNING: This 3rd stage of healing is where many of the so-called “experts” want you to believe the process of Tissue Healing & Repair ends because this phase ends within a month of injury. But that's not where the story ends. Dr. Dan Murphy uses dozens of studies to, "document that the best management of soft tissue injuries during this phase of healing is early, persistent, controlled mobilization. In contrast, immobilization is harmful, leading to increased risk of slowed healing and chronicity".

STAGE IV (Maturation / Remodeling Phase): Not only is it the longest, but the Remodeling Phase is by far the most critical of the four stages of Connective Tissue healing. Yet it is the phase that most often gets overlooked. It is also where people most often get duped (sometimes inadvertently, but more often than not, purposefully) by doctors, insurance companies, and attorneys. Many of you reading this know exactly what I am talking about. The most current research shows that in case of serious Connective Tissue Injury, the Remodeling Phase can last up to two years; making the old “6-8 weeks” sound ridiculous (gulp)! The Remodeling Phase is characterized by a “realignment” (REMODELING) of the individual fibers that make up the injured tissue (the collagen “patch” that we call Scar Tissue). What is interesting is that each study that comes out on this topic, seems to be saying that this phase of healing lasts longer than what the study that came out before it said. This is a good thing. However, bear in mind that if you have not improved within 90 days after injury, standard forms of treatment become much less likely to help you. Phase IV can also be risky because although a person's pain may have dissipated, the injury itself has not completely healed and is vulnerable to re-injury.

As Controlled Loading / Tensile Loading is applied to the healing tissues via CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, Scar Tissue Remodeling, STRETCHING and strengthening exercises, Proprioceptive Re-education, Massage Therapy, TRIGGER POINT THERAPY, PNF, etc; the individual tissue fibers move from a more random, tangled, and twisted wad of unorganized collagen fibrils; to a tissue that is much more organized, parallel, and orderly as far as its microscopic configuration is concerned. Again, this takes time! Although our Scar Tissue Remodeling Therapy can frequently bring immediate relief (just look at our VIDEO TESTIMONIALS), it is obvious from the medical literature that there is a healing processes that cannot be bypassed. Because numerous Scientific Studies have proved Cold Laser Therapy to be effective in regenerating Collagen (SEE HERE), we highly recommend it for our more seriously injured patients as well.

Everyone has heard the old cliche that is still used by doctors, "You’d have been better off to break the bone than to tear the ligaments". Knowing what we know about the healing of the Collagen-Based, Elastic Connective Tissues; this statement makes a lot of sense! Soft tissues heal much slower than other tissues (including bones). Do not let anyone try and convince you otherwise! This is why following the complete stretching and strengthening protocol that goes hand-in-hand with our “Tissue Remodeling” treatment, is the one and only way that it will work properly over the long haul. By the way, we have dealt extensively with the fact that whiplash injuries heal best with forms of therapy that employ controlled motion such as does chiropractic. Now I want to explore what the scientific literature says about using medications for whiplash injuries explained.

Whiplash Injuries Explained: Relationship Of Inflammation To Pain & Scar Tissue

In 2007, the renowned pain researcher Dr. Sota Omoigui, published an article in the medical journal Medical Hypothesis called, "The Biochemical Origin of Pain: The Origin of All Pain is Inflammation and the Inflammatory Response". In it, he showed the relationship between pain, inflammation, and fibrosis (Scar Tissue). Most people tend to think of Inflammation as a "local" phenomenon. You know; sprain an ankle, and it swells --- sometimes a whole bunch. But it is critical to remember that the terms "swelling" and "inflammation" are in no ways synonymous. When cells of soft tissues are seriously injured (like in Whiplash Injuries), they die. These dead then rupture their contents into the surrounding extra-cellular fluid. In response to this, the Immune System makes a group of chemicals that we collectively refer to as "Inflammation", which in small amounts, are normal and good. Their local presence is indicated by five well known signs and symptoms. The classical names for the various signs of Local Inflammation come from Latin and include:

• Dolar (Pain)
• Calor (Heat)
• Rubor (Redness)
• Tumor (Swelling) Chemicals we collectively call "Inflammation" are not synonymous with swelling, but they attract swelling.
• Functio Laesa (Loss of Function)

Although these chemicals can remain in a local area (I stub my toe, the toe gets red and inflamed), they can invade the blood stream and have a systemic (whole body) effect as well. But inflammation does not end there. These immune system chemicals that we refer to collectively as "inflammation" (prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, cytokines, chemokines, certain enzymes, kinnins, histamines, eicosanoids, substance P, and dozens of others) are being touted by the medical community as the primary cause of a whole host of physical ailments, when there are too many of them in the body. Some of the other problems that Inflammation is known to cause includes;

• Disc Injuries, Slipped Disc, Disc Herniation, and Disc Rupture
• Heart Disease and virtually all forms of Cardiovascular Problems
• Skin conditions including Eczema and Psoriasis
• Arthritis & Fibromyalgia
• Asthma
• ADD, ADHD, Depression, and various forms of Dementia
• Neurological Conditions
• Female Issues
• Cancer
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease / Leaky Gut Syndrome
• Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Hypoglycemia, and other Blood Sugar Regulation Problems
• Obesity

Inflammation causes pain, ill health, and eventually, death. But this list is not the thrust of this section. To understand is the way that inflammation is related to Scar Tissue, Adhesion, and Fibrosis.

Born in 1904, Dr. James Cyriax, a Cambridge-educated M.D. widely known as the "The Einstein of Physical Medicine" wrote his Magnum Opus, Orthopaedic Medicine, Diagnosis of Soft Tissue Lesions, in 1982 shortly before he passed away. Cyriax is still considered one of the brilliant pioneers of soft tissue research. One of Dr. Cyriax' groundbreaking discoveries is that Scar Tissue / Fibrosis can and will generate an Inflammatory Response long after the Fourth Stage of Healing (Maturation & Remodeling) is over. Pay attention to what Cyriax wrote over three decades ago.

“Fibrous tissue appears capable of maintaining an inflammation, originally traumatic, as the result of a habit continuing long after the cause has ceased to operate...... It seems that the inflammatory reaction at the injured fibers continues, not merely during the period of healing, but for an indefinite period of time afterwards, maintained by the normal stresses to which such tissues are subject.”

Why would what Cyriax refers to as "normal mechanical stresses" cause an "indefinite period" of inflammation? This one is easy. Scar Tissue and Fibrosis are so dramatically different from normal tissue. One of the most obvious ways that this can be seen is by looking at any good Pathology Textbook. Scar Tissue and Fibrosis is far weaker and much less elastic than normal Connective Tissue. What does this mean? Only that it is easily re-injured. This starts the whole vicious cycle over again. Injury ----> Inflammation ---> Pain ---> Fibrosis & Scar Tissue Formation ---> Re-injury ---> Repeat indefinitely. Just remember that the end result of this cycle is degeneration of the affected bones and spinal discs!

HEALTHY CONNECTIVE TISSUE

SCAR TISSUE & FIBROSIS

Notice how the Connective Tissue on the left is uniformly wavy. This is due to the collagen fibrils that provide stretchiness and elasticity. Now notice how the cells of the Scar Tissue and Fibrosis run and swirl in many different ways. This decreases both elasticity and strength of the Scar Tissue.

Scar Tissue & Fibrosis: Different From Normal Tissue, 3 Ways

SCAR TISSUE IS WEAKER

Repaired soft tissues are weaker than the body's undamaged soft tissues. The diameter of the collagen fibers of scar tissue are smaller than those of normal tissue. Also, as you can see from the pictures above, the structure has been physically changed. This weakness leads to a viscous cycle of instability, re-injury, and degeneration.

SCAR TISSUE IS LESS ELASTIC

Repaired soft tissues are always less elastic and "stiffer" than the body's undamaged soft tissues. This has to do with the fact that the individual collagen fibers will never identically align themselves quite like the original uninjured soft tissue. This is all easy to see because range of motion testing on injured individuals will always show areas of decreased ranges of motion.

SCAR TISSUE IS MORE PAIN-SENSITIVE

Repaired soft tissues have a strong tendency to be more pain-sensitive than their uninjured counterparts. In fact, for reasons that are not completely understood, Scar Tissue has the neurological capability of going into something called "super-sensitivity", and can end up 1,000 times more sensitive to pain than normal tissue.

Relationship: Inflammation, Pain, & Fibrosis/Scar Tissue

Dr. Soto Omoigui had this to say about the relationship between pain, inflammation, and fibrosis, "The origin of all pain is inflammation and the inflammatory response.... Irrespective of the type of pain, whether it is acute or chronic pain, peripheral or central pain, nociceptive or neuropathic pain, sharp, dull, aching, burning, stabbing, numbing or tingling, the underlying origin is inflammation and the inflammatory response." Fellow pain researcher Doctor Manjo stated in the "Chronic Inflammation" chapter of his 2004 pathology textbook that (slightly paraphrased for patients), "After a day or two of acute inflammation, the connective tissue—in which the inflammatory reaction is unfolding—begins to react, producing more fibroblasts, more capillaries, more cells—more tissue, but it cannot be mistaken for normal connective tissue. Fibrosis means an excess of fibrous connective tissue. It implies an excess of collagen fibers. When fibrosis develops in the course of inflammation it may contribute to the healing process. By contrast, an excessive or inappropriate stimulus can produce severe fibrosis and impair function. Why does fibrosis develop? In most cases the beginning clearly involves chronic inflammation. Fibrosis is largely secondary to inflammation."

It is not difficult to connect the dots! Chronic Inflammation of a whiplash injury leads to Scar Tissue Formation, and Scar Tissue Formation leads to even more pain. And like I mentioned earlier, the whole mess leads to Spinal Degeneration. How can you break free? Dr. Cyriax goes on to say in his book that immobilization of injured soft tissues is a bad thing, and mobilization of injured soft tissues is not only good, but necessary for proper healing to take place. But under the umbrella of America's PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG CULTURE, functional restoration frequently takes a back seat to different kinds of medicines. Don't get me wrong; if you need something for the pain after a whiplash injury, there is no dishonor in doing something on a short-term basis. However, this is never the solution. It is masking symptoms to get you through a rough place. As long as you understand this, OK. However, there is one class of drugs that should play no part in the healing of your Whiplash Injury...

Inflammation Medications For Whiplash & Soft Tissue Injuries

• The most prestigious medical school on the planet, John's Hopkins proved that 1,000 200 mg capsules of Tylenol consumed over the course of a person's lifetime doubles that person's chances of dialysis. Furthermore, 5,000 pills increase kidney failure by nearly nine times. New England Journal of Medicine, 1994
• Regular use of Tylenol and other similar medications is a top cause of liver disease / liver failure. New England Journal of Medicine, 1997
• NSAID's (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) used by arthritis sufferers causes 16,500 Americans to die of bleeding ulcers each year. Fatal GI bleeds are the 15th most common cause of death in America. New England Journal of Medicine, 1999
• Gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity caused by NSAID use is one of the most commonly seen and serious drug side effects in modern cultures. Spine, 2003 & Surgical Neurology, 2006
  Regular use of Tylenol doubles one's chances of developing high blood pressure. Hypertension, 2005
  All NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) increase chances of Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) by about 40%. This risk starts the first day the drug is consumed. European Heart Journal, 2006
• Celebrex increases your chances of intestinal bleeding by four times (nearly 400%). Vioxx increases your chances of bleeding ulcers and other GI Bleeds by over three times (nearly 330%). Medications taken for pain increase your chances of GI Bleeds by nearly 140%. Drug Safety, 2009
• Vioxx was removed from the market in 2004 because it increased one's chances of a heart attack by 230% (exponentially more if you already had a congestive heart). Celebrex increased the risk of heart attack by 44%. Pain Medications, on average, increase your chances of a heart attack by nearly half 50%. While Vioxx was pulled from the market, the others are considered to be "acceptably safe" and they were allowed to stay on the market. Drug Safety, 2009
• Those who took the greatest amounts of NSAID pain medications increased their chances of all types of dementia ----- Alzheimer’s included. The increase was a whopping 2/3 (66%). Neurology, 2009

So, what is a person supposed to do? Despite decades of research saying that NSAID's are not "therapeutic" (actually helps you get better), but are instead, "palliative" (makes you feel better without any therapeutic benefits), the medical community continues to hand these and other dangerous drugs out almost like candy. Just remember that any pain relief achieved without addressing the underlying components of the Whiplash Injury, are temporary. And that's not all. When joints and tissues heal in RESTRICTED FASHION, they always end up with copious amounts of decay, degeneration, and deterioration. And the final kick in the teeth for those of you who have been on this MEDICAL MERRY-GO-ROUND is that much of this research is at least two decades old. As I have said for a very long time, much of the medical community is caught in a time warp. They are treating whiplash injuries using outdated models, often times very outdated models.

Chiropractic Benefits: Whiplash, Neck/Back Pain

• Over 70 years ago, the best available research said that soft tissue injuries require early and regular joint motion in order to heal properly. American Journal of Anatomy, 1940
• Over 50 years ago, research pointed out that the most effective treatment for whiplash injury does not involve medication, but instead needs mobilization, manipulation and traction to heal. The best results for patients with whiplash injuries require early and regular joint mobilization. Furthermore, it must be done by someone expertly trained in rehabilitation of injured joints. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1958
• For injured soft tissues to heal properly requires joint movement / motion. Joint immobilization should be avoided. Textbook of Orthopedic Medicine, 1982 & Continuous Passive Motion, 1993
• Chiropractic spinal adjustments fix over 4/5 of disabled patients suffering from chronic low back and sciatica. This is true despite the failure of other approaches. Canadian Family Physician, 1985
• Chiropractic spinal adjustments have been proven superior in the treatment of chronic and acute low back pain, when compared to hospital outpatient treatment. These benefits of chiropractic adjustments were still seen 3 years post-treatment. British Medical Journal, 1991
• Chiropractic spinal adjustments have been shown to be more effective than physical therapy mobilizations and manipulations. Lancet, 1991
• 93% of those struggling with chronic pain due to whiplash injury ---- who have already failed medical care and physical therapy ---- improve significantly under chiropractic care. Injury, 1996
• When it comes to chronic neck pain, manual manipulation of the neck has been shown to be significantly better than pain meds and exercise. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2002
• Chiropractic spinal adjustments have been clinically proven to be over five times more effective than NSAID's (Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) for chronic neck and low back pain. In this study, the chiropractic group suffered from no adverse reactions, but the the NSAID group had more patients reporting adverse drug reactions than were actually helped. Half the NSAIDS used in the study are now off the market. Spine, 2003
• For chronic neck and back pain, chiropractic spinal adjustments proved significantly better than both acupuncture and pain medicines. Furthermore, chiropractic adjustments were the only treatment studied that showed therapeutic benefit one year post-treatment. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2005
• In patients with chronic pain from DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS, 59% can eliminate their pain meds by taking omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil (EPA & DHA). Surgical Neurology, 2006
• In the recent medical publication called, “A Review of the Evidence for the American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline”, only spinal manipulation was touted as effective for the treatment of both acute and chronic low back pain. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2007
• A joint research effort from the University of California, San Francisco, and Harvard Medical School, showed that “Chiropractic care is more effective than other modalities for treating low back and neck pain”. Do Chiropractic Services for the Treatment of Low Back and Neck Pain Improve the Value of Health Benefits Plans? An Evidence-Based Assessment of Incremental Impact on Population Health and Total Health Care Spending, 2009

Long Term Prognosis: Whiplash

Despite the fact that you can see from the current scientific literature how successful chiropractic care is at helping people with severe, debilitating, whiplash injuries; not everyone injured in an MVA will recover. Unfortunately, many will never recover ---- even after several decades. It seems that whiplash caused by Motor Vehicle Accidents is the portal whereby numerous people enter into the realm of Chronic Pain and dysfunction. The truth is that there is a great deal of scientific research done of this particular topic. And furthermore, as you can see from the small comments in red made by the authors of each individual study, litigation seems to have little or no effect on clinical outcomes.

• The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery published research in 1964 showing that of 145 patients involved in a study of whiplash injuries; as many as 83% of the injured patients continued to suffer from pain two years after the accident. The study's authors said this, "If the symptoms resulting from an extension-acceleration injury of the neck are purely the result of litigation neurosis, it is difficult to explain why [at least] 45%of the patients should still have symptoms two years or more after settlement of their court action."
• A 1989 issue of Neuro-Orthopedics published a study was carried out on patients suffering with whiplash for well over a decade. Despite the length of time involved, nearly two thirds still struggled with moderate to severe pain symptoms due to their accident. The study's authors said this, "If symptoms were largely due to impending litigation it might be expected that symptoms would improve after settlement of the claim. Our results would seem to discount this theory, with the long-term outcome seeming to be determined before the settlement of compensation."
• A 7-year study on whiplash-injured patients published in a 2000 issue of the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology showed that 40% of those suffering an accident-induced whiplash injury continued to suffer from neck and shoulder pain seven years post-accident.
• A 2005 research project published in the medical journal Injury, showed that over 20% of those injured in a whiplash injury struggled with Chronic Pain nearly 8 years post-injury. Furthermore, almost half of those in the study suffered from "Nuisance Pain" during the same time frame.
• An 11 year study published in a 1990 issue of the B

Whiplash is a common injury, annually affecting about 2 million individuals within the U.S. Generally due to a car accident, whiplash also can be a consequence of falling, engaging in sports & being shaken or punched.

Whiplash may be the common term for neck damage or stress caused by hyperextension (see image below) and hyperflexion (see image below). It frequently does not cause immediate symptoms: over-time, it might produce actually. Since whiplash could cause long-lasting results to the back, it is vital that you see your physician if you have been injured, even if you don’t have pain.

The cervical spine (throat) is really a sophisticated structure consists of vertebrae (spinal bones), intervertebral disks (behave as shock absorbers), muscles, ligaments, and nerves. The throat is is flexible and will move it different guidelines (jerk, swivel) while supporting the total weight of the head. However, that mobility can make the throat at risk of injury. Throughout a whiplash event, your throat goes swiftly and vigorously backward and forward. Pain can continue despite the injury itself has healed.

Whiplash can result in reduced productivity, temporary impairment, and perhaps substantial medical expenses.

NOT JUST PAIN IN THE NECK

A person with whiplash’s chief criticism is upper back pain or neck pain. Other symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Pain within the arm and/or shoulder that may expand to the hand(s).
• Paresthesias (including numbness or tingling) and/or weakness that’ll expand into the hand(s).
• Headache

You might possibly experience dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears, weakness, jaw pain, and blurred vision.

A CONDITION WITH AN IMPACT

The most frequent cause of whiplash is definitely a car accident in which the person’s vehicle (often stopped) is rear-ended by another car or truck. Because of this, the neck’s bones are forced into a hyperextended position, while the upper vertebrae are hyperflexed, leading to an unusual S-shaped curve. This cycle typically damages the delicate tissues (structures, tendons, muscles) of the neck.

HOW DO I REALIZE I HAVE WHIPLASH?

Your doctor works a neurological and physical exam and carefully reviews your medical history. Because x rays don’t show injuries to delicate tissues, a CT (computerized tomography) scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) could be executed.

WHAT DOES TREATMENT INVOLVE?

Treatment is determined by the extent and level of the whiplash, and factor is given to general health and your age. Initial therapy can include:

• Short term rest (a day or two)
• Ice, for first day or two; then alternate ice and temperature
• Gentle range-of-motion exercises
• Anti-inflammatory drugs (over-the-counter or prescription)
• Muscle relaxants

*When using ice, make certain the cool source is draped in a towel to safeguard your skin area. Don’t apply ice for longer than 15 minutes at a time.

If your pain does not disappear inside a reasonable timeframe, or when it is serious, your doctor may recommend trigger-point injections, physical treatment, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, and/or use of a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device.

Soft collars, although once trusted for whiplash, are not employed so frequently anymore, since by immobilizing the neck, the muscles can weaken and delay recovery.

Surgery is rarely warranted by whiplash. If your pain persists even after you’ve undergone nonsurgical treatment, your doctor might advise surgery, according to what structures have already been injured and how serious the harm is. It is vital that you understand the risks carried with surgery. Thus, you should have a thorough conversation with your doctor.


Sources

Whiplash. Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/disorders-situations/whiplash/basics/meaning/con-20033090.

Whiplash. MedicineNet. / whiplash/article.htm Whiplash.

Whiplash Injury. Hopkins Medicine. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/ healthlibrary/problems/adult/spine_shoulder_and_pelvis_disorders/whiplash_injury_85,p01388/.