Overview of Auto Accidents
Auto accidents are today’s #1 contributor to chronic neck and spinal pain. Of the 6 million auto accidents that occur in the United States each year, nearly 3 million people suffer injuries, the majority of which are whiplash-type injuries. Of those 3 million injuries, nearly 1 million people each year develop chronic pain.
Common Symptoms and Causes
Anyone can be subjected to whiplash, even in low-force impacts at speeds less than 10 mph. At any speed, injuries associated with whiplash result from the head being thrown beyond its normal range of motion. Severe cases of whiplash commonly involve those in rear-end auto collisions in which the necks and heads of those in the front car are suddenly snapped back and forth by the impact. This type of whiplash is more accurately called cervical acceleration/deceleration (CAD) trauma or syndrome to describe the rapid movements that can injure the vertebrae of the neck and the muscles and ligaments that support them. Neck pain is the most common acute and chronic symptom of whiplash. Back pain and dizziness also frequently occur. Severe whiplash injuries may cause bruising of the brain, triggering symptoms of blurred vision, ringing in the ears, nausea and numbness.
While these symptomatic injuries are of great concern to everyone, perhaps the greater concern to doctors of Maximized Living are the unseen injuries which may not surface as symptoms for many years following the accident. An injury from a car accident may create new areas of spinal misalignments or aggravate previously misaligned vertebrae. These misalignments, more specifically called vertebral subluxations, can alter nerve system function by irritating nerves that exit the cervical spine, and by stressing the spinal cord in the cervical region. Well over 90% of the nerve system is non-conscious and therefore cannot be felt symptomatically until there have been accumulated years of altered nerve system function. While injuries are thought to become evident within 24-72 hours, we now know that symptoms may be delayed for days to months or even years. Do not delay in seeking attention.
Auto Accident Treatment
The vast majority of people who are involved in auto accidents each year visit the emergency room. In fact, there are over 4 million emergency room visits every year following accidents! Fortunately, upon examination, the bulk of these visits do not require emergency medical attention, as fractures and medical emergencies are rare. However, in the absence of medical emergencies, and much to the victim’s dismay, ER personnel can do very little to relieve immediate pain, prevent long term pain, or promote normal restoration of function following the accident. The doctors may refer victims to their general physicians, to physiotherapy, massage therapy, or to chiropractors.
Chiropractic care has consistently been proven to be the most effective intervention for patients following auto accidents. An article published in the Journal of Orthopedic Medicine in 1999 pointed out the superiority of chiropractic care for patients suffering from long term effects of whiplash, where 74% to 93% of patients with chronic whiplash were likely to benefit from chiropractic care. The superiority of chiropractic care was so evident in the studies referenced that the authors deemed chiropractic care to be the “only proven effective treatment” for chronic whiplash.
The Maximized Living Approach to Treating Auto Accidents
If you have been involved in an auto accident of any sort, there are many immediate and long term interventions that will help you:
First, do not delay treatment. The sooner someone seeks care following an accident, the better they respond and overcome injuries. Early and regular care will allow for the most expedient healing.
Provided you have ruled out a medical emergency, you can ice your acute areas of pain to reduce inflammation and swelling. The general protocol is to ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours, but no longer. Do not apply heat over your spine, joints, or areas of numbness and tingling. While heat may feel good while it is being applied, it will actually create further swelling and cause an exacerbation of inflammation once the heat is removed. Note, while the application of ice may be helpful in the immediate days following an accident neither ice nor heat will be of any incredible functional value long term.
Consult your chiropractor who can further guide you on how to deal with any swelling, pain, and superficial injuries, inside or outside the body. Your chiropractor may take specific X-rays to evaluate for misalignments related to the accident. Other cases may require the patient to seek care, upon your chiropractor’s recommendation, from other health care practitioners. While working to reduce subluxations, it is not uncommon for your chiropractor to work with physiotherapists and massage therapists in a collaborative effort to help you. In any event, vertebral subluxations brought on by the trauma should be corrected with chiropractic care, in order to preserve the optimal function of the spine and nervous system in the immediate and long term future.
Follow the Maximized Living Advanced Nutrition Plan to minimize your symptoms associated with inflammation. While short term inflammation is needed as part of your body’s natural defense mechanism, long term inflammation will interfere with tissue healing and everyday function. Some of the most inflammatory foods are sugar, grains, and certain fruits. Lower inflammatory and anti-inflammatory foods include cruciferous and green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach, and healthy fats such as olive oil. Do not skimp on protein or quality Vitamin C during your healing, as both are necessary for tissue repair. Your chiropractor may recommend greens drinks, essential fatty acid supplements, and quality protein drinks to ensure you are getting enough of the necessary nutrients. Drink as much water as your body demands to stay hydrated and assist the healing process.
Repeated and effective chiropractic adjustments have proven to be successful for hundreds of thousands of patients. The Maximized Living approach will not only reduce immediate distress, but help those injured return to normal activities with a more positive outlook on life.