When you experience injury(ies) from a motor vehicle accident, it is important to begin any pain treatment as soon as it surfaces. With a rise in Houston-area automobile accidents more and more injury patients are turning to a chiropractor to help them. Dr. Werner is one such chiropractor who has a decades-long career successfully treating auto accident cases.
There is a wide range of protocols for pain treatment, such as physical/rehabilitation therapy, massage therapy and spinal adjustments. At Dr. Werner’s office, individuals can take advantage of available walk-in chiropractic appointments. He also provides an array of services:
• Referrals to diagnostic imaging/testing
• Referrals to local orthopedic surgeons/medical doctors
• Exercise rehabilitation
When you’ve been injured in a car accident, you want a Houston area chiropractor with experience and proven skills to make you feel whole again. Dr. Werner has same-day appointments to examine your injuries and treat them to help you feel as you did before the accident occurred. His number one priority is improving your quality of life and health. His goal is to work to manage and eliminate your pain so you can live your life fully.
The following are examples of treatable car accident injuries:
Whiplash
The most common kind of vehicle accident injury is whiplash (also known as cervical acceleration-deceleration syndrome). It can be treated with an array of very effective chiropractic methods. If your vehicle was hit from behind, the chances of suffering from whiplash are high.
What causes whiplash? It’s the result of trauma to the neck-supporting ligaments, soft tissues and muscles that have been suddenly jerked in a back-and-forth motion. This motion causes the neck tissues and nerves to experience quick and intense stretching and tearing, which leaves you suffering from pain, inflammation, and stiffness. It can take anywhere from one to three days after the vehicle accident has occurred for the symptoms to present themselves.
It is not uncommon in some accident situations for whiplash symptoms to delay appearance until weeks after the accident. This is because the neck muscles suffer microscopic tears that slowly build up to finally produce a noticeable inflammatory pain response. Waiting for whiplash symptoms to present themselves after a car accident can result in a more intense and longer treatment period; therefore, it’s advised to immediately seek out treatment after you’ve been in a car accident before any whiplash symptoms are felt. What are some signs of whiplash?
• Sore, stiff neck
• Unable to turn head without serious neck pain
• Tingling/burning sensation in neck, upper back and shoulder regions
• Recurring headaches
• Dizziness
• Insomnia
• Upper back and shoulder pain
• Vision issues
• Memory and concentration issues
• Sore Throat (without respiratory symptoms)
Back Pain
A common injury after an accident is back pain (unrelated to whiplash). This kind of pain usually occurs after the upper body is thrown into the seat belt and causes trauma where the pelvis and lumbar spine meet the sacrum. The joints that connect the pelvis and lumbar spine to the sacrum become locked in a position that requires chiropractic adjustment to eliminate the pain and align the spine back to its optimal functioning state.
Up to 40% of back pain is from discogenic pain caused by vertebrae that has experienced some form of damage/trauma. It is not the same kind of pain as from a herniated disc. Although most vertebrae damage is the result of degeneration, physical trauma, like a car accident, can exacerbate degenerative disc problems.
Herniated Disc
If you’re in a car accident that results in back pain, it could be that at least one of your vertebral discs have been damaged – ruptured, slipped out of place, or bulged. When a disc has herniated, it presses on the spinal nerves resulting in inflammation/irritation. Spinal discs are crucial to the lower back, acting as shock absorbers. They also facilitate proper upper body movement and function as well.
Most people don’t experience pain immediately from a ruptured or herniated disc but constant contact with the enveloping nerves eventually results in pain. How do you know if a disc has herniated? Some symptoms include:
• Weakness in the legs, butt and lower back
• Sharp shooting pains in the back and leg area
• Numbness
Concussion
It’s imperative if you suffer from any of the symptoms listed below after a car accident that you get immediate medical help as it could mean a concussion.
• Blurry/fuzzy vision
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Inability to remember things, including recent information
• Insomnia or night walks
• Abnormal sleeping schedule
• Nagging headache
• Nausea/vomiting
• Light or noise sensitivity
Add image here Every person reacts differently when it comes to concussions. Not everyone will suffer every listed symptom. Some less common but possible symptoms of a mild concussion include intense mood swings, slurred speech and tinnitus (ringing of the ears).
How does Dr. Werner treat accident-related concussions?
Spinal vertebrae adjustments are made to restore the normal functioning of the neck region and to alleviate the stiffness and headaches that a person may experience from an accident. When appropriate, Dr. Werner will refer a patient to another medical specialist for additional evaluation. Adjustments can reduce spinal nerve compression and improve brain and spinal signals to help alleviate concussion-related symptoms.
Neck Pain
Neck trauma is a common after-effect of car accidents, which can lead to stiffness, numbness, tingling and intense pain. The kind of treatment a patient is given will depend on how severe the injury is and where most of the impact is felt in the neck. Since these injuries differ for everyone, Dr. Werner may first refer a patient for diagnostic imaging to scan the neck in order to formulate the best course of treatment in each individual’s case.
Spinal Pain
This condition is the result of a channel narrowing between the spinal nerves and cord. While it can happen any time there is physical trauma, it can also occur from an auto accident injury. It is often caused by a bone fragment obstructing a ruptured disc or spinal canal. When there is an obstruction, the nerves are put under undue pressure, leading to pain and discomfort.
Symptoms may not appear immediately. Signs of muscle weakness and/or loss of feeling are indicators of trauma as time goes on. Therefore, it’s important to see a highly-qualified chiropractor like Dr. Werner to start treatment as early possible after an automobile accident.
Treat Your Auto Accident Injuries With Chiropractic Care.
Contact Dr. Richard J. Werner DC
Office: 713-528-880