Have You Been Involved In An Auto Accident?
Auto accidents, even the most minor ones can cause serious neck and spine injury including whiplash. By not seeking immediate treatment after such an injury you risk painful, permanent damage. If you have been involved in an accident you must choose a capable, caring specialist to treat you. You should call Dr. Underwood!
Dr. Underwood is a board certified doctor of chiropractic who continues his education in whiplash and injury rehabilitation with the latest in scientific research available. He also specializes in family care and sports injuries. He has worked with many difficult cases and is ready to help you.
You may be entitled to have auto insurance pay 100% of the treatment costs needed for your injuries. If you have any questions, any at all, give us a call.
For more information please continue to read.
There is a general tendency for us to be hopeful and optimistic. We’ve all had bumps and bruises and strains many times in our lives. Almost without exception these minor injuries heal in a short time if left alone. Naturally then we expect whiplash injuries to heal in the same fashion. Unfortunately, this optimism is unfounded for many people. They are surprised and then greatly disappointed to find out that their discomfort lingers and frequently intensifies over time. Whiplash subjects the human spine to surprisingly high forces unlike any of life’s minor mishaps. Structural changes begin to take place early and you will get much better results if the doctors can actively guide you through the healing process from the very beginning.
If you have been through the waiting process already, only to find, weeks or months later, that your pain still lingers on, take heart. There is hope for you as well. Dr. Underwood is an expert at treating these conditions, even in the advanced stages. And you can usually begin to see results soon after beginning care. In either case, for the best possible outcome, follow the doctor’s advice and be an active participant in your care.Facts and Figures
Each year about 3 million people experience whiplash neck and back injury. That’s about half of all who are actually exposed to such accidents. Of these three million people, about 1.5 million will eventually fully recover. Nearly 600,000 will have long-term symptoms and about 150,000 will actually become disabled each year as a result of whiplash injury. Research today shows that nearly half (45%) of all Americans with chronic neck pain attribute it to car crashes, with whiplash being the most common form. Whiplash has truly reached epidemic proportions.
Individuals involved in automobile accidents accelerate up to 2 ½ times faster than the vehicle. This explains how car occupants can be significantly injured, even when no visible damage to the vehicle is noted. In fact, more than half of all whiplash injuries occur in accidents where there is little or no damage to the vehicle (slow speeds 5 to 15 mph).
The above facts and figures can look pretty grim. The good news is that chiropractic has been proven to have outstanding results with whiplash injuries! And, since you are taking the time to read this, chances are, you will act in a positive manner. When you decide to seekhelp, you become proactive. You move yourself in the direction of getting better. The first step is up to you; you and only you can make the decision to call us. When you do, it sets you apart from the statistics that plague the general population and their way of thinking, “I’ll just have to live with it”. Wow, just by changing your frame of mind, you have increased your chances for an excellent recovery! Don’t waste valuable time; get on board with a winning team, Dr. Underwood is ready to go to work for you.In addition to neck pain, about 40% of whiplash victims will experience back pain following whiplash injury.“But I Don’t Have any Pain!”We more commonly see delays of symptoms than an immediate onset of symptoms. Why is it that most victims of whiplash injury experience no immediate pain? The most likely explanation is that the body takes 24-72 hours to develop inflammation. Think of a new exercise program, exercising hard and not feeling it until the next day and then get sore on the following day.
How long should it take before I feel pain? The question of just how long a delay is reasonable is a difficult one to answer. In the case of inflammation due to injured tissues in the neck, three days is the most common. On the other hand, disc injuries may take some time and may smolder for weeks or months before becoming symptomatic. Subtle joint injuries to the spine can gradually alter the normal biomechanics (motion) over several weeks or even months. This too can be a source of neck pain, back pain and stiffness.
Whiplash can cause dysfunction of the spine. In as little as 8 short weeks of abnormal spinal motion, cellular changes, which are common to disc degeneration and arthritis of the spine, are present. This same lack of motion in your spine, which chiropractors refer to as fixations and subluxations, are the primary targets of spinal adjustments, and there is no other means of correcting these disorders. Whiplash injuries cause subluxations. Damaged tissues and inflammation continue to cause subluxations by distorting the vertebrae of the spine. Itis wonderfully beneficial to correct these degenerative problems and assure proper alignment of the spine. It is equally important to work with the soft tissues (muscle, tendons and ligaments) to reduce scarring to a minimum. Scar tissue does not stretch. It reduces range of motion and causes chronic problems such as pain and stiffness to linger indefinitely.
Will Chiropractic Adjustments Hurt?Most of the time spinal adjustments are not uncomfortable at all. However, when there is an injury involving the joints, there may be some minor and temporary discomfort associated with these procedures. Of course, the goals of chiropractic adjustments are to restore normal motion and alignment to spinal joints and this more often has a pain relieving effect. In fact, patients frequently experience relief of pain even before they leave the doctor’s office.What else does Dr. Underwood offer besides chiropractic adjustments?
We have state of the art digital x-ray to help with diagnosis, therapeutic devises such as decompression therapy, traction, aqua therapy, massage therapy, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and various forms of deep heat, ice and percussive treatments which play an important role in the healing process. Some of these create deep heating of spinal tissues while others cause relaxation of muscle spasms, reduce swelling and soothe inflamed tissues. Collectively, they help the doctors restore spinal alignment and eliminate the fixations we have been discussing.We’re Here To Help You!
Dr. Underwood has a “Go the Extra Mile” attitude about the healthcare he and his staff provide. Our number one priority is to help you get on the road to feeling better and getting well. Give us a call; you’ll be glad you did!
