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Causes of Lower Back Pain After a Car Accident

Nearly 80% of US citizens say they have been plagued by lower back pain at some time in their lives. However, when considering bodily ailments caused after a car accident, lower back pain rarely springs to mind. When we think about car accidents, we consider injuries to the upper and middle back. Unfortunately, lower back pain after a car accident is an all-too-common occurrence. Even worse, it is often delayed, meaning the afflicted person may not notice it immediately following an accident. To help you recognize any ailments, here is a list explaining causes of lower back pain following a car accident.

Whiplash

Many people fail to realize that whiplash has an effect on the entire spine, especially the lower back. Whiplash itself can be divided into four distinct phases. First, the middle of the back compresses against the seat, causing force to travel upwards as the head is forced backwards. Next, the torso moves forward while the head continues in a backwards movement. After this, the torso hits the seat while the head springs forward. Finally, the seatbelt stops the torso while the upper back, neck, and head still move forward; this is where brain injury and other traumatic injuries occur most often. Combined, the forced upward motion and erratic positioning of the lower back can result in lower back pain.

Injured Discs

Disc injuries are an inherently broad category that usually involves direct damage to the disc or the intervertebral disc. If you experience a bulging disc, a herniation, or a slipping of the vertebrae located at the base of the spine (spondylolisthesis), odds are you will experience lower back pain.

Spinal Fractures

If you are rear ended and experience lower back pain, especially when moving, the culprit could be a spinal fracture. If this pain occurs directly after an accident remain still and do not move, as doing so could result in further injury.

Face Joints

Damage to the facet joints can impact the cervical and lumbar portions of the spine. Since your facet joints are responsible for preventing hyperextension, damaging them can result in sever middle and lower back pain.

If you or someone you know has been in an accident and you suspect that they may be experiencing lower back pain as a result, contact the professionals at Accident Care Chiropractic and Massage. Their holistic approach will put you on the path to recovery in no time.

August 18, 2018/0 Comments/by Dr. Darren

Chiropractic Injuries

How a Chiropractor Treats Back Pain After an Auto Accident

After a car accident that results in back pain, many people do not even consider seeing a chiropractor. Instead, they use drugs or have surgery to treat their pain. Obviously each of the latter treatments carries inherent risks. What’s great about chiropractic care is the fact that it does not require drugs or surgery. To help lend more insight, here are some ways a chiropractor treats back pain after an auto accident.

Inflammation

Inflammation is common after an auto accident due to tears in muscles and ligaments. This is why people awaken in serious pain and often mistake the issue for something else. Even worse, an X-ray is not going to detect inflammation, which could potentially cause even more confusion and delay any sort of meaningful treatment. On the other hand, a chiropractor will align the spinal chord, which will cause your body to release a natural anti-inflammatory.

No Drugs

As mentioned earlier, one of the most common remedies for back pain following an auto accident is the use of drugs. Painkillers usually make the user feel better for a short amount of time. However, drugs don’t actually do anything to heal the injury; instead, they merely mask the pain. Additionally, painkillers are extremely addictive. Users get accustomed to the way they the drugs make them feel, but have to take more and more to achieve some semblance of that initial euphoria.

Chiropractic therapy provides welcome pain relief without the need for medication. Beyond that, it handles the injury directly rather than fogging the brain to mask the pain. This increases the chances of recovery and lessens those of dependence and addiction.

Improved Range of Motion

Inflammation from back pain can cause a variety of health problems. This is because it blocks blood and vital nutrients, ultimately impairing the healing process. Fortunately, this can be solved by various chiropractic adjustments that will drastically improve mobility without impeding the body’s ability to heal.

Reduces Pain

Chiropractic adjustment reduces pain by causing the body to release specific hormones. In addition to minimizing pain at the site of the injury, these hormones also reduce pain across the entire body.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an auto accident do not hesitate to contact the chiropractic doctors at Accident Care Chiropractic. Specializing in auto injuries, work injuries, and both massage and physical therapy, their skilled team of professionals will put you on the road to recovery in no time.

August 4, 2018/0 Comments/by Dr. Darren

Car Accident Chiropractor

Auto Accident Injury Treatment Using Chiropractic Care

Have you recently sustained injuries from a car accident? From fender benders to more severe crashes, the most common reasons patients seek chiropractic care is automobile accidents. Chiropractors are often able to successfully diagnose and alleviate current accident-related injuries and prevent any inevitable future aches and pains.

Common Injuries Associated with Auto Accidents

Even if you walk away feeling fine, chances are you may have sustained injuries that won’t show symptoms until many days later. The most common complaints related to car crashes are tight and sore muscles, neck and back pain, and headaches. Even worse, car accidents can cause or exacerbate preexisting conditions like herniated discs, pinched nerves, and sciatica in addition to broken bones or sprains.

When to Seek Treatment

It is best to contact a chiropractor as soon as possible after your accident to prevent anticipated pain and avoid compounding your symptoms. Whiplash is the most common injury sustained after a car accident. A debilitating neck pain, sometimes whiplash does not present symptoms until weeks after your accident.

Patients often hesitate to seek chiropractic care because of its holistic origins, but quickly restoring natural movement and reducing nerve compression can often accelerate the healing process before additional symptoms crop up. They will perform a musculoskeletal exam to identify any pain caused by inflammation, or the underlying cause of future swelling and pain.

What to Expect

A chiropractic exam may include x-rays, MRIs, or additional lab tests. In addition, the doctor will test your muscle tone and strength, range of motion, and neurological activity.

After a chiropractic consultation, a doctor will develop a personalized treatment plan that will include exercises, stretches, and lifestyle changes to help minimize issues and quicken your healing time. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may require a number of specialized treatments.

Types of Treatment

Patients who have found success with chiropractic care often choose it because of its simplicity and long-term outcomes. There are a number of ways to approach accident-related injuries and will depend greatly on your diagnosis. Successful treatments often include:

Chiropractic adjustments
Physical therapy
Massage
Electrical Stimulation
Acupuncture

If you have recently experienced a car accident, or are ready to alleviate that old pain once and for all, get in touch with your nearest Accident Care Chiropractic & Massage office through our Contact page. We have six locations throughout the Portland Metro Area, allowing us to be here when you need us!

July 17, 2018/0 Comments/by Dr. Darren

Portland Chiropractor

See an Auto Accident Chiropractor to Prevent Future Problems

It may seem obvious to seek auto-related chiropractic care after a car accident, but what about when you are feeling fine, having not been in a car accident. Sounds crazy, right? Whether or not you have been in a car accident, a knowledgeable chiropractor can treat or help to prevent future musculoskeletal issues.

Setting Your Spine Up For Success

Typically, a patient waits until after they are in pain to seek medical treatment. Think about it like dental care, if we waited until only after there was pain, we would have far fewer smiles walking around. Seeking preventative chiropractic care is a smart move, especially the specific wisdom of an auto accident chiropractor that can counteract future mishaps.

Preparing Your Back For Battle

The most common conditions chiropractors treat are called subluxations, more simply referred to as misalignments of the spine. These misalignments are often caused by nerves pinching in your back.

A patient may not necessarily feel pain related to these misalignments or may have become accustomed to certain aches and pains. Taking that already injured spine into a car accident will only further exacerbate the issue, causing injuries that could have been far less painful with proper prior maintenance.

Correcting Your Posture

Whether you sit all day for work or find yourself hunching over your phone, it is pretty common to have bad posture. But patients don’t often realize they are setting themselves up for issues down the road, on the road.

Imagine taking an incorrect, forward headed posture into a car accident. It is possible that going into an accident with bad posture could lead to injuries not otherwise sustained if one had a healthy back. Bad posture might be the difference between walking away from a simple fender bender and a car accident that requires years of expensive medical attention.

Knowing Your Body and Back

Chiropractors are able to diagnose a number of ailments, from degenerative back disorders to osteoarthritis and vertigo. Many random aches and pains you experience throughout your lifetime can be deciphered through chiropractic care. Understanding those issues will be useful once injured in a car accident, or even prevent accidents from happening in the first place.

Preventative care can go a long way in maintaining your body for years to come. Whether you have been in an accident, or what to avoid costly injuries down the road, it is a great idea to contact a specialist. Reach out to Accident Care Chiropractic at (503) 660-8552.

July 4, 2018/0 Comments/by Dr. Darren

Automobile Injury Chiropractic, Car Accident Chiropractor, Car Accident Doctor, Chiropractic Injuries, Gresham Chiropractor, Hillsboro Chiropractor, Portland Chiropractor

What Happens to a Child’s Body in a Car Accident?

We all want to keep our kids as safe as possible, which is why we go to such great lengths to read labels and comparison shop to find the best products for our kids. Unfortunately, we can’t always protect them from harm. Even with a car that receives top safety ratings and a car seat designed to protect a child’s small body, a car accident can subject a child’s body to extreme forces, resulting in injury or even death.

The good news is, car seats are designed to provide extra protection thanks to 5-point harnesses, additional padding, and other safety precautions. Even older kids can benefit from belt positioning booster seats until they are large enough to use the seat belt normally. According to Partners for Child Passenger Safety (PCPS), such precautions can reduce the risk of injury by 58% in side impact crashes, which tend to be the most harmful to child passengers.

Still, the majority of crashes are front or rear end collisions. Any time you’re in an accident, you need to understand how your children could be affected. Here’s what can happen to a child’s body in an accident.

Impact

When an impact occurs, it subjects the driver and passengers to incredible forces that generally cause the body to whip back and forth or side to side, depending on where impact occurs. For safety reasons, children are often placed in the second row of seats.

This, paired with the use of appropriate car seats or boosters can help to minimize harm to children, but they’re still going to experience at least some impact force, which will cause them to be thrust away from the impact site and then whipped back toward it. Accidents can also result in broken glass and debris inside the car that can harm child passengers.

Injury

While adults most frequently suffer from injuries like whiplash, traumatic brain injury, and broken bones as a result of car accidents, the injuries most common to children can be a bit different. Head injuries and concussions also frequently occur with child passengers, but children may also be more susceptible than adults to chest and back injuries, as well as organ damage.

As with adults, the harm done to children is not always clear in the immediate aftermath of an accident, which is why children involved in auto collisions should always be thoroughly examined by medical professionals as soon as possible to diagnose potential injuries and begin necessary treatment.

Get help from Accident Care Chiropractic today. Contact Us.

June 23, 2018/0 Comments/by Dr. Darren

Chiropractic Procedures, Portland Chiropractor

4 Benefits of Regular Chiropractic Care

Most people seek out a chiropractor because they are in some kind of physical pain. This is because chiropractic care is a fast and effective method for alleviating acute pain. But there are many other health advantages associated with regular chiropractic care and adjustments. Better sleep, better posture, an improved mood, and less stress are just four of the amazing benefits of regular chiropractic care.

Better Sleep

Sleep issues have become prevalent in America today. Although there are many factors involved in getting a good night’s sleep, the majority of sleep troubles stem from either stress, body pain, or both. By having regular chiropractic adjustments, you can address both issues, easing your aches and reducing your stress level at the same time. Consistent chiropractic care can enable you to get better rest each night.

Better Posture

Modern life — with all of its sitting, computer and phone use, and driving — can have a negative impact on your posture. Fortunately, consistent chiropractic adjustments can align your spine and improve your posture over time. If you have curvatures in your spine or neck, or if you simply spend a lot of time at your desk, chiropractic care can slowly correct any imbalances and help you to stand and sit up straight.

An Improved Mood

When you receive a chiropractic adjustment, you are working to adjust your whole body system, including your body chemistry. Chiropractic adjustments can help correct chemical and hormonal imbalances, leading to better moods. Individuals suffering from depression, ADHD and other ailments have shown improvement with regular chiropractic care.

Less Stress

When your body doesn’t feel right, this can contribute to feelings of stress. When your stress begins to spiral out of control, you hold tension in your body, contributing to increased pain. Chiropractic care can help you break this pain-stress cycle. Regular chiropractic adjustments can allow your body to find balance, release tension, and relax. When you are relaxed, you can address whatever problems life throws at you without becoming overwhelmed. Relieve the source of your physical stress with regular chiropractic treatment, and allow the mental stress to follow.

This list only begins to scratch the surface when it comes to the beneficial aspects of regular chiropractic treatment. If you are in physical pain, or you find yourself afflicted by any of the conditions mentioned above, contact Accident Care Chiropractic to make an appointment today.

April 2, 2018/0 Comments/by Dr. Darren

Chiropractic Injuries, Portland Chiropractor

How to Choose the Best Chiropractor for Your Injury

How to Choose the Best Chiropractor for Your Injury

Chiropractic treatment is proven effective in the treatment of several different injuries. Whether you are suffering from chronic headaches or muscle spasms, if you’ve been involved in a car accident or suffering from too many hours in front of a laptop – chiropractic treatment can help. However, researching chiropractors and treatment options is akin to finding any other medical assistance, and an injured individual must be particular in finding the best chiropractor of his or her injury.

Understand How a Chiropractor Is Certified

The best chiropractor for your injury treatment should hold some qualification to perform adjustments and provide treatment advice. A certified chiropractor is required to complete a stringent program called a Doctor of Chiropractic. A DC after the chiropractor’s name denotes this educational requirement and certification, similar to a MD or JD, for medical doctor and juris doctor, respectively. Usually you can determine a chiropractor’s level of education and type of certification by a quick online search, but if it isn’t specified on a website or industry referral, feel free to ask.

The specific field of study or specialization of a certification program, and potential benefit of a specific qualification to your improvement, varies by injury. Some of the possible areas of focus include pharmacology, gross anatomy, and neurology. And there are many others that deal with a specific area of the body or method of treatment.

Be Scrupulous About the Technique and Treatments Used

In the world of modern medicine the same illness or injury can be treated through different techniques and approaches. For example, if you see a doctor with complaints of lower back pain, one could prescribe a prescription drug, while the other recommends a specific lifestyle change. In many instances, these treatment plans are divisive, but both can be medically sound way to advise and treat a patient.

The same differences in technique and treatment exist among chiropractors. Returning to the issue of lower back pain, it’s entirely possible that two chiropractors will recommend and use two different techniques to treat the same pain. You should know and understand a chiropractor’s preferred technique before you arrive for your first correction or treatment.

It could be helpful for your particular injury to see a chiropractor that offers additional treatments, such as acupuncture or massage therapy. Other treatments that might be offered by a chiropractor, or someone in the chiropractic office, are interferential electric muscle stimulation, cryotherapy, sensory deprivation, counseling for emotional issues, chronic stress, or on nutritional information, and other alternative therapies.

Understand How the Treatments Will Be Structured

Before your first chiropractic treatment, and for every treatment after that, the best chiropractor for your injury will have an intended, but malleable, treatment plan. This treatment plan should be shared with you.

Some of the information a chiropractor should relay is the duration of each treatment and overall timeframe of your treatments. Within the initial meeting with a chiropractor you should know if the recommended treatment plan should take weeks or months. A chiropractor might be unwilling to provide an exact outline of your treatment, but should at least form a rough estimate based on your symptoms.

Be open to a proposed treatment plan and duration of corrections, as the best chiropractor for a particular injury may have an approach very different from what you anticipated.

It’s a Very Personal Decision

While these recommendations and tips for choosing the best chiropractor may inform your online search or give you direction, ultimately you choice in chiropractor is a personal decision. Skill and technique will always be important, critical even, but finding a good personality fit and working with a chiropractor you trust are equally essential.

When it comes to your recovery, you need a chiropractor that offers good advice, in an understandable and useable manner. Weighing these and other subjective considerations is a big step towards choosing the chiropractor for your injury.

To speak with a top chiropractor contact AccidentCare Chiropractic at (503)-660-8552 or visit our website at https://accidentcarechiropractic.com/.

March 1, 2018/0 Comments/by Dr. Darren

Chiropractic Procedures, Portland Chiropractor

Common Workplace Injuries Helped by Chiropractic Care

What Are Common Workplace Injuries Helped by Chiropractic Procedures?

If you are injured at work in Portland or other parts of Oregon, you are able to seek special benefits and compensation to cover your injuries called workers compensation. Part of the medical treatment you are entitled to receive is therapy and follow-up procedures. Many employers will also cover chiropractic procedures for many musculoskeletal and similar injuries.

Wondering what common workplace injuries are improved, and even healed, by chiropractic services? It turns out, a large number of workplace injuries (one in three) impact the musculoskeletal systems, which are treated by chiropractors.

#1: Neck Strains and Injuries

The neck is a sensitive part of the body. Injuries here can result in stiffness, aches, and other types of pain, even if the accident leading to such injury isn’t severe. Frequently, neck injuries aren’t just painful, but debilitating. As well, neck strains and pulls tend to linger longer than other workplace injuries. For both of these reasons, chiropractic procedures are a great option to treat workplace incidents that result in a neck strain.

How do people suffer neck strains or other injuries at work? Slips and falls are the most common cause, but motor vehicle accidents, lifting heavy loads, and also sitting or typing in an uncomfortable position can also cause substantial problems – all of which, chiropractic procedures could solve.

#2: Repetitive Motion Injuries

Under Oregon workers’ compensation there is a specific class of workplace injury called repetitive motion injuries. Often called, repetitive strain injuries or RSI, these are conditions that arise from overuse or performing the same motion over-and-over again with bad technique.

These injuries can impact several parts of the body, including the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and even the nerves. Each of these body parts can be served and sedated by chiropractic services. Therefore, chiropractors, like those at AccidentCare Chiropractic, can treat many different repetitive motion injuries.

Furthermore, repetitive motion injuries don’t just occur in one part of the body but can impact the fingers, wrists, neck, shoulders, legs, ankles, or feet. The specific ailments or injuries that are associated with repetitive motion include tendinitis, bursitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

#3: Back Injuries from Improper Lifting

Manual manipulation of materials or equipment is a common injury in the workplace. In particular, people working in retail, hospitality, as nurses, or in home health care are frequently lifting heavy loads or moving materials and patients. Back strains and similar muscular injuries in the back and shoulders are regular occurrences in these professions. Often, short-term back injuries go untreated by employees, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

Chiropractic procedures, including manual therapy and soft-tissue rehabilitation, can help soothe back muscles and release tightness throughout the back. Furthermore, the small adjustments made through chiropractic procedures can help prevent future back strains and muscular injuries from occurring.

#4: Headaches

The exact cause of chronic or ongoing headaches can be difficult to discern, but when traceable to a workplace injury or condition it is usually the result of poor posture. Millions upon millions of Americans spend their days working at a desk or standing in a rigid position. What happens after months or years of these working conditions? Employees start to slump, slouch, and pick up poor posture habits in an effort to be more comfortable.

However, the end result usually isn’t less pain, but a brand new source of it. After sitting in an awkward or uncomfortable position for many hours, people can develop migraines or ongoing headaches. It might be surprising, but chiropractic procedures can alleviate these headaches.

Do You Need to Address a Workplace Injury?

If you are suffering from a workplace injury the first step is to inform your employer. Workers’ compensation benefits and other rights afforded employees are only available after your employer has been informed and a claim made to the appropriate insurance provider.

Once your employer is informed, you should seek treatment. If your workplace injury is musculoskeletal or causing headaches, a chiropractor may provide relief, and could possibly resolve your injury. To find out more call AccidentCare Chiropractic at (503)-660-8552 or visit our website at https://accidentcarechiropractic.com/

February 20, 2018/0 Comments/by Dr. Darren