Car accident injuries are a large part of what we see here in the office. Chiropractic care is ideal to treat these issues due to our hands on approach. Injuries from automobile accidents are immediate, but the pain can occur sometimes a day later, or even months to years later.
Untreated accident injuries lead to scar tissue build up in the ligaments of the spinal joints, and in the muscles. This very scar tissue that is meant to heal the body can actually be very harmful if left untreated. Scar tissue in the spinal joints disrupt the proper motion of these joints causing them to get stuck out of position leading to nerve irritation and eventual damage. Irritated nerves cause pain and or dysfunction in the body.
For instance, if there is an irritation to the nerves that go to a tooth in your mouth (think cavity) it causes pain. Similarly if there is an irritation to the nerves in your neck that travel down your arm it will cause neck and arm pain. In your low back nerve pressure will cause low back pain and possible leg pain known as sciatica. Sometimes a nerve can be irritated or “pinched” and it can cause a great deal of dysfunction. An example of this is if a spinal nerve that goes to your stomach is pinched your brain can not communicate with your stomach the way it should. When this occurs, your stomach does not function optimally and it can lead to things like heart burn, constipation, diarrhea or even ulcers.
A hands on approach to these injuries only makes sense. It’s a mechanical injury, so a mechanical means to rectify the problem makes more sense than a chemical method.
Prescription and over the counter drugs often do make a person feel better but do nothing to fix the problem. Chiropractic care fixes the problem by not allowing scar tissue to build up in the first place. Chiropractors do this by adjusting the spine. The chiropractic adjustment is a gentle movement of the bones that are out of position and stuck. We can do this with a computerized system or by using our hands, both methods are very comfortable. Chiropractors aside from osteopaths are the only health care professionals qualified and licensed to preform this procedure.
Chiropractors go to school for the same amount of time that medical doctors do. In addition to adjusting we help our patients by using special equipment like physical therapists to decrease muscle spasm and pain. We are also experts at teaching physiotherapy exercises and stretches to be done in the office and at home. We use techniques like massage therapist to break up scar tissue in the muscle fibers to increase flexibility, and decrease adhesions that can build up toxins and cause pain. Some one that has been in an automobile accident should always consult with a trained professional like a chiropractor because they have a complete hands on method to deal with mechanical problems resulting from car accidents.
If you have any questions or concerns after being involved in a car accident feel free to give us a call at 704-399-1300. Our mission is to help as many people as possible get well without the use of drugs or surgery.
Dr. Ryan Giel
