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It is very common in my practice for new patients to tell me about longstanding complaints that started within a year after a car injury. I hear over and over how they never felt the same afterward. Sometimes, people think they are okay after an injury but later suffer from chronic pain. The pain can sneak up on them: First, it will come and go and gradually worsen. As we talk about their history, it is common for a patient to remember an accident close to their first memory of having their complaint.
Even minor accidents can cause soft tissue injuries. These injuries can become permanent and haunt us for the rest of our lives.
Insurance company-sponsored studies have shown that injuries can occur at very low speeds (5 mph), while other studies have shown that injuries can occur at speeds as low as 2.5 mph. While it is important to go to the emergency room after an accident to rule out life-threatening injuries such as internal bleeding, punctured lungs, and broken bones, most medical doctors and emergency rooms are not looking for and will frequently miss soft tissue injuries.
X-rays don’t show a soft tissue injury. You may have a soft tissue injury if you suffer from muscle spasms, headaches, stiffness, numbness or tingling, neck or back pain (including the lower back), difficulty sleeping, fatigue, and even difficulty concentrating. A soft tissue injury can also create an atlas misalignment, which can cause even more problems.
An accident or injury can tear loose the connective tissues holding our bones in place. The first bone in the neck does not have the bony locks that the other vertebrae have and is the most vulnerable to shifting or twisting out of position. When the atlas bone is wedged out of position, it will irritate the spinal cord, creating weakness in many postural muscles. This irritation on the spinal cord can also affect signals going to the organs, affecting blood pressure, breathing, and digestion. The misaligned atlas can also create a dural twist that will cause the sacrum and hips to twist and a leg to go short. This twist creates abnormal wear and tear on the spine and weight-bearing joints of the body.
Injuries cause microtears in the ligaments and tendons, creating instability in the spine. This instability causes some to complain that it is hard to keep their heads up. In its inherent wisdom, our body will sacrifice movement for stability. Over time, the ligaments between the bones start to calcify and fuse. We used to call this osteoarthritis, but the new name is degenerative joint disease.
Upper cervical doctors can align the atlas using a gentle touch or light tap behind the ear. This adjustment untwists the dura, allowing the hips and legs to become even. Muscles strengthen, restoring stability and slowing the progression of degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis. This correction reduces pain and improves function.
If you get injured in an auto accident, consider getting a lawyer who specializes in soft tissue injuries and is not afraid of going to court. While we love to make fun of lawyers, personal injury lawyers are doing a valuable job. They can deal with the insurance and opposing party so that you can focus on getting well and healing.
Consider an upper cervical chiropractor. The upper neck is the most vulnerable area of the spine, and if any other area is injured, the upper neck is likely injured also. Some upper cervical chiropractors also use other procedures that help your body heal injuries unrelated to the upper neck injury.
If you have headaches that worsen, immediately go to the emergency room.
If you are depressed, irritable, having trouble focusing or reading, or suffering from memory loss, let your doctors and lawyer know.
Finally, be careful with drugs. When you take medications, you are more likely to aggravate an injury. By deadening the pain, the medication can fool your body into thinking that you can do more than you can do. Pain is our body’s way of telling us when something is wrong. Also, people on drugs often make bad decisions, and many insurance companies will take advantage of this to settle early.
If you were in an accident years ago but still feel that you haven’t fully recovered, give me a call for a free consultation to see if we can slow arthritis and degeneration and improve function.
~Dr. Michael
