By Michael Polsinelli, D.C., Advanced Spinal Care Center
It is very common 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 fine after an injury, but it can sneak up on them. First, the pain will come and go, gradually get worse and then over time become chronic.
Even small accidents can cause injuries to the soft tissue. Studies have shown that injuries can occur at very low speeds (new studies say 2.5 mph). These soft tissue injuries can become permanent and haunt us for the rest of our lives.
We might think that we will be OK after an injury because a medical doctor checked us out. When we go to the emergency room after an accident, MDs are ruling out life-threatening injuries such as internal bleeding, punctured lungs, and broken bones. Unfortunately, most are not looking for and will frequently miss soft tissue injuries.
You may have a soft tissue injury if you are suffering from muscle spasms, headaches, stiffness, numbness or tingling, neck or back pain, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, and concentration/thinking problems.
One thing that I look for is an upper neck misalignment because it is the most vulnerable to shifting or twisting out of position and can have a profound effect on our health.
When the atlas is wedged out of position, it will irritate the spinal cord, weakening the signal to many muscles causing weakness and instability. It will also affect signals going to organs, causing blood pressure, breathing, and digestion problems. I will also see a spinal twist that will cause the sacrum and hips to twist and a leg to go short. This creates pressure that wears on the discs and joints of the neck and back which can lead to osteoarthritis or degeneration.
Fortunately, this degeneration and instability can be halted. Using a firm but gentle touch on the neck, I move the atlas back into alignment. This untwists the dura and decompresses the spine which allows the hips and legs to become even. By removing pressure off of the spinal cord, muscles strengthen, which restores stability while reducing and removing pain and discomfort.
Get yourself examined by someone who specializes in soft tissue injuries (such as a chiropractor).
Get a lawyer who specializes in personal injuries and is not afraid of going to court. While we love to make fun of lawyers, these lawyers are doing a valuable job. They deal with insurance companies and other parties so that you can focus on getting well.
Consider an upper cervical chiropractor. The upper neck is the most vulnerable area of the spine, and if any other area of the spine is injured, it is highly likely that the upper neck is injured also. Some (like myself) also use other procedures that help your body heal.
If you are having headaches that are getting worse, immediately go to the emergency room.
If you are depressed, irritable, having trouble focusing or reading, or are suffering from memory loss, let your doctors and lawyer know.
If physical therapy is not helping or is hurting, see another professional.
Finally, avoid drugs. When you take medications, you are more likely to aggravate an injury. By deadening the pain, you are fooled into thinking that you can do more. Pain is our body’s way of telling us when something is wrong. Also, people on drugs often make bad decisions. (I’ve seen insurance adjustors take advantage of people in order to settle early.)
If you were in an accident years ago but still feel that you are not completely healed, give me a call for a free consultation.
TESTIMONIALS
“I feel like a new person. I can have a life with much less or no pain!” Gail K.
“After that first adjustment, my arms hummed to life. This was great! My body, after more than a decade, began to awaken.” Lisa M.
