About
Arbor Lakes Chiropractic
Have
you been in a car accident?
Being
involved in a car accident is not fun. It is something we all wish to avoid, but
unfortunately it does happen. Being injured in the accident is even more
frustrating. Even a minor fender bender can cause great damage to our bodies,
especially the spinal joints. This
type of injury can be sneaky. Sometimes symptoms present themselves immediately,
and other times they don’t show up until months later. Medical research shows
that any car accident can cause long term health problems if left unresolved.
Just because you don’t experience immediate pain doesn’t mean you weren’t
injured. We can help you.
Q:
You are a family wellness center, will you still help someone who has
been in a car accident?
A:
Yes. Although we are
primarily a wellness practice, we have years of experience helping people who
have injuries such as these. Complete recovery from a personal injury is
absolutely vital for future wellness.
A:
Yes. The spine and the soft
tissues around the spine are injured during an accident; this reduces normal
range of motion and prevents the spine from healing properly.
Spinal joints need to move to heal. If these joints are restricted the
muscles, tendons, ligaments and discs won’t heal correctly.
A: You do not need a medical referral to see a chiropractor. You have the right to receive your personal injury care where you want.
Q:
What happens to my spine in a car
accident?
A:
During a car accident your spine is exposed to a great deal of force.
This force is greater than the resistance of the muscles, ligaments,
tendons and discs around the spine leading to damage.
The damage might be a little or a lot, but the injuries will set in
motion a cascade of degeneration that will lead to a decrease in your health.
At the time
of impact, your body received a jolt by four forces. These four forces
are: 1.) Compression of the spine; 2.)
Tension on the joints, muscles, ligaments, discs, and bones; 3.) Shearing
forces, especially in the intervertebral discs and 4.) Rotational forces.
These four forces lead to spinal instability and spinal nerve damage.
Q:
Can a minor car accident cause all the pain and problems I’m
experiencing?
A:
Yes. If your accident caused
only minor damage to your vehicle you can still be seriously hurt. Documented
studies clearly show that in collisions
less than 20 mph the amount of damage to the automobile bears little relation to
the force applied to the occupants.
Research
has shown that injuries can occur in speeds as low as 3 to 5 miles per hour.
In low speed collisions such as these, less
damage to the car means more force is transferred to the occupants of the
vehicle, resulting in more spinal damage and injury.
Q:
My health problems started 3 months after the accident.
Could the accident be the cause of the problem?
A: Absolutely. The instability and damage that results from an impact can lead to symptoms that don’t appear until up to 6 months following the accident.
Q:
Does my automobile insurance cover Chiropractic Care?
A:
Yes. In most cases your
automobile insurance covers 100% of your care. Because
A:
Do not sign anything or settle until
you have had us evaluate your injury. If you settle before your injury is
fully resolved, you will be responsible for further treatment costs, not the
insurance company.
A:
It is important to get checked out by
the doctor first, that way the findings from your exam will allow you the
information you need to decide if an attorney is necessary. If necessary, we can
refer you to a reputable and qualified attorney.
Q: I’ve been to the hospital and my medical doctor, do I really need to get a chiropractic evaluation?
A:
You need to be evaluated by a doctor
that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of the physical damage and injury
that result from an auto accident. Hospitals will check vital signs and
for evidence of fracture or bleeding, then release the patient with pain relief
medication and muscle relaxers. They are concerned with life and death – not
spinal function and soft tissue injuries. They do not treat the improper
biomechanics that lead to future pain.
It
is important to understand that pills do not correct structural or soft tissue
damage. A physical approach to care such as chiropractic is the only way
to effectively correct physical damage.
A:
The care is very gentle and quite
soothing. Most patients can hardly wait to get their care. In the
beginning of care there is often a great deal of inflammation that may flare-up,
but the care itself will not cause any further damage. If this is the case for
you we will recommend self care methods that will maximize your relief while
still encouraging healing. We will tailor our care to your unique case to
allow the quickest recovery with as little pain as possible.
A:
All you have to do is give us a call.
If you want more information, go to the section on our web page titled
“Making An Appointment” for instructions on how to make an appointment.
If you already have a claim number please bring it along, this will help
with the paperwork.