That’s why a checkup with your chiropractor is a vital step to ensure that you’re covering all the bases needed for a successful recovery.

Some Injury Symptoms May Be Delayed After an Accident

It’s possible not to feel pain or symptoms for hours or even weeks after a collision.

The reasons for this aren’t fully known, but one explanation is that your body undergoes a surge of adrenaline during an accident or other traumatic experience. This chemical reaction may mask the pain temporarily.

Injury symptoms that could be delayed include:

• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Changes in behavior or sleep
• Headaches
• Neck or back pain
• Numbness

With the most common car accident injury, whiplash, it’s not unusual for symptoms to take weeks or even longer to show up. Be aware of whiplash signs such as:

• Neck, back or shoulder pain
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness

Benefits of Chiropractic Care After an Accident

Even low-speed collisions can cause spinal misalignments and damage to bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Adding to the problem, pain and stiffness can cause you to move differently, creating imbalances that lead to further injury.

With their specialty in addressing musculoskeletal problems, chiropractors are trained to treat whiplash, soft tissue damage and other car accident injuries. They correct spinal misalignments and treat the causes of pain, rather than masking symptoms with pain medications.

Your chiropractor creates a custom treatment plan that may include spinal adjustments, massage and other therapies that let your body heal, and provide many benefits:

• Improved mobility and range of motion
• Better immune function
• Reduced inflammation
• Pain relief
• Reduction of scar tissue
• Relief from soreness and stiffness

Tips for Better Healing After an Auto Accident

No matter what your symptoms, it’s important to recognize that your body has been through a trauma.  Give yourself time to take it easy and be on the alert for any emerging symptoms.

Consider these self-care practices:

Apply ice to any swelling during the first few days to reduce pain and inflammation.

Gentle stretching helps with stiffness during recovery. Your chiropractor can advise you about when it’s safe to stretch.

Mild exercise like walking preserves mobility. Avoid working out or performing demanding tasks for at least a few days.

Get lots of hydration. Your body needs extra water to help with the healing process. Avoid sugary drinks–sugar increases inflammation and interferes with healing.

Plenty of sleep and a healthy diet are especially important to promote healing.

The experience and aftermath of a car accident are highly stressful. Knowing you’ve been proactive in treating any injuries will give you the peace of mind you need for a smoother recovery.

Make an Appointment for a Complimentary Consultation at our Broken Arrow Office

Your healing can begin today–call Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic at 918-940-4630.

The post Healing After a Car Accident: How Your Chiropractor Can Help first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Low-impact accidents cause early aging, degeneration, and wear and tear in the spine. Seemingly benign accidents occur at very low speeds or impact. Many symptom-filled people express surprise at the amount of degeneration and wear and tear present in their spine. Most determine that they cannot recall an isolated event severe enough to cause long-term damage. Yet research shows that even low-impact motor vehicle accidents still produce significant negative changes in the spine which include disc degeneration, bulges, and protrusions. Each of these conditions contributes to pain and discomfort easily treated by proactive health care treatment.

Researchers evaluated one-hundred, normal asymptomatic adults and compared them to one-hundred adult accident victims following rear low-impact motor vehicle accidents using an MRI. The ages ranged from eighteen to fifty-three years old with a median age of thirty-five years. Asymptomatic means the subjects experienced no symptoms. This study evaluated one group of 100 normal spines of individuals with no pain or symptoms and compared them to a group of 100 people involved in a low-impact motor vehicle accident within the previous 1214 weeks.

The following four categories help explain the results of the study:

                                                                100 Normal Subjects                                                      100 Whiplash Victims
Loss of good neck curvature                        4%                                                                                             98%

Frontward range of motion                 50 degrees                                                                                25 degrees

Backward range of motion                  60 degrees                                                                                35 degrees

Disc Herniations                                             2%                                                                                             28%

The study demonstrates that low impact accidents of any type can and will create significant problems in the spine which must be addressed. Some problems even occur without the presence of immediate symptoms but translate into permanent injuries after the body’s natural pain adaptation abilities deteriorate. Subjects in a low impact car accident lost 50% more range of motion in their spine, suffered twenty-five times more loss of proper neck curvature, and experienced fourteen times more disc herniations than those who had not been in a recent car accident.

The findings of this study demonstrate why anyone in any type of motor vehicle accident, high or low impact, needs to have their spine evaluated and cared for immediately following the accident. Chiropractors deliver gentle adjustments which improve spinal range of motion, halt or slow the degenerate process, and improve central nervous system function. Even the lowest speed car accidents and traumas possess the ability to create permanent spinal problems and degeneration. A proactive approach to spine and neck care creates the opportunity to halt or reverse pain and long-term health concerns. Accidents happen but Chiropractic helps repair the damage.

The post The Most Gentle Car Accidents Still Cause Whiplash Damage: Chiropractic Offers a Healthy Solution first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Even at low speeds, motor vehicle collisions can have a catastrophic effect on the human anatomy. Auto accidents damage bones, nerves, muscles, tendons and more, and the resulting pain can be debilitating.

Seeking chiropractic treatment as soon as possible is your best bet for overcoming the pain you are experiencing while accelerating the healing process. If you don’t seek out a trusted chiropractor, you risk allowing your injuries to lead to chronic pain that affects you for years.

According to survey of chronic pain sufferers, nearly half – 45 percent – reported that they could trace their condition back to an auto accident. Don’t be one of the people that deals with ongoing discomfort because they didn’t see a chiropractor after a collision.

Common Back Injuries Related Auto Accidents

There are many different types of injuries that car accident victims can experience. The spinal system’s complex network of nerves, discs, muscles, tendons and ligaments is very delicate and very vulnerable to the sudden impacts and shifts associated with collisions.

It doesn’t take much to cause damage. Even a 5 mph collision can lead to whiplash.

Here is a quick rundown of some of the most common back injuries that result from auto accidents:

Cervical Spine Injuries

When the head is whipped back and forth quickly during collision impact, injuries to the cervical spine are common. This type of condition is usually referred to as whiplash. Damage to the vertebrae and nerves can cause long-term pain and stiffness.

Thoracic Spine Injuries

Damage to the thoracic spine, or the upper back, is also common during a wreck. An injury to this part of the anatomy can result in permanent nerve damage and chronic pain.

Lumbar Spine Injuries

The strongest muscles and largest vertebra are located in the lumbar spine in your lower back. Damage here can limit mobility and bring a great deal of pain.

Herniated Discs

The discs between each individual vertebrae provide protection. During an accident, these discs can be knocked out of place, putting pressure on surrounding nerves. Herniated discs can create painful sensations in the lower back and throughout the legs.

Auto Accident Chiropractor in Broken Arrow

Dr. Travis Ring at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic recommends that you seek early treatment after a car collision. Early intervention is always the best approach because it allows you to begin to feel better sooner while speeding the process of healing.  To learn more about our auto accident chiropractic services, or to schedule an appointment, call 918-940-4630 now!

The post Chiropractic Care for Car Accidents in Broken Arrow first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

One such doctor we continue to neglect until the very last moment is our chiropractor. Let’s face it, if we don’t feel pain in our back, then we’re convinced we don’t need a spinal adjustment, but there are other benefits to be gained from a visit to a chiropractor that can drastically improve our emotional and physical well-being. Below are seven signs that you should make an appointment with your chiropractor today.

1. Chronic back pain

The most obvious telltale sign that you need to go see the chiropractor is if you are experiencing back pain. There are several factors that can contribute to chronic back pain, including your posture, type of work, and how many hours a day you are on your feet. A chiropractor can provide you with relief from this pain without the use of invasive surgery or prescription medications.

2. Muscle or joint pain.

Chiropractors can do more than just relieve back pain. They are trained in both non-invasive spinal manipulation and massage therapy and can relieve pain in your muscles or joints by increasing blood flow and nerve conductivity in those areas.

3. Headaches

Headaches can be caused by a number of things, including oxygen deprivation, dehydration, and malnutrition. How much blood is able to reach the brain can also have a big impact. A chiropractor can help relieve headaches by improving your blood flow and increasing your brain’s oxygen supply. They may also recommend a change to your diet in order to improve your overall health.

4. Range of motion becomes limited

If you find you cannot turn your head/neck as far as you used to, or if you experience pain in doing so, it may be a good time to see the chiropractor. Stiff muscles and limited blood flow can contribute to a decrease in your overall flexibility. Stiffness or less flexibility in your extremities is another indicator of an issue, so be sure to have yourself checked out if any of these begin to occur.

5. A recent accident

An auto accident or a sports-related injury is one of the many scenarios where you can encounter an “invisible injury,” meaning that you may appear fine on the surface, but you are actually dealing with a serious internal injury. A chiropractor should be able to diagnose such an issue and be able to help you relieve it, although additional medical consultations may be suggested.

6. Arthritis diagnosis

“If you have recently been diagnosed with arthritis, your chiropractor may be able to help,” said Dr. Holly Westbrock, an Eden Prairie, MN chiropractor.  “Chiropractors work to relieve pain from arthritis without using invasive surgery, but rather through physical therapy.  They may be able to help you maintain the condition and prevent it from spreading to other muscles or joints in your body.”

7. Your “health-conscious” lifestyle needs improving

If you feel your lifestyle needs improvement or you just want to be more aware of taking care of your body, your chiropractor is an excellent source of information. They can provide you with appropriate exercise habits, nutritional guidance, and stress-relief techniques to improve both your emotional and physical well-being.

The post When Should I Go To a Chiropractor? first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.