Want to Scare Me?

Good Morning Everyone!

       If anyone ever wants to scare me, you could do so with this statement:  "I was in a car accident, but I feel fine."  I'm truly worried for the health and well-being of anyone that says that.  My experience and research has seen that even the smallest impacts can have life changing effects on the body.  The most concerning effects are to the spine (most commonly the neck).  The neck can undergo structural changes that will lead to accelerated degeneration (arthritis).  Once this degeneration advances, it will bring neck pain, arm/hand pain, headaches and stiffness.  If left untreated, this can eventually result in chronic constant pain and the possible need for surgery. 

For those that need a little proof that this can happen from a small impact, please take a look at the following videos of a 6 mph rear-end collision (one that almost all of us has been in or may be in at some point):   

    

That was the collision from the outside (doesn't seem like much does it?).  Now lets take a look at what happens to the person inside the car:

Very traumatic for only a 6 mph collision!  Now lets take a look at the bones inside the neck to see what is

happening: 

This is what a normal cervical curve (pre-accident) looks like: (notice the nice "C" shaped curve)

Now lets look at what can happen initially following even the most minor accident: 

*Notice the reversal of the curve in the neck when compared to the one above.

Now lets take a look at what this looks like if left untreated for years:

*Notice the break-down of the vertebra in the mid-neck area.  At this point, we are limited to what we can do and this is not reversible.  Chiropractic can only provide symptomatic relief at this point (maybe limited with symptomatic relief also).

      So the obvious message this week is to make sure that you come in to get checked if you've gotten into even the most minor accident.  Also, please make sure that your family/friends come in to get checked if they've been in an accident.  The rule with you or anyone you know is to get checked as soon as possible after the accident.  Also, if you or someone you know has been in an accident months or years ago without care, make sure you or they get checked (that process that I showed above may be already happening to them).  Lastly, the condition that I showed above is NOT something that the hospital is going to go over with you after an accident.  The hospital will tell you that nothing is broken and that the pain you are feeling (if any) should go away with medication or rest.  

So be careful driving out there!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Jeff  

       

Any medical information provided in Doctor Jeff's Blog is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. Any information provided is not meant to diagnose, treat or manage any specific disease/condition.Doctor Jeff's Blog respects the confidentiality of individual patients and site visitors. All clinical anecdotes are compliant with HIPAA regulations.