I was involved in an accident that caused lifelong injuries.  If I had known more about whiplash, I would have sought proper care from a qualified doctor right away.  Unfortunately, no one told me that whiplash symptoms could come on slowly, weeks and months after an accident.  The forces generated during accidents are great and cause injuries that are very real.  My pain is a daily reminder just how dangerous car accidents can be, and how important it is to get the right kind of care immediately.

 

Years ago I accepted a ride from a friend.  I didn’t realize until after I was in the car that he had been drinking.  He started to drive faster and faster and I begged him to stop, to let me out. I screamed at him, but he kept going faster.  Eventually, he flipped the car over and into a ditch.  I remember smashing my head several times against the roof of the car as it tumbled and came to a stop.  Then there was a long silence.  I crawled out of the wreckage and at first felt o.k. I didn’t realize until later how hurt I was.

 

Weeks later I started to get headaches.  I never had headaches before.  My neck started to hurt as well, and I never had neck pain before. The symptoms came on slowly, and at first I just hoped they would go away. I didn’t even relate them to the accident.

 

When the pain wouldn’t go away, I finally went to a medical doctor.  The doctor didn’t really examine me, and never even touched my neck.  He said that I would be “alright” and just needed some anti-inflammatory medication.  He didn’t take me seriously, even though I had significant accident related injuries that weren’t going away.

 

Scientists and doctors who are knowledgeable about whiplash recognize the symptoms that can come about weeks and months after an accident.  These symptoms include but are not limited to;

-         neck pain

-         headaches

-         ringing in the ears

-         jaw pain

-         dizziness

-         nausea

-         vomiting

-         mid back pain

-         lower back pain

-         numbness and tingling

-         chest pain

-         knee pain

-         loss of memory

-         loss of concentration

-         difficulty sleeping

-         difficulty swallowing

-         fatigue and irritability

 

The symptoms can be delayed, because it takes time for swelling to occur deep in the tissues of the spine.

 

Accident research done with crash test dummies reveals just how dangerous accidents can be.  When cars that weigh thousands of pounds collide, they produce tremendous forces.  These forces are concentrated on the occupants inside the vehicles.  Even at very low speeds the forces on the passengers are great enough to rip and tear the ligaments and tendons that hold the spine together.  These forces can lead to paralysis and death even at relatively low speeds.  For example, at just 15mph the forces on the spine and nervous system are the equivalent to falling from a second story window!

 

Damage to the vehicle is a poor indicator of whether or not someone is injured.  Scientists know that serious injuries can occur with only minor car damage.  Cars that are crushed on impact actually absorb most of the force that would otherwise be transferred to its occupants.  Remember, even if there is no damage to the vehicles, always get yourself checked for hidden injuries.

 

Regardless how you feel after an accident, always get checked by a qualified doctor of chiropractic.  Even if the accident seemed like a minor fender bender and there was little or no damage to the cars involved, you can still have hidden injuries.  These injuries can cause pain weeks and months after the accident.  Eventually they can even lead to a dangerous condition called “post/traumatic/osteoarthritis”.

 

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis is brought on by misalignments in the spine caused by accidents.  When the ligaments that hold our spines together are ripped and torn, our necks and backs move abnormally.  These abnormal movements lead to excessive wear and tear on the joints and cause them to break down prematurely. 

 

It’s important to get a proper evaluation from a chiropractor.  Even a low speed crash can cause serious injuries.

Get checked even if you have no symptoms initially.

Get checked even if the initial emergency room exam was “normal”.

Get checked by a doctor of chiropractic.  Get a proper history taken of how the accident happened and where you might be hurt.  Have that doctor check your spine for proper alignment, and have x-rays done if necessary.  Until your spine has been checked for “sub-lux-ations” (bones out of alignment) you have not been properly examined, and only a chiropractor is qualified to do this. 

 

I get my spine checked regularly now, but much of the damage that’s been done could have been avoided.  I have posttraumatic arthritis that causes pain daily.  Had I been properly evaluated early on, I could have avoided a lot of pain.  When the problem is new, it’s much easier to take care of.  Always get checked by a chiropractor after an accident of any kind.

 

For information about whiplash injuries visit whiplashdenver.com or call me at (303) 394-CARE.

 

Dr. Visentin, D.C.

Whiplash Specialist

Care Chiropractic

Denver, Colorado

Tags: accident, accident Denver, Chiropractor Denver, Denver accident, denver chiropractor, Denver whiplash, whiplash denver