From Dr. Natalie Meiri’s Clinical Pearl Stories: West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Bicyclist Versus Motor Vehicle Accident
This was a 58 year old female patient with neck, back and left wrist pain following a Bicyclist Versus Motor Vehicle Accident. To be HIPAA compliant, I will call her Selma instead of her real name.
Selma came to my office in a lot of pain. She had gone to the hospital after the accident. There she was tested, given a prescription for drugs and then was released. This was Selma’s second car accident. At the hospital, they had told her chiropractic was not appropriate at this time. However, Selma had been a regular chiropractic patient for many years. Selma knew she needed to get chiropractic care as soon as possible. She had experienced the benefits of chiropractic following her first car accident. So Selma came in the next day to my office.
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Bicyclist Versus Motor Vehicle Accident: Selma’s History
Selma fell off her bike when hit by a car from behind. She suffered multiple lacerations/contusions and a concussion besides from her neck, back, and left wrist injury. Selma stated she did loose consciousness (was wearing a helmet) after hitting her head. And she had headaches due to this accident that were constant.
Selma’s pain started right after the car accident and got progressively worse. Moreover, she had difficulty sleeping due to the pain. Selma was taking NSAIDS (e.g aspirin) and/or acetaminophen (e.g. tylenol) prescribed by the hospital and icing which helped a little.
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Bicyclist Versus Motor Vehicle Accident: Selma’s Examination
Selma presented to my office with her neck forward in antalgia (away from pain) and guarding/holding her left painful wrist with her uninjured right hand.
Upon examination, I found positive tests for sprains in her cervical (neck), thoracic (mid back), and lumbar (low back) spine. A sprain is a joint injury in which some of the fibers of a supporting ligament are torn or ruptured. However, the continuity of the ligament (ligaments connect bones to bones within a joint) remains intact.
Selma’s left wrist diagnosis was a strain. Tendons connect bones to muscles. A strain is an overstretching and tearing of musculotendinous tissue (tendons connect bones to muscles).
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Bicyclist Versus Motor Vehicle Accident: Selma’s Emergency/Hospital Imaging/report
Selma’s imaging (e.g. x-rays, Cat-scan) reports for her head and spine all stated no fractures found and “unremarkable” from the hospital/E.R.
I would order further imaging (e.g. MRI) if there was no improvement after 12 visits or possibly sooner if necessary.
Whip-lash, Post-Concussion/traumatic Brain Injury and Chiropractic Care
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 10 million people are affected annually by traumatic brain injury (TBI). And it is an injury that will possibly surpass many fatal diseases as the primary cause of death and disability in the future.
Post-Concussion Syndrome (traumatic brain injury), is an alteration in brain function caused by an external force. Symptoms include: headache, cognitive/emotional symptoms (e.g. foggy, unstable feeling), physical signs (loss of consciousness, amnesia, neurological deficit), Balance problems, behavioral changes (irritability), cognitive impairment (e.g. reaction times slowed), sleep disturbances.
Conventional treatment for Post-Concussion Syndrome/ traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves medication and education/ support. There are case studies reporting improvement in TBI symptoms through chiropractic management.
The current research suggests that spinal misalignments (chiropractic subluxation) can change the way the central nervous system (CNS) processes sensory motor integration. TBI is known to cause cognitive (thinking) changes leading to abnormal brain function. Moreover, the symptoms seen in TBI are influenced by a combination of sensory information such as balance, visual processing, motor control and proprioception. And the current research demonstrates improvement in sensory integration following chiropractic spinal manipulations. Indeed, there is a cause for chiropractic research to investigate these sensory integration functions.
Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash is defined (by the Quebec task force on whiplash) as “bony or soft tissue injuries” resulting “from rear-end or side-impact, predominantly in motor vehicle accidents, and from other mishaps” as a result of “an acceleration-deceleration mechanism of energy transfer to the neck” as Selma had in her bicycle accident.
Chiropractic treatment/management of whiplash injuries is effective. Chiropractors are quite diverse in their manual treatment approaches for the evaluation and management of concussions and whiplash injuries. Patients who have sustained a concussion may find chiropractic therapy important as a part of their recovery because of the presence of cervicogenic (neck) components.
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Bicyclist Versus Motor Vehicle Accident: Selma’s Treatment
Firstly, starting at 3 times a week and then 2-3 times a week, Selma’s treatments included chiropractic adjustments/manipulation to her neck, mid back, left wrist and associated regions. Secondly, soft tissue therapy (myofascial release, pressure point and various post isometric relaxation procedures) and modalities (cold/heat therapy and electric muscle stimulation) were administered as needed. Thirdly, nutritional recommendations were made for as well. Fourthly, therapeutic exercises were prescribed and continued at home. Lastly, Selma did see her primary Care physician to monitor the concussion and was provided advice for cognitive and physical issues.
Selma’s condition improved slowly, but steadily. After a few months of care she got her range of motion/function back in her neck, back and left wrist. Her headaches also dissipated.
Chiropractic helps you heal without invasive surgical procedures or drugs as in Selma’s case. It restores your mobility, functionality and overall health!
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Bicyclist Versus Motor Vehicle Accident
At Meiri Chiropractic we spend the time necessary to examine, diagnose and treat every neuromusculoskeletal condition and various ailments you have. Chiropractic is a holistic and natural way to not only treat existing conditions, but to keep your body in its best working condition. Meiri Chiropractic has been offering effective chiropractic care in Palm Beach county since 2006. Many of our patient reviews note our excellence. Call us today at 561-253-8984 to make an appointment or to find out more about West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Bicyclist Versus Motor Vehicle Accident.