WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AUTO ACCIDENT INJURY

Whiplash

What Causes Whiplash (Cervical Acceleration/Deceleration Injury)?

During a car accident when the car is struck from behind (rear ended) the lower part of the body moves forward with the car while the head is thrown backward then forward then backward again. This type of injury is called hyperextension/hyperflexion which is one of the most injurious forces (G-force) to the neck.

This is a motion nature never intended humans to endure - the horizontal shear force accompanied by cervical compression.The mechanism of this injury occurs chiefly within the first 100-125msec of the car crash - meaning the time prior to the head making final contact with the head restraint.

If your car is rear-ended with such force that it is pushed forward to strike the car in front of you, then you may suffer from hyperextension/hyperflexion injury. This is considered a second whiplash injury, as often seen with multiple car pile ups.

Whathas happened to theinside ofmy body?

You may have heard, "It's just a soft tissue injury."

Here is the mechanism of injury to the soft tissue during a car accident - A stretching of the joint capsule, vertebral arteries and the intersegmental hyperextension of the lower cervical spine (compressive injury) which can result in long-term pain and biomechanical compromise.The muscle fibers are injured and/or torn as well as the nerve roots and in more serious cases the brachial plexus (network of nerves going through the shoulders)can be stretched beyond the normal limits.

What are the symptomsof whiplash injury?

• Neck pain/stiffness
• Shoulder pain -involving joints and/or rotator cuff muscles
• Upper back pain
• Headaches
• Diffused pain and/or numbness in upper extremities(Arms)
• Scapular and interscapular pain(in between the shoulder blades)
• Trigger point development in the neck and upper back
• Muscle pain and aches
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision

In some cases, patients have developed Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMJ), Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Double Crush Phenomenon following Whiplash injury.

If you have been involved in a car accident:

Don't be fooled in thinking you're not injured!

How am I going to pay for treatment?

If the car crash was the fault of the other driver, then his or her car insurance will pay for any chiropractic medical treatment that you may receive. If the person who hit you is not insured, then your un-insured motorist (UM/UN)coverage will pay for medical expenses. You may file on your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage as well. If you have an attorney, Dr. Bhattacharya accepts Letter of Protection (LOP's). If you don't have an attorney, but feel you need one, that is not a problem; staff at Crown Wellness Center can recommend several competent attorneys in your area for you to choose.

The most important thing to remember is to maintain the necessary treatment in order to achieve the most complete and speedy recovery.