Here at Health Connections we take the current and future health of our community very seriously. We know how prevalent and serious are the injuries related to car accidents. We also know that most people involved in auto accidents do not get a thorough evaluation for ligament and spinal joint injuries, which can be present with and without symptoms.

As a service to our community, there is no charge for a consultation . In most cases, diagnosis and treatment of your injuries will be covered by your auto insurance policy or that of the insurance policy of the at fault vehicle, with no out-of-pocket cost to you . So please call us today at 317-585-9111 to know for sure the extent of your injuries and options to regain your health.

Below is a list of frequently asked questions and answers.

How do you diagnose spinal joint injuries?

  • Chiropractic Exam- This is done to determine to determine the following: what spinal joints may be injured, directs what other exams may be necessary, what other medical professionals that may need to be involved, and used in conjunction with other tests to produce a complete clinical evaluation.
  • X-rays- Our office takes the recommended x-rays to aid in the diagnosis of subluxations or misalignments of the spinal joints that often occur in whiplash injuries, as well as to rule out fractures or other contraindications that may require more invasive diagnosis and treatment. These x-rays are also used to determine how to specifically treat the patient. Additionally, stress x-rays are taken and then sent to a injury diagnostic company for analysis and a report is sent back to us that tells us whether the person has ligamentous damage according to the AMA guidelines for impairment.
  • Dynamic Surface Electromyography- This is a non-invasive, highly objective test that measures how the nerves and muscles are functioning during normal movements of the spine. It is used in the initial evaluation and at progress exams to determine if continued treatment is necessary or maximum improvement has been achieved.
  • MRI- If the patient is not responding to conservative treatment and/or x-ray analysis suggests intervertebral disc damage, the patient will be referred out for an MRI to establish the extent of damage and help to determine other potential recommendations for treatment.

I went to the hospital and they said I was fine…?

At the hospital, the primary priority is to discover if there are any major medical issues, like fractures or internal bleeding. After major medical issues have been ruled out, often the patient is given medication for pain and inflammation and recommended to follow-up with their primary physician if they continue to have any symptoms. The patient often thinks that this means that they are fine and that with time everything will go back to normal. So many times the proper x-rays and examination for ligament damage is not done. Therefore, it is important to go to a physician trained in whiplash diagnosis and treatment.

What are the warning signs of whiplash?

If you have been injured in an auto accident, you may be suffering from any of the following symptoms that are common with a whiplash type injury that occurs in auto accidents.

DON’T IGNORE THE WARNING SIGNS!

- HEADACHES / MIGRAINES   – NECK PAIN  - TMJ PAIN   – MUSCLE SPASMS

- EXTREMITY PAIN     -NUMBNESS / TINGLING     – BACK PAIN   – SCIATICA

What treatment is recommended for spinal joint injuries?

Depending on what is discovered from the exam and x-rays the following treatments and rationale may be recommended.

Chiropractic care- Chiropractic is one of the most conservative and minimally invasive options for the treatment of musculoskeletal and joint conditions. If spinal joint dysfunction is improved and stabilized, conditions/symptoms routinely improve and delay or prevent the need for more invasive and costly medical treatment.

In office Therapy- This includes ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, flexion/distraction, intersegmental traction, and ice/heat. The goal of these options is to help in the healing of the soft tissues that surround and attach to the injured joints.

Active Therapy- This includes both in-office and at home rehab specific to the patient’s needs.

Vertebral Axial Decompression- This is a good conservative option for the treatment of herniated/bulging discs and facet joint dysfunction.

How long does it take to recover from whiplash injuries?

This is a loaded question with no specific answer. However, in general, it takes several months up to a few years for one to recover from a  whiplash injury. When ligaments are injured their function of keeping the spinal joints aligned and working properly is changed. If ligaments heal with spinal joints misaligned, it will lock them into a dysfunctional position and set the stage for spinal degeneration and chronic pain.

An unfortunate, yet important thing to note in regards to this question is that when ligaments are injured there is often permanent damage that results. The goal of the conservative treatment utilized in our office is to help facilitate as much healing to the muscles and ligaments with the spinal joints in their proper alignment so that proper biomechanical function of the spine is maintained. Improper joint mechanics + time = joint degeneration (arthritis and disc damage)

What are the consequences of spinal joint injury that is not properly treated?

When ligaments are injured their function of keeping the spinal joints aligned and working properly is changed. The majority of healing to the torn and damaged ligaments occurs in the first few months up to year. If ligaments heal with spinal joints misaligned, it will lock them into a dysfunctional position and set the stage for spinal degeneration and chronic pain.

Should my child be examined even if they have no symptoms?

Many of the symptoms that face individuals later in life are the result of injuries that occurred years earlier that did not heal properly and have thus progressively worn the spinal joints to the point that more frequent and intense symptoms have developed. It is not uncommon for children, which have more flexible and resilient joints and soft tissues, to have no symptoms or symptoms that go away quickly after an accident. This does not necessarily mean that potentially permanent injuries have not occurred. Click on the following child car accident case study that occurred in our office.