Can Dr Heller help me with my auto accident
injuries?
Dr. Heller will evaluate each person thoroughly and determine if Chiropractic care is the best choice for
treating your injuries.
Dr. Heller does a thorough examination of each patient. This would include taking
your health history, history of the accident, x-rays and physical, neurological and
orthopedic examination. Treatment could include chiropractic adjustments,
acupuncture, traction, heat/ice, electro-stimulation, rehabilitation exercises, and
massage therapy.
If the injuries are severe, she may use a team approach to your condition. This
may involve further evaluation by the appropriate medical specialist. This
could include but not be limited to a radiologist for MRI, CT scan; neurologist for head
injuries or severe nerve damage, orthopedic surgeon for broken bones, anesthesiologist for pain management.
Remember that a large object like a car or truck weighs a lot and can transfer a
lot of energy to your body in an accident, even at low speeds.
Momentum =
mass (weight) x velocity (speed).
If your vehicle stops moving and there is still the energy of the impact to dissipate,
the energy is either absorbed as heat, or objects must move. Unfortunately, the
object moving is the person in the vehicle, even when seat-belted. The neck and
head move forward causing stretching of the ligaments, muscle, nerves and blood
vessels of the neck. When the head moves back against the headrest, the head
comes to a stop and the brain inside the head can still move causing a
concussion. The neck can also move backwards, reversing the normal cervical curve causing
what is commonly known as "whiplash". The lap belt may hold back the lower spine
while the upper spine and even lower body parts move forward. This can cause
damage to the to the lower body structures.
Injuries may be obvious immediately or may show up a few days or weeks later.
Internal tissue may swell, nerves may be stretched and cause pain, tingling and
weakness in the arms and legs. Headaches, confusion, nausea may also develop.
Most sprain/strain type injuries respond well to chiropractic care. It is always
important to know the extent of injuries before any treatment is given for any
condition. This is why Dr. Heller does a thorough exam before treatment and
during the course of treatment to determine your progress.
In case there is a personal injury claim filed, this thorough documentation is helpful
in determining the injuries sustained during the accident and possible permanent
damage to your body.
Most importantly, get an evaluation immediately after the accident. If treatment is
needed, it is better to start early, before scar tissue can build up around
misaligned joints.
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