Whiplash is a common type of injury resulting from many auto
accidents, the wide majority caused by rear-end auto collisions. For those
individuals who’ve sustained a whiplash-related injury after experiencing an
automobile accident, the kind of doctor they should seek must specialize in
automobile injuries. Choosing the right doctor can also depend largely on the
individual’s geographical location and insurance as well as whether the
individual has an attorney or if their state of residence uses PIP.
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Choosing a Whiplash Doctor
Auto accidents aren’t necessarily the only cause behind
whiplash, but they do occur more frequently during these incidents. Whiplash
can result from any motion in which the head is abruptly jolted forward and
then backwards at an increased speed. The accelerated movement often leads to
the irritation and inflammation of the ligaments and tendons found in the neck,
occasionally causing a tear within these complex tissues. A doctor who
specializes in auto accident injuries can properly identify the presence of
whiplash and follow up with the most appropriate treatment program to decrease
and eliminate the pain and other symptoms associated with the injury as well as
restore the individual’s flexibility. A medical doctor, an orthopedic, physical
therapist, primary care physician and a chiropractor, are several different
types of healthcare specialists who focus on different complications and can
treat automobile accident injuries and conditions.
Many individuals who’ve been involved in a car accident, don’t
receive the proper health care they need and deserve for their whiplash
injuries. Ultimately, the type of doctor an auto accident victim receives
treatment from can determine their outcome for recovery. It’s important to be well-informed
of the training and expertise of a whiplash doctor before accepting treatment
because not all of the above mentioned healthcare specialists will treat
whiplash injuries.
Frequently, people who’ve suffered whiplash-associated
injuries from an auto accident will go to the ER, however, a majority of the ER’s
in the United States are designed to only treat visible and life-threatening
injuries as quickly as possible. In some instances, an individual who
experienced whiplash may receive excellent medical care for their injuries,
although in most cases, individuals will only have some X-rays taken to
determine the presence of a fracture and will then be immediately be sent to
their primary care physician, without being treated for underlying soft-tissue
injuries such as whiplash.
Primary Care Physicians and Whiplash
Many primary care physicians don’t treat automobile accident
injuries, often leaving the victim feeling confused and wondering what their
next step to take should be. Other doctors believe whiplash is not a legitimate
injury and may refuse care. In a majority of cases where a doctor won’t treat
an individual with whiplash, third party billing may be involved. Primary care
physicians may not be set up for third party billing, where they need to bill
the at-fault insurance company, PIP, or med pay.
Chiropractic Care: Recommended Whiplash Doctor
Chiropractic is a popular, alternative treatment option for treating
a variety of injuries and conditions, including many spinal complications. As a
matter of fact, a chiropractor is the most recommended whiplash doctor for
treating the condition as well as various other auto accident injuries. Chiropractic
care focuses on non-drug, therapeutic treatments to naturally restore the
individual’s health and relieve their symptoms of pain and discomfort. After a
careful diagnosis, a chiropractor will follow up with an appropriate series of
treatments and therapies.
What is Chiropractic?
When an individual seeks chiropractic care due to neck pain
after being involved in an automobile accident, the whiplash doctor will
evaluate the individual’s entire spine to determine the source of their symptoms.
They may analyze the way the person walks, their posture as well as their overall
spinal alignment, and they may also examine if the individual has restricted
mobility along with tenderness, tightness, muscle spasms, ligament and joint
injuries and/or disc trauma. Additionally, a chiropractor may order an MRI and
X-ray of the individual’s spine to determine if any degenerative alterations
were present prior to the accident.
It’s essential with any accident injury case to determine if
there were any pre-existing injuries or conditions before the auto collision as
this can be important information for the insurance company. It’s up to a
chiropractor to document any new and pre-existing injures. After the diagnosis,
the whiplash doctor can then develop the best, most appropriate treatment plan
for an individual’s auto accident injuries.
Chiropractic Adjustments for Whiplash
Depending on the individual’s whiplash level of severity,
the chiropractic treatment plan may differ slightly for each person. Spinal
adjustments and manual manipulations are the most common treatment techniques
for whiplash and other types of injuries. Other spinal techniques chiropractors
may use include: flexion-distraction, specific spinal manipulation,
instrument-assisted therapy; which uses specialized hand-held instruments to
apply a gentle force, therapeutic massages, trigger point therapy,
interferential electrical stimulation; which is a low frequency electrical
current that helps stimulate the muscles to reduce inflammation, and
ultrasound; which helps decrease muscle spasms, stiffness and pain on the
affected area.
A chiropractor doesn’t just treat a specific injury or condition;
they focus on treating the individual as a whole, restoring the body’s original
health naturally. Furthermore, a whiplash doctor may also recommend a series of
personalized exercise routines to increase the range or motion in the affected
regions and reduce the symptoms, ultimately speeding up the rehabilitation
process.
Chiropractors have a lot to offer after an individual has
suffered injuries or developed a condition following a car accident. Chiropractic
care is an effective, alternative treatment option for many auto injuries,
especially whiplash. It’s crucial to treat any injury immediately in order to
avoid further complications and chiropractic treatment can help ensure the
individual feels better from their pain and discomfort.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
