South Texas Accident Treatment
We treat neck and back pain caused by auto accident injuries
In a systematic review of 47 studies*, approximately 50 percent of adults with whiplash injury reported neck pain symptoms at one year (Carroll, L. J. , et al.). With such a high rate, it's important for people who have been in a car accident to receive treatment if they experience neck and back pain. Here at Stelzer Chiropractic in San Antonio, Texas, we provide that treatment.
Typical physiological responses to neck and back injuries sustained in auto accidents
After a motor vehicle accident, there is a typical physiological response time frame:
•Inflammation (6 to 12 weeks)
•Fibrosis (6 to 12 weeks)
•Tissue Regeneration (up to two years)
The inflammation begins immediately, but the structures often take hours to days to swell and cause pain, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, they are very deep and surrounded on all sides by other structures. Secondly, much of the tissue injured is supportive, such as ligaments, intervertebral discs, and joint capsules, and doesn’t actually do anything active, like a muscle when it contracts. This means this tissue doesn’t have big arteries to deliver a lot of blood to the tissue. Having smaller arteries means the tissue swells more slowly, causing symptoms to begin hours or sometimes days later. With smaller arteries also comes smaller veins, resulting in a longer pain period for a neck or back injury from a motor vehicle accident.
Do I need insurance to get chiropractic treatment for my auto accident injury?
No insurance needed, most of the time. The insurance of the person who caused the crash usually pays. Or, if there is no insurance, your own personal injury protection (PIP), med-pay, or uninsured motorist (UIM) portion of your own policy will cover. If you are at fault and do not have PIP or UIM, then your insurance will still cover the other passengers in your car. The South Texas Accident Center (STAT) works with several high-quality law firms that are not just extremely competent but act with integrity and concern for their clients, and we would be happy to supply you with a referral if necessary.
How chiropractic treatment for auto accidents works
Treatment is first designed to decrease pain, then restore mechanics, and lastly to strengthen the injured areas. Although initially there is a significant emphasis on pain relief, our ultimate goal is for full and pain-free range of motion with complete stability so that at no point in the future do you suffer any adverse consequences of your injury. Care is very gentle, and can begin immediately after the accident. In fact, the sooner we begin after the fibrosis phase has begun (within hours of the accident) the better the long term results.
How we diagnose injuries caused by auto accidents
There is a wide latitude in injuries that may occur after a car crash. The injuries may range from very mild to severe injuries that give lifelong dysfunction. I always start with a detailed examination, often including x-rays. Throughout the course of care, when necessary, I will often order additional testing such as MRI, CT scan, electrodiagnostic testing, as well as professional consultations with orthopedic doctors, neurologists, or others when appropriate.
* Carroll, L. J. , et al. "Course and prognostic factors for neck pain in whiplash-associated disorders (WAD): results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders." Spine33 (2008): s83