CarAccident

Car Accident: Common Questions

Q: What if I feel fine following the car accident?
Q: Should I see a chiropractic (D.C.) a general practitioner (M.D.) or a physical therapist (P.T.)
Q: The insurance company has been calling, asking me to settle. What should I do?
Q: If I've seen a medical doctor (M.D.) do I still need to see a chiropractor?
Q: Should I see an attorney before I see the chiropractor?
Q: What if my car was barely damaged?
Q: How do I pay?

Q: What if I feel fine following the car accident?
A: It's still very important to see your doctor following the accident. Symptoms following a car accident can vary from obvious physical signs such as muscle stiffness, neck pain, headaches, memory loss, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, numbness and tingling, back pain, difficulty sleeping, to more subtle injuries that do not have obvious physical symptoms. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (early degeneration of the joints) is one of these more subtle injuries that can show up many years later as stiffness and muscle spasm in the back. One patient came in approximately six months following the accident complaining of an increased frequency and severity of headaches over the last month. They were taking twelve ibuprofen every day and were concerned about the side effects. An x-ray was taken which showed a near complete loss of curvature in their neck as a result of whiplash. Scar tissue had developed as well as the early signs of osteoarthritis.

Q: Should I see a chiropractic (D.C.) a general practitioner (M.D.) or a physical therapist (P.T.)
A: The first person you need to see is your physician. This would be your chiropractor (Doctor of Chiropractic) or your general practitioner (Medical Doctor). Both can refer and supervise care given by a Physical Therapist. The benefit of going to your chiropractor for a car accident or automobile accident is that chiropractors are specialists in the biomechanics of the human body and treat these types of injuries every day. Another benefit is that, since the early 80's, physical therapy has been part of the chiropractic doctorate program. This means that your chiropractor can help you, not just through the acute stages of the injury, but also through rehabilitation and see you through to full recovery.

The Journal of Orthopedic Medicine in a 1999 article points out the superiority of chiropractic care for patients suffering from long term whiplash. The article noted that previous studies show that 26 of 28 or 93% of patients treated for whiplash became better with chiropractic care. The article states “chiropractic is the only proven effective treatment for whiplash.”

Q: The insurance company has been calling, asking me to settle. What should I do?
A: Do not settle until you have seen your chiropractor and received a full exam. Once you settle, the insurance company will no longer pay for your care. Injuries do not always show up right away. Sometimes weeks or months may pass before symptoms develop. A full exam, including an x-ray, can help you evaluate whether or not you will be needing medical care.

Q: If I've seen a medical doctor (M.D.) do I still need to see a chiropractor?
A: Yes, a chiropractor is an expert in biomechanical injuries. When you visit your M.D., they will take your temperature, blood pressure, and evaluate you for any life threatening conditions. They will then most likely release you with pain medication to mask the symptoms of your injury. Sometimes they will refer you to a Physical Therapist before sending you to a chiropractor. This decision is often a mistake. Patients who use pain medications to mask acute pain and who force their bodies through a rehab program before they have the biomechanical cause treated can exacerbate their condition and suffer long term chronic injuries.

Q: Should I see an attorney before I see the chiropractor?
A: It is very important to see the chiropractor first. The findings from the exam will give you the information you need to decide whether an attorney is necessary. If so, your chiropractor may be able to refer you to a reputable attorney who specializes in car accidents.

Q: What if my car was barely damaged?
A: You should still consult your chiropractor. In several documented studies done by Charles Carroll, M.D., Paul McAtee M.D. And Lee Riley, M.D, evidence was provided that “The amount of damage to the automobile bears little relation to the force applied to the cervical spine (neck) of the occupants.”

Q: How do I pay?
A: You are 100% covered for medical expenses by your car insurance. Treatment for injuries is part of your auto insurance policy. This part of your policy is referred to as P.I.P. and is mandatory for all auto insurance policies in Oregon. Treatment is fully covered by the auto insurance policy no matter who is at fault. Seeking medical treatment will not raise your deductible or affect your insurance policy. There is no co-pay. It is your chiropractor's responsibility to submit the paperwork and communicate with the insurance company.

Vertigo

It's not uncommon for people to seek chiropractic care for the treatment of vertigo. Vertigo is characterized by the perception of dizziness or motion when one is stationary. Some describe a sensation of being pulled toward the floor or toward one side of the room. Symptoms of vertigo are intensified by moving the head or changing position in any way.

In my office, the majority of patients presenting with vertigo fall into one of three treatable categories:

1.Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ( BPPV ): Patients present with intermittent ( i.e. come and go) sensations of vertigo that last a few seconds to a few minutes. Other associated symptoms may include a migraine headache, light headedness, nausea, imbalance that can be caused by any change in position. Individuals suffering from vertigo most often experience symptoms when they tilt their heads back to look up. Symptoms of BPPV are caused by dislodged calcium crystals moving through the semicircular canals of the inner ear. BPPV can be caused by a head injury or the degeneration of the inner ear in older people. My treatment of BPPV is very simple and involves either Epley's or Semmont's maneuvers. These are non-adjustive gentle techniques used to move the calcium deposits out of the inner ear. If BPPV was caused by a head injury, as part of the treatment, I would also treat any associated neck dysfunction.

2.Menier's disease: Patients not only present with signs of vertigo but often with associated ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and ear pressure. This type of vertigo can last hours to days. The cause of Menier's type vertigo is uncertain but is generally believed to be related to excess fluid in the inner ear that bursts or spills from its normal channels. My treatment of Menier's disease focuses primarily on diet and nutrition but, depending on the patient, may also include chiropractic adjustive treatment of the ear and upper neck.

3.Cervical Vertigo: Patients present with vertigo that, occasionally, is associated with ringing in the ears or general ear discomfort. There should be no hearing loss. Cervical vertigo often follows an injury to the head or neck, usually related to a car accident. The symptoms may present a day or 6 six months following the accident. The most common cause of cervical vertigo is mechanical pressure on the spinal cord caused by a disruption in the curve of the neck. My treatment of cervical vertigo focuses on restoring the proper movement and function of the neck. The treatment often includes soft tissue massage, ultrasound, gentle mechanical traction and decompression as well as chiropractic adjustments.