Should Get I Get Checked Out By A Chiropractor After Any Auto Accident?

Neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, numbness, tingling, headaches, muscle tightness and stiffness. These are all common symptoms people experience following a car accident.

Whiplash is a condition where the neck and shoulders are whipped forward and backward or side to side, depending on where the impact took place. This whipping movement can either strain or tear ligaments, tendons and muscles. Did you know that in most instances, a seatbelt can actually make your injury worse? Seat belts are what produce whiplash injuries in the first place. Imagine sitting in your car with your seat belt on. If your belts do what they are designed to do, you will not move.

The lap belt and shoulder harness lock your body and shoulders tight it into the seat, such that when your car impacts another object. Your torso and shoulders don't move, but the head and neck move freely. This is what produces the whipping affect of the neck causing whiplash. Having said that, seat belts should always be worn. Seat belts will save your life and it's against the law in most states not to wear your seat belt. Seat belts will also help prevent you from slamming into the steering wheel, dashboard, console and other parts of the car in a severe accident.

Most times it's the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) that are injured in an accident, but they don't show up on X-ray or other medical tests. There can also be damage to nerves and the nervous system itself. Because they are difficult to measure with tests, most medical doctors have a hard time recognizing that they exist. What they tend to look for are the more severe injuries, which can include, fractures, dislocations, disc herniation's, and even brain injury.

Research has even shown that under standard medical care that only about 50% of injured individuals return to pre-accident status. The latest research has also shown that a upwards of 52% will actually develop fibromyalgia. Further research also show that more often than not it's younger people who get in these accidents, which means there is a lot of quality of life that is lost.

This is why being evaluated by a proficient chiropractor is so critical. These injuries can be very painful, debilitating and long lasting. Also, because of the build of scar tissue symptoms may not be felt until days, weeks or even months later. If you've been in an accident visit with a doctor of chiropractic will help you identify your injuries, and get lasting relief, preventing long lasting effects of your injuries, just like he has for hundreds and hundreds of other car accident victims.

Pain Management After Knee Surgery

Post surgical pain can be intolerable, especially after an orthopedic procedure. The good news is that modern pain management treatment can alleviate a significant degree of pain and discomfort. There are healthcare centers in New York where physicians offer treatments that provide great relief to patients who have recently undergone a knee surgery.

Pain Management Specialists

These specialists comprise a team of medical practitioners such as psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, neurologists and orthopedists. They assess the condition of the patient and take into account the extensiveness of the surgery. This helps them formulate a customized multi-disciplinary treatment plan by combining pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic procedures.

Effective Pain Relieving Techniques

Symptoms of pain are addressed at the physical and psychological level by adopting certain techniques. These are effective if performed under the care and guidance of experienced doctors.

Rest and relaxation - It is the most essential part of the treatment plan, especially after a major knee surgery such as a knee replacement. Muscle relaxation and exercises - Therapists would assist patients in both the techniques to ease stress related pain and improve joint motion. Heat or cold compressions - These help to reduce the intensity of pain and swelling. NSAIDS and narcotic medication - Physicians prescribe pain relieving and anti-inflammatory drugs if needed. Pain relieving modalities - TENS Unit (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) may be used to decrease pain perception. Knee elevation - Patients who have had a knee replacement surgery would need to elevate their legs higher than their hip. This positioning can be adopted when the patient is in bed, recliner or chair as this would reduce the sensation of pain.

Live a Life Free from Pain

Patients don't have to worry about suffering excruciating pain after a knee surgery. Pain management centers are there to help you live a comfortable life. It is best to learn about what you can expect after a surgical procedure and be prepared. Talk to specialists and know how quickly they can get you back on your feet with their specialized care.

How to Speed Healing After Surgery or Accident

If you have recently had or are about to have surgery or if you have been injured in an accident you can improve your chances of a quicker recovery. Although surgery is sometimes necessary to help improve your health, or save your life, recovering from it can be very stressful on many levels. There are always factors to consider. Be certain to communicate with your medical team. Ask your doctor if there are any restrictions regarding movement, diet, climate, medications, requirements for at home medical assistance, or complementary therapies. They can help you lay out a recovery plan or wellness program. Beyond the typical recovery routine that may include medications, physical therapy, or visits with a counselor or nurse, your body will need to get all of the supportive nutrients that are required for complete and speedy recovery. The following list will give you some idea of all that can be added to your health recovery regime---with the approval of your physician.

1. Rest and immobilization as required by your doctor.Be sure that your room has adequate fresh air as ionization helps recovery time; having an oxygen rich environment and sunshine are important - again unless restricted by your medical team.

2. Bathing or showering as allowed - at least warm sponge baths to remove toxins being eliminated by your skin.

3. Fill the room with fresh flowers and plants to uplift your mood.

4. Watch TV programs and movies that make you feel good - and if you are allowed to laugh definitely watch movies that keep you laughing and giggling often. Improving your mood is definitely important to healing. In fact, there are now hospital humor programs where personnel are trained to help make you laugh. Laughter is very healing!

5. Allow only those visitors with a positive mental outlook; people that make you feel happy when you see them.

6. Keep your bowels moving. Some medications have side effects that include sluggish bowel movements or constipation. Drink purified water at room temperature unless you are really warm and cool water feels better to you. However, digestion is always best without too hot or too cold water in the digestive tract. Stay away from coffee because caffeine may be dehydrating. Consider the proper diet to help yourself heal well

7. Your diet (again check with your personal physician to be certain these suggestions are appropriate for you) should be filled with foods that are nutrient rich. And every bite and everything you drink should be as valuable as possible. That means that you should eat foods that are whole, grown without herbicides, pesticides, unchanged by man. Avoid processed foods and drinks. Get close to nature. Sometimes baby foods are required if you cannot swallow easily or have compromised digestion or loss of appetite. If not, just follow some of the suggestions below:

Clear broths either chicken, beef or veal are good for healing. Soups that start with a clear brother and contain fresh vegetables as well are important. When you are ill or injured your body will not readily produce the enzymes it needs to complete digestion. We will talk about digestion enzymes a little later.

Having sufficient protein is critical to healing. As protein is assimilated it is broken down into amino acids, often called the building blocks. So, if you are unable to eat foods such as fish, chicken, turkey, veal, portk, eggs, cheese, tofu, beans, nuts and seeds, you may need to purchase protein powders and mix them with soy milk, almond milk, regular milk, or just room temp water. Ionized whey powders are probably the easiest to assimilate in small quantities, but again chew the shake (I know that sounds weird) because it would be similar to eating a steak without chewing it--very concentrated and not easily absorbed even in powdered form if you are ill. Sip on the shakes that you drink--some people enjoy adding fruit like berries or bananas.

Eat more fruits and vegetables for starters. Avoid sugars, too much salt. Avoid snacks and lifeless foods that rob your body of energy. Avoid sodas, alcohol, white flour breads, cereals, pancakes and pastas. Avoid candy and cakes unless just occasional.

Buy organically grown and made foods if possible. Instead of drinking fruit juices eat the whole food. However, if you can get organically grown fruits and vegetables you can make delicious juices (save the pulp for soup) by combining dark green veggies with carrots and beets and pear juice or pineapple or cherry or apple to make it more palatable. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with life supporting nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. If you have a juicer that's terrific, if you don't you can just use a food processor or a blender to pulverize pulp and some seeds. Be sure that you chew the juice, do not just swallow it. Your digestive system will work best if you don't just swallow foods even when "juiced." Chew to begin the signal to the brain that you will need enzymes for complete digestion.

Beets and beet tops, dandelion greens, parsley, argula, mustard greens, carrots and tops, and fresh lemon juice are wonderful to support liver function. Supporting your liver is extremely important as it will help you to purify your blood. The liver will help to remove toxic residue from anaesthesia and other medications. It helps to flush away waste products of all kinds so it is very important to give the liver all that needs to do its job well.

8. Vitamins/Minerals/other nutrients: Giving your body a multi-vitamin/mineral formula is integral to healing. Concentrate as well on anti-oxidants such as Vitamins A,C,E, + Zinc. Add to that a formula that includes other protective elements such as grapeseed extract, green tea (not if you have high blood pressure because it is stimulating) berries,...many anti-oxidants available today in combination formulas. A separate bone building formula that includes, Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Boron, is important. (ask the doctor again because certain medications may be conflicting here) important to rebuilding bone.

9. Exercise and rehabilitation routinely help to strengthen muscle, ligaments, tendons and bones. Circulation is integral to wellness. Do what you are allowed to do. Check into "rubber stretch bands" to help initiate mobility if allowed --really good and gentle on joints for starters. Rebounders are also good for circulation as you become more mobile. These are mini trampolines and you can gently bounce while watching TV or listening to music--very enjoyable experience and good for you. Let your physical therapist, nurse or aid instruct you here.

10. Homeopathic remedies can also be beneficial to stimulate your body's immune system and healing response time. Please seek the advice of an MD who practices homeopathic medicine. Go to www.vithoulkas.com to find highly trained classical homeopaths in your area.

11. Stress relief measures such as Yoga, Bio-Feedback, Meditation: Learning how to quiet and clear the mind of stressful thoughts, worries, and fears can add much to your healing program. When your body stops getting disturbing signals from your brain it can more readily attend to physical healing. Do whatever seems to soothe you most. If allowed soaking in a warm tub might help reduce aching muscles and calm the nerves. Aromatherapy is also good for soothing your senses. Try lavender under your pillow, or vanilla candles to bring tranquility. Music is also wonderful for the nervous system. Choose calming classical music, new age flutes and bells, easy listening tunes to help stay relaxed.

12. Massage therapy and acupuncture or acupressure can complement your healing program. Bringing greater circulation to an injured or ill body can speed healing. Ask your physician if this is allowed. Sometimes having circulation cuffs on your legs are recommended by doctors after surgery or injury. This might be a good way to speed healing with limited exertion.

13. Digestive Enzymes help you assimilate and absorb nutrients that are important to healing. A product such as AbsorbAid that has been clinically tested and scientifically proven to increase the absorption of vital nutrients by up to 71% can really help speed recovery time. AbsorbAid is a 100% plant based enzyme formula that works well for most all individuals--if you can eat fruits and vegetables you can take AbsorbAid Platinum. It is so safe the original AbsorbAid has been used in feeding tubes in nursing home trials with excellent results at increasing protein utilization. Amino acids are the building blocks so adding AbsorbAid digestive enzymes can really be beneficial.

14. Visualization: Visualize yourself totally well, doing whatever it is that you most enjoy in your mind first ---I used to tell my patients to See, Feel and make it Real! The joy you get from imagining yourself completely well and up doing what you most enjoy can uplift your spirits and speed healing. Guided imagery tapes are readily available today.

15. Prayer and Faith: have a profound effect on healing for many people. When you believe that you will be well it can elevate your body's responses. There are many documented cases of people healing when they are certain they will! So prepare yourself for recovery and get excited about it!

Wishing you a speedy recovery!