An Alternative Treatment Method for Auto Accident Injuries

What are Auto Accident Injuries?

Auto accident injuries are a broad term for any injuries sustained in an automobile accident. These injuries can range from life-threatening conditions to mildly irritating injuries like bruises and grazes. Most minor injuries sustained during an auto accident will subside with time and patience, but even minor injuries can result in more serious symptoms down the line if left untreated. 

Signs and Symptoms of Auto Accident Injuries

You can suffer from a wide range of injuries following an auto accident. Oftentimes, the full extent of your injuries can take a few days or even weeks to become fully apparent. If you’ve suffered injuries to the upper cervical spine, you’ll likely experience symptoms like severe headaches, vertigo, numbness, hearing loss, back pain, neck pain and/or stiffness, or visual impairment. 

Depending on the severity of your accident, the injury and its accompanying symptoms may resolve themselves with time. However, injuries to the neck and spine are complicated and can often lead to many months of discomfort if the underlying cause is not addressed. 

How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Auto Accident Injuries

During an auto accident, victims will often experience very sudden and severe jerking of the body. When we suddenly stop in a moving vehicle, the body and, more importantly, the head and neck are whipped forward. This kind of movement is a frequent cause of neck or upper cervical spinal injuries. 

Sudden whiplash to the head and neck places significant stress on the upper cervical spine, potentially leading to misalignment in the cervical vertebrae. You may not even notice this injury at first, but over time, this misalignment can produce pressure and inflammation in the stabilizing muscles of the back and neck. Left untreated, excess inflammation in this region of the body can even begin to disrupt the transmission of nerve signals, triggering neurological symptoms like post-concussion syndrome. 

How Our Upper Cervical Treatment Works for Auto Accident Injuries

Our upper cervical chiropractic specialist, Dr. Gordon Elder, uses an adjustment technique known as Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic care to treat injuries associated with auto accidents. This technique focuses on healing the upper cervical spine and precisely targeting spinal misalignments to restore function to the spinal column and alleviate painful symptoms. 

When treating an auto accident injury, Blair practitioners like Dr. Elder will use advanced diagnostic techniques such as 3D imaging to determine the exact location of any spinal misalignments; this usually involves a 25-30-minute consultation. From this consultation, Dr. Elder will establish a dedicated treatment plan — note that Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic care is not a quick fix; you’ll likely need to undergo multiple appointments to see long-lasting results.

Following your consultation, Dr. Elder will perform a series of precise adjustments on your upper cervical spine, gently restoring the misaligned vertebrae into their natural position. Appointments should continue consistently for 3-5 months, with most patients averaging between 10 and 15 appointments with Dr. Elder.  

If you’re struggling with stubborn injury symptoms after an auto accident, come and speak with Dr. Elder about your upper cervical spine. Dr. Elder is based in Lubbock, Texas, but also services Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, El Paso in Texas, and Hobbs in New Mexico.

Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.

Whiplash: How the Blair Chiropractic Technique Helps Treat This Condition

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a common injury experienced by people during a car accident. Broadly speaking, any injury where the head is whipped forwards and then back again with rapid speed can result in whiplash. 

In the weeks following an injury, whiplash can result in extreme discomfort in the neck and shoulders but usually resolves itself within a short period. However, in some cases, the signs and symptoms of whiplash can be felt long after the incident, potentially indicating that something else may be awry. 

Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash

The symptoms of whiplash will depend on the severity of the impact event. The most common symptoms include neck pain, shooting pains in the shoulder or upper back, headaches, stiffness in the neck or shoulders, and difficulty moving the neck through its full range of motion. 

In more serious or long-term cases of whiplash, patients may begin to feel dizzy and experience tinnitus, speech impediments, blurred vision, fatigue, and difficulty chewing. 

How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Whiplash

The upper cervical spine is directly impacted by whiplash incidents due to the sudden force exerted on the area during an accident. Specifically, the rapid ‘whipping’ of the head carriage back and forth can misalign one or more vertebrae in the upper cervical spine, causing tears and inflammation in the surrounding ligaments, nerves, and musculature.  

Left untreated, these injuries can lead to long-neck pain, stiffness, and headaches, prolonging whiplash symptoms and disrupting the body’s natural healing process.  

How Our Upper Cervical Treatment for Whiplash Works

Our in-house specialist, Dr. Gordon Elder, is an expert practitioner of the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Technique. The Blair Upper Cervical Technique is a unique, low-force chiropractic technique for gently correcting and realigning vertebral misalignments in the upper cervical spine. 

Dr. Elder’s first step in treating whiplash is a brief physical examination of your spine to determine if you’re suffering from a misalignment in the upper cervical spine. If a misalignment is detected, Dr. Elder will use several advanced diagnostic tools, including modern 3-D imaging technologies, to pinpoint the exact location of the misalignment. Afterward, you’ll be able to look over your scans and ask Dr. Elder any questions about your spinal health. 

Next, Dr. Elder will employ a series of precise, non-invasive adjustment techniques to realign any misaligned vertebrae to their natural position, thereby allowing the

body’s natural healing mechanisms to restore and maintain proper function in the spinal column and surrounding musculature. 

Following the initial adjustment, patients will return for regular, gradually spaced-out

check-ups to ensure their adjustment has stayed in place for 3 months. These check-ups generally span between 10 and 15 appointments in a 3-5-month window. 

If whiplash is hindering your ability to participate in everyday life, get in touch today to speak with Dr. Elder about healing your upper cervical spine. Located in Lubbock, Texas, Blair Chiropractic Clinic also services Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, El Paso in Texas, and Hobbs in New Mexico.

Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.