Chiropractic Health & Wellness Blog

If I Need a Chiropractor After An Auto Accident?

September 13, 2015

How Do I Know If I Need a Chiropractor After An Auto Accident?

Here at Lyn Lake Chiropractic, we’ve had a number of Minneapolis chiropractic patients who have been involved in some type of auto accident, ranging from minor fender benders to crashes that have resulted in major physical trauma, at some point or another in their lives. Unfortunately, this really comes as no major surprise since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that “motor vehicle crashes Quick read more or view full article are the leading cause of injury and death in the U.S.”

However, the one question that is asked quite often is how to know if you need a chiropractor after being involved in an auto accident. So, let’s examine that more in-depth now.

When you’re in a car crash, sometimes it is immediately evident that something is wrong. For instance, you may notice that there is pain present in various areas of your body (such as back pain or neck pain associated with whiplash), which is a clear sign that something just isn’t right.

Or, you might begin experiencing headaches or dizziness, start to have difficulty sleeping, or are feeling just overall irritable. In these cases, even if there are no physical marks present, making the decision to seek medical treatment via chiropractic care is typically an easier one. Obviously, something is going on internally and it’s best to find out what it is so it can be treated effectively and the pain and other possible symptoms minimized.

Yet, when there is no pain present, and no other signs at all that you may be injured externally or internally, you are less inclined to get yourself checked out and assume that you’re 100% okay. While this may seem logical, the reality is that you could have actually sustained an injury in the accident and don’t even realize it.

The reason this can happen is that sometimes pain and other symptoms don’t come to the surface for days, weeks, months, or even years to come. Furthermore, not seeing a doctor because of a lack of symptoms can greatly impact your ability to overcome the injury at a later point in time as some studies have confirmed that delayed treatment can negatively affect positive outcome capabilities.

Now, some people believe that minor accidents (like the ones that don’t leave any marks on the vehicles or involve super-slow speeds) aren’t capable of creating injury that requires chiropractic treatment. But one study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found otherwise.

In this case, the researcher found “a lack of relationship between occupant injury, vehicle speed and/or damage.” Specifically, even when crash speeds were as low as 2.5 miles per hour, physical injury could result. So, it doesn’t matter how minor the auto accident is, you may have an injury that needs medical attention to resolve it effectively.

In short, any time that you’re involved in a car accident, no matter how minor it may seem and how good you feel afterward, you still want to follow up with your Uptown Minneapolis chiropractors to ensure that you’re okay and that your spinal discs and vertebrae are still in their proper and healthy place. With a quick exam, Drs. Schreifels, Eckstein, and Jones will be able to tell what injury, if any, exists or if further testing needs to be conducted to make sure you weren’t hurt in any way.

We even have a 24-hour answering service which allows you to call no matter when you have an auto accident and get your appointment scheduled to come in. Remember…the sooner you get in to see us at Lyn Lake Chiropractic in Minneapolis, Minnesota after a car crash, the sooner you will start to heal and the better your chances of recovery!

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Whiplash - Summer is over.

September 26, 2014

The summer is over. The kids are back in school. There is still some awesome weather ahead before the snowflakes start flying. Autumn in Minnesota is a treasured time with the nice weather, and beautiful fall colors. Call me crazy, but I like this time of year. It averages 72 degrees – perfect to enjoy the great outdoors. And Minnesota has a lot of fun places to go and a lot of ways to get there… cars, motorcycles and everything else. Unfortunately when we hit the road some of us hit each other.

Accidents are accidents… you can’t plan for them — they just happen! People have car accidents all the time. Sometimes drivers get into small accidents – fender benders in a parking lot, 5 MPH.

Whiplash is the common name given to the injury where there is a hyperextention (increased backward motion) and hyperflexion (increased forward motion) of the cervical (neck) spine Quick read more or view full article and is also known as Acute Soft Tissue Neck Sprain.

When whiplash injury occurs, the soft tissues – the tendons, ligaments and muscles – which support the head and neck become stretched out of their natural range of motion and torn.

The muscles and ligaments of the neck contract in order to prevent excessive motion and protect you from further serious injury such as a neck fracture or spinal cord injury. This is called a stretch reflex (myotatic reflex).

More simply put, the head is dramatically thrust forward and backward. Car accidents (rear-end collisions) are usually the cause whiplash injuries.

Although whiplash is most frequently the result of a rear-end collision, whiplash can occur in several other situations including:

It takes a trained Minneapolis MN Chiropractor to know what to look for. Usually hospitals and MD’s will check vital signs, make sure there are no life-threatening conditions and release the patient with pain relief medication. Pills do not correct the damage to soft tissues and other systems that can lead to future pain. There are special chiropractic treatments for such conditions. If you are having problems, you should see a chiropractor. Or, call Lyn Lake Chiropractic.

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Posted by Dr. Kevin Schreifels

Car Accident

September 26, 2014

Accidents are accidents… you can’t plan for them — they just happen! People have car accidents all the time. Sometimes drivers get into small accidents – fender benders in Quick read more or view full article a parking lot, 5 MPH.

Whiplash is the common name given to the injury where there is a hyperextention (increased backward motion) and hyperflexion (increased forward motion) of the cervical (neck) spine and is also known as Acute Soft Tissue Neck Sprain.

When whiplash injury occurs, the soft tissues – the tendons, ligaments and muscles – which support the head and neck become stretched out of their natural range of motion and torn.

More simply put, the head is dramatically thrust forward and backward. Car accidents (rear-end collisions) are usually the cause whiplash injuries.

Although whiplash is most frequently the result of a rear-end collision, whiplash can occur in several other situations including:

It takes a trained Minneapolis MN Chiropractor to know what to look for. Usually hospitals and MD’s will check vital signs, make sure there are no life-threatening conditions and release the patient with pain relief medication. Pills do not correct the damage to soft tissues and other systems that can lead to future pain. There are special chiropractic treatments for such conditions. If you are having problems, you should see a chiropractor. Or, call Lyn Lake Chiropractic.

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Posted by Dr. Kevin Schreifels

Car Accident Whiplash Injury And Treatment

January 17, 2014

Although whiplash is a very common occurrence in car accidents, whiplash injuries can also occur in sports, where impacts from behind are common. As a matter of fact, any activity or accident which involves the head being snapped forward and backward suddenly and rapidly can result in whiplash. Whiplash injury is a very serious reality for those victims.

Whiplash refers to an injury to the soft tissues of the neck and upper back including the ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness amongst many others. Upper back and shoulder pain can also occur. Depending on the severity Quick read more or view full article of the whiplash injury and the health of the person involved in the accident, whiplash injuries can heal within weeks or can linger and turn into chronic conditions that last for years and lead to pain and sometimes disability.

If you have been involved in a car accident and have sustained whiplash injury, it’s important to see a minneapolis chiropractor or medical doctor for a diagnostic evaluation and determination of the extent of your injuries. Most injuries are similar to those of muscle strains and include soft tissues injuries to the muscles and ligaments. Whiplash is a more complex injury because there may be damage to the cervical discs as well as soft tissue damage. Your chiropractor can refer you to a physician should the extent of your injuries fall outside of chiropractic alternative care.

Recent studies have shown that early movement and activity, rather than immobilization, helps reduce the symptoms of whiplash as well as encourage recovery of the upper back and neck. Your minneapolis chiropractor or physician may recommend the use of a soft cervical collar to help support the head and relieve pressure on the neck while ligaments heal. More readily available treatments for whiplash include plenty of rest, ice, compression and elevation. Ice may be applied for the first 24 hours, followed by gentle active movement. Over the counter pain medications are also helpful to reduce inflammation and pain. They are reliable and effective when used appropriately for moderate pain relief.

Neck pain and upper back injuries are one of the most common problems resulting from a car accident. Car accident neck injuries can result in symptoms such as pain in your neck, headaches, pain in your shoulders, arms or hands, reduced range of motion in your neck, numbness, weakness and slower reflexes in your arms and hands, and muscle spasms in your neck.

To understand car accident neck injuries, you have to know something about the anatomy of your spine. This is why working with doctors of chiropractic to correct whiplash type injuries makes so much sense. Chiropractors are specifically trained to deal with spinal issues resulting from impact trauma and much more. Through diagnostic examination, digital x-rays and hands on manipulation, your local chiropractor can diagnose, treat and adjust you back to optimal health.

Chiropractor focus on the treatments for different neck injuries using alternative methods of rehabilitation including adjustments, physical rehabilitation, lifestyle changes and wellness programs. However, given the severity of the neck injury your chiropractor can refer you to a medical doctor who can then assist recovery and alleviate inflammation and pain with medications and in the most serious cases surgery.

Typical neck injuries include neck sprains - whiplash where injury to the ligaments has occurred by virtue of being stretched or torn in the neck, resulting in a neck sprain, which can cause pain and stiffness. Then there are neck strains where the muscles in the neck are stretched or torn. Neck pain are typically called “pulled muscles” and often occur when the muscles are suddenly and powerfully contracted or when they stretch outside their normal range of motion. This can be the case in a car accident or even sporting accidents and collisions.

Lyn Lake Chiropractic - Chiropractors specializing in car accident, workers compensation, whiplash injury, back pain, and much more.

Contact our Chiropractor for more information.

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Posted by Best Chiropractor in my mind!

Auto Injury, whiplash web pages added

May 5, 2013

Many Minneapolis auto accident injuries do not show symptoms until weeks or even months after the crash. However, even without symptoms, internal damage to the musculoskeletal system and soft tissues can happen immediately. At Lyn Lake Chiropractic our minneapolis chiropractor and entire wellness team have helped thousands of Minneapolis - St. Paul patients safely recover from whiplash and other auto injuries.

One of the most stressful events in life is dealing with the issues that occur after an auto accident. The first thing a person thinks about after the crash is the car. Most people are not aware that some injuries are not detected for months or even years. It is absolutely imperative that anybody that is in an auto accident immediately go see a Doctor trained in soft tissue injuries.

While whiplash is a common injury from auto accidents, another common complaint of crash victims is Quick read more or view full article that they don’t “feel like their normal selves”. They may also experience other symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, back pain, muscle stiffness or spasms, neck pain, numbness and tingling in their arms or legs, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, irritability, memory loss and difficulty concentrating.

The reason people choose minneapolis chiropractic care for treatment of injuries sustained in auto accidents is simple – chiropractic care is exceptional in the treatment of soft tissue injuries, especially of the spine. Since the most common injuries associated with these events are sprains and strains of the spinal muscles and ligaments, it is only natural that chiropractic be the treatment of choice.

It is imperative that people involved in auto accidents consult with a doctor who is trained in the biomechanics of the human body; someone who treats these injuries every day.

Often, passengers can be hurt more than a driver, especially if it is a side wreck or T-bone type of collision. Children can suffer the same injuries as adults and should be given the same care despite a feeling by the parent that a child can’t be “that injured” if no bones are broken or there is no bruising to the skin. Put it this way: if damage was done to a vehicle that actually bent metal, the people inside the vehicle surely absorbed that force as well.

Due to the body producing adrenaline at the time of an accident, a hormone that acts as a natural pain killer, people are able to muster the courage to move through the impact and “take care of business”. As mentioned above, it is often days or weeks later that the full impact of the car crash is felt. A trained Chiropractor can be a brilliant source of diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue and joint injuries.

In addition, x-rays or MRI’s (if indicated) will be used to check for any structural damage.

Lyn Lake Chiropractic routinely evaluates and treats auto accident victims and makes any appropriate referrals to other health care providers if necessary. Our primary responsibility is to provide the proper care and submit the required medical reports to the insurance company or attorney (if one is involved) so the rights of the patient are protected.

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Posted by Lyn Lake Chiropractic

Care for whiplash, we sincerely appreciate

November 5, 2011

In whiplash research, many articles have been published that conflict or contradict each other. The goal of this Health Update is to report the “facts” about whiplash.

It is more common to have a delay in the onset of whiplash symptoms. Symptoms may start about two hours after the initial injury or it may take days, weeks, or months before you feel anything.
For whiplash caused by car accidents, the severity depends on the force of the impact, the way you were seated in your car, and if you were properly restrained using a shoulder and seat belt.
Tests show the soft tissues in your neck sustain injury at a threshold of 5 mph. That means if you’re rear-ended at 5 mph or slower, you have a lower chance of getting whiplash. However, most rear-end car accidents happen at speeds of 6-12 mph.
If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s a good Quick read more or view full article idea to be evaluated even if your car didn’t get damaged and you don’t feel any pain.
Although whiplash is most often associated with car accidents, you can also get whiplash from sports such as snowboarding, boxing, football and gymnastics.
The concept of “no car damage = no injury” is COMPLETELY false. Most cars can withstand collisions of up to 10 MPH and as pointed out above, only in collisions < 5 MPH are you less likely to be injured. Collisions that occur between 6-12 MPH cause the highest percentage of whiplash injuries (which is below the threshold of car damage in most cases). Also, the energy of the impact is transferred to the contents inside the car when there is no vehicular damage (that means you).
Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) can occur in motor vehicle collisions even if the head does not hit an object inside the car, although it’s more common when there is a head strike. The symptoms associated with MTBI are often referred to as “Post Concussive Syndrome.”
Approximately 10% of whiplash injured patients become totally disabled.
Of the studies published since 1995, over 60% of whiplash patients required long-term medical care.
Risk factors for long-term symptoms associated with WAD include: rear impacts, loss of the cervical lordosis curve, pre-existing degenerative arthritis, use of seat belts & shoulder harness (low speed impacts only), poor head restraint position or shape, non-awareness of the impending collision, female (especially long slender neck), head rotation at impact.

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

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Whiplash Minneapolis - Lyn Lake Chiropractic

May 24, 2011

Did you know Lyn Lake Chiropractic Specializes in treating whiplash injuries. Due to Lyn Lake Chiropractic chiropractors are the Official Chiropractors of The Twin Cities Marathon and specialize in treating running injuries. People don't know we do Specialize in treating car accident injuries, whiplash injuries and bicycle accidents.

Whiplash Injuries Minneapolis - Auto Accidents MN. Our Chiropractors are Here to Give You Pain Relief!

Whiplash injury occurs when the body reacts to a deceleration or acceleration force by hyperflexion or hyperextension of the neck. Lyn Lake Chiropractic Clinic specializes in treating whiplash injuries, auto accident injuries and bicycle accident injuries. Whiplash injuries are very common in car accidents. Whiplash injuries occur, in part, due to the fact that the muscles do not have enough time to brace themselves.

If you have been involved in a car accident, whiplash injuries Quick read more or view full article need to be taken very seriously. Because symptoms of a whiplash injury can take weeks or even months to manifest, it is easy to be fooled into thinking that you are not as seriously injured as you really are. Symptoms from a car accident and whiplash can include anything from radiating pain into the shoulder, elbow pain, wrist pain or hand pain, lower back pain, headaches and more.

Injuries from Whiplash Trauma
Whiplash injuries can manifest themselves in a wide variety of ways, including neck pain, headaches, fatigue, upper back and shoulder pain, and low back pain. Due to the fact that numerous factors play into the overall whiplash trauma, such as direction of impact, speed of the vehicles involved, as well as sex, age and physical condition, whiplash symptoms commonly have a delayed onset, often taking weeks or months to become evident.

A number of conditions those who have suffered from whiplash trauma experience include:

Neck pain
Neck pain is the single most common complaint reported by our patients who have experienced whiplash trama. Often the pain radiates across the shoulders, up into the head, and down between the shoulder blades. Whiplash injuries tend to affect all of the tissues in the neck, including the facet joints and discs between the vertebrae, as well as all of the muscles, ligaments and nerves.

Disc injury is also a common cause of neck pain, especially chronic pain. The outer wall of the disc can be torn during a whiplash trauma.

Headaches
After neck pain, headaches are the second most common complaint from those suffering from whiplash injury. While some headaches are actually the result of direct brain injury, most are related to injury of the muscles, ligaments and facet joints of the cervical spine, which refer pain to the head.

TMJ pain
A less common, but very debilitating disorder that results from whiplash, is temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). TMJ usually begins as pain along with clicking and popping noises in the jaw during movement. Our Minneapolis chiropractors at Lyn Lake Chiropractic are specially trained to treat TMJ problems. If we think you need additional care, we will refer you to a TMJ specialist outside our Minneapolis chiropractic clinic.

Lower back pain
Most people consider whiplash to be an injury of the neck. However, the lower back is also commonly injured as well. In fact, low back pain is found in more than half of rear impact-collisions in which injury was reported, and almost three-quarters of all side-impact crashes. This is mostly due to the fact that the low back still experiences a tremendous compression.

Healing from Whiplash Injury
With proper care, many mild whiplash injuries heal within six to nine months. Whiplash is a unique condition that requires the expertise of a skilled health professional specially trained to work with these types of injuries. The most effective treatment for whiplash injuries is a combination of Minneapolis chiropractic care and rehabilitation of the soft tissues .

Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care utilizes manual manipulation of the spine to restore the normal movement and position of the spinal vertebrae. It is by far, the single-most effective treatment for minimizing the long-term impact of whiplash injuries, especially when coupled with massage therapy, trigger point therapy, exercise rehabilitation and other soft tissue rehabilitation modalities by Minneapolis chiropractors at Lyn Lake Chiropractic.

If you or someone you know has been in an auto accident, please get checked out by a good chiropractor! We always recomend you to see your Medical Doctor and a Chiropractor since they both offer something different that can help you.

If needed we will refer you to other healthcare providers - Neurologist, Orthopedist and more. When you come to Lyn Lake Chiropractic we'll make sure you get the best care possible. Read our testimonies for more reference either online with Google or checkout our testimonies on our website.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us anytime at 612-879-8000, we do have a 24/7 answering service. If needed they will contact the chiropractors anytime to call you back.

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