After The Accident

Long-term damage to the spine and head is especially common in car accidents. Doctors of chiropractic have for years recognized that most victims of automobile injuries do not fully recover under medical care. They may continue to have problems for years after the accident because their structure is often ignored. This is especially the case for those who have whiplash and concussion injuries, as well as other accident problems. New medical terms acknowledging the incomplete healing of accident victims have recently arisen, such as: Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS), Whiplash Syndrome (WS), Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (MTBI) and Mild Head Injury (MHI). Residual problems may linger for months, years or decades after an accident. They may be musculoskeletal, (the muscles and bones are affected) or neuromusculoskeletal (the nerves, muscles and bones are affected). Commonly called “pinched” nerves, there may be pains or muscle spasms in the neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, legs, back, face or head upon movement or when standing and sitting for long periods. The pain may radiate to other parts of the body. Other post-accident problems may include insomnia, mental dullness, nervousness, anxiety, depression, constipation, diarrhea, headache, hearing and vision problems or reduced joint motion and other symptoms.