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Car accidents can cause numerous personal injuries that should be considered serious.

In Raleigh, NC, I have seen car accident injuries can cause expensive medical bills, missed time from work, injuries that last for years, time in the hospital, and even surgeries.

 But, what are the most common injuries one experiences after a car accident? From my experience as a chiropractor and car accident doctor in Raleigh, NC, this is what I have found:

Most common car accident injury #1: Whiplash

The neck and head are very exposed  in a car accident. During the force of an impact the head and neck are whipped forwards and backwards like a whip causing hyperflexion and hyperextension injuries to the ligaments and muscles in the neck.

Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, headaches, dizziness, blurry vision, tingling in the arms, and muscle spasms in the neck and upper back. For more on whiplash please download a free copy of my Ebook understanding whiplash .

 Expert Tips from a car accident doctor in Raleigh, NC:

Make sure your headrest is even with the back of your head in your vehicle. Improper placement of a headrest can lead to greater bodily injury.

Use ice heavily on your neck the first 72 hours. Ice decreases the inflammation and increases healing times. Seek treatments like chiropractic and physical therapy immediately. The mobilization of neck joints and strengthening of the muscles in the neck decreases pain and increase healing times and long-term outcomes.

Most common car accident injury #2: Headaches

Headaches are common injuries experience after a car accident. Headaches typically result from trauma to the head and neck during a car accident. There are several different types of headaches we see as practitioners after a car accident.

Post traumatic headaches- this type of headache is caused by injury and trauma to the head and neck usually from whiplash to the neck joints, muscles, ligaments and nerves. The pain can be described as throbbing, deep, constant and sometimes does not appear for several days or even weeks after the car accident.

Headaches as the result of a concussion-  Headaches after an accident can occur after a concussion. The jarring of the brain can cause an inflammatory process in the head which causes headaches. There may be may be a loss of consciousness with the concussion or not. Symptoms of a post concussive headache including loss of memory, dizziness, anxiety, speech disturbance, headaches, balance problems, ringing in the ears, depression, anxiety and confusion.

Expert tips from a car accident doctor in Raleigh, NC: If you’ve experienced a concussion and headaches after a car accident make sure to seek immediate medical attention. See a Neurologist or Neuropsychologist immediately.

Most common car accident injury #3: Back injuries

Mid and low back injuries are very common after a car accident. Injuries to the mid and lower back can cause muscle spasms and contractions which may last for several months after a car accident. The sprain and strain muscles and ligaments can overstretch around the vertebrae in the back.  This can create instability of the vertebrae for quite some time after the accident. Some may have pre-existing spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis, bulging discs, or arthritis which will become aggravated by an acute injury such as car accident.

Expert tips from a car accident doctor in Raleigh, NC: If you’ve injured your back after a car accident use ice for 72 hours on and off for 15 minutes at a time. Rest your back if you use if you have a job that requires physical activity. Consider taking a few days off work to rest your back. Seek chiropractic care and physical therapy immediately to bring down your back pain increase your strength and mobility in your back.

Most common car accident injury #4: Herniated discs

Herniated discs happen from the powerful and fast impacts that happen after a car accident. The gravitational forces generated during an accident travel through the spine which causes the spinal disc to rupture, tear  or herniation. Symptoms of a herniated disc can include shooting sharp pain into the arms or legs, numbness into the arms or legs, pain radiating from the neck or lower back into the arms or legs, sharp burning pain in the neck or back, muscle spasms and headaches. Herniated discs can take six months to a year to fully heal and in severe cases may require surgical intervention.

Expert tips from a car accident doctor in Raleigh, NC: If you think you have signs and symptoms of a herniated disc after a car accident seek immediate medical attention. MRIs are the best imaging tools to diagnose a herniated disc in your spine. Ask your healthcare provider advice on getting an MRI to document a herniated disc after a car accident.

Most common car accident injury #5 Shoulder and knee injuries

Shoulder and knee injuries can happen in an instant during a car accident. The arms are restrained by the  , holding onto a steering wheel, thrown into an adjacent doors or front consoles. If you’re experiencing unresolved shoulder pain after a car accident, weakness or inability to raise your arms you may have experienced a significant shoulder injury. It’s not uncommon to tear ligaments of the rotator cuff or labrum after a car accident.

Injuries to the knee can occur when the feet are plantar down hard on the floor of the car during a car accident or when the knee strikes the front console of the car. Keep an eye out for swelling, bruising, pain when walking, weakness and instability in the legs after a car accident as this may be a sign of a more serious injury to the knee.

Expert tips from a car accident doctor in Raleigh, NC: seek immediate medical attention if you’ve experienced an injury to your knees or shoulders after a car accident. Swelling, weakness, pain, instability in the knees and shoulders can be a sign of a more serious knee or shoulder injury.

X-rays and CT scans may show fractures, dislocations, bony pathologies in the shoulders and knees not ligament injuries. Talk with your medical providers about obtaining an MRI of the shoulder is or knee to determine if you may have experienced a torn or ruptured ligament or labrum.

In summary, car accident injuries can cause bodily injuries which can take months to even years to fully resolve. Working with medical providers experienced in treating these injuries is an important part of one’s optimal treatment and recovery.

WE ACCEPT AUTO INSURANCE & THIRD PARTY BILLING OR ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION: THERE IS TYPICALLY NO UPFRONT COST FOR CARE 

-We will file your insurance claims for you to the car insurance at fault per your request

-We will submit your office charges and records to the car insurances for you and our friendly staff will contact any adjusters assigned to your claim

– If you were the at fault driver we will verify any Medpay benefits you may have to use on your own auto insurance policy to pay for your treatment

–  If you are represented by an attorney handling your case we will submit your records when your treatment has finished at no cost to yo

WE TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF CAR ACCIDENT INJURIES IN RALEIGH, NC & SURROUNDING AREAS!

Schedule an appointment now.

In health,

Dr. Jeffrey Gerdes, D.C.

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Raleigh, NC

Car accidents can happen in the blink of a moment leaving damaged vehicles, injured bodies and at times even death. If you’ve been in a car accident in the Raleigh, NC area, please read the steps below to know what to do after the accident has taken place.

What you do immediately following a car accident in Raleigh, NC area is very important for your safety, future health if you were injured and dealing with insurance companies.

Step 1 After Your Car Accident in Raleigh: Make sure sure you are safe. Get your vehicle out of traffic. Check others in the car to make sure they are safe. Turn off your engine to prevent a fire or gasoline from spilling. Turn on your lights or blinkers to prevent other accidents. Never drive away from the scene of a car accident.

Step 2 After Car Your Accident in Raleigh: Call the police. It’s very important to call the police immediately following a car accident even if there were no serious injuries. You’ll need a police report to report the accident to the car insurances that are were involved. Often times, the damage even in minor accidents is not visible on the exterior of the vehicles. There may be internal damage to the frame or undercarriage of the vehicle. It is also quite common not to feel pain immediately from all the adrenaline after a car accident. It is common for neck pain, back pain,  headaches to develop in the hours and days following the car accident. It is important initially to get it documented by the police that you were involved in a car accident and injured. But more importantly you must get seen by a medical provider to document you were injured from the car accident.

Step 3 After Your Car Accident in Raleigh: Make detailed records of the complete details of the accident. When the police arrive tell them everything you know involving the car accident. Gather witnesses who saw the accident so that they can also inform the police of exactly what happened.

Step 4 After Your Car Accident in Raleigh: Take pictures. If you have a cell phone or camera in your vehicle make sure to take pictures of the visible damage to all vehicles involved. You want to make sure that you have pictures of the vehicles as soon as possible so try to take them from the scene if you can.

Step 5 After Your Car Accident in Raleigh: Exchange information. Make sure to exchange your insurance information and contact information with the other involved parties in the car accident. It’s also important to gather the names of the drivers and passengers and all the vehicles involved.  Get the license plate numbers. Makes and models of all vehicles involved. The contact information of eyewitnesses. The location of the accident and the police officers names, jurisdictions and badge numbers.

Step 6 After Your Car Accident in Raleigh: Get immediate medical attention. This should be number one on the list if you feel the injuries were significant. Go straight to the hospital. It’s not uncommon to suffer fractures, head injuries, torn ligaments, whiplash, damage to internal organs, herniated discs as a result of a car accident. Many report feeling symptoms increase in the hours and days following a car accident. It may be required to seek chiropractic care and physical therapy which can last for months.

Step 7 After Your Car Accident in Raleigh: Keep good records. Make detailed notes on all of your conversations with insurance adjusters, attorneys and medical providers. Keep records of all missed time from work, doctors visits, and and bills related to the car accident injuries.

Being in a car accident is a stressful life event.  The steps you take following this unforeseen life even can make a substantial difference when getting your car fixed, treating injuries and dealing with insurance companies for monetary compensation.

As mentioned previously, it may be required to seek chiropractic care for months afterward. If you have been in an accident in the Raleigh, NC area, please feel free to reach out to us for questions or to book an appointment .

WE ACCEPT AUTO INSURANCE & THIRD PARTY BILLING OR ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION: THERE IS TYPICALLY NO UPFRONT COST FOR CARE  

-We will file your insurance claims for you to the car insurance at fault per your request

-We will submit your office charges and records to the car insurances for you and our friendly staff will contact any adjusters assigned to your claim

– If you were the at fault driver we will verify any medpay benefits you may have to use on your own auto insurance policy to pay for your treatment

–  If you are represented by an attorney handling your case we will submit your records when your treatment has finished at no cost to you

WE TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF CAR ACCIDENT INJURIES!

Schedule an appointment now.

In health,

Dr. Jeffrey Gerdes, D.C.

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Raleigh, NC

For many years the world’s top athletes (both olympic, professional and college athletes) have sought out chiropractic care from sports chiropractors for performance enhancement injury recovery and wellness.

Sports chiropractors share an expertise in treating sports related injuries such as:

• Sprains and strains
• Running injuries
• Repetitive use injuries
• Herniated discs
• Bursitis
• Tight and sore muscles
• IT band syndromes
• Evaluating for head trauma and concussions
• Muscle injuries
• Tendonitis

Dr. Gerdes spending time with with legendary football coach Lou Holtz

 

Here are a few ways chiropractic care by a sports chiropractor can help athletes enhance and improve performance:

• Work on your bodies bio mechanics
• Provide guidance on nutritional needs for athletes,
• Treat overuse injuries
• Treat repetitive injuries that athletes are always experiencing
• Test for muscular and joint imbalances and dysfunctions
• Treat soft tissues when they become inflamed or injured
• Remobilize injured or stiff joints allowing increased mobility, flexibility and ranges of motions that are essential to sports performance.

But why should you visit a sports chiropractor in Raleigh NC?

• Sports chiropractors are licensed to perform physical therapy which gives them a unique perspective to helping athletes recover after they experience a sports injury.
• Unlike Physical Therapists who do not hold doctorate degrees, sports chiropractors are able to make referrals to other medical specialists when there make be a more seriously underlying sports injury  like a fracture or a ruptured tendon.
• If you are considering seeing a sports chiropractor after an injury some of the benefits are you can also receive physical therapy with Chiropractic joint mobilization.
• Many sports chiropractors to provide X Ray services is in their office where you can diagnose your injury on site.
• Sports chiropractors are able to order in obtain outside imaging such as MRIs CAT scans and lab work which can be used to diagnose and manage sports injuries.
• Sports chiropractors are able to make outside referrals to orthopedists, neurosurgeons, pain management specialists when some sport sports injuries may be more serious like in cases of fractures, torn ligaments or severe head injuries.
• Many sports chiropractors have added education in treating sports injuries. I personally hold a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and health and have been working with athletes for nearly 20 years.

If you are looking for a sports chiropractor in Raleigh NC, click here to book an appointment today .

In health,

Dr. Jeffrey Gerdes, D.C.

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Chiropractic adjustments work by restoring the spine’s natural mobility in the vertebral column in the neck mid lower back sacrum and pelvis.

What is the cracking and popping sound during a chiropractic adjustment?

The cracking and popping heard during a chiropractic adjustment is caused by the capsules around the vertebral facet joints when they being reset. The vertebral capsules contain synovial joint fluid and gases. Adjusting the spinal vertebrae restores the synovial fluid pressure and releases a build up in gases that may cause pressure, pain, inflammation and tightness in and around the spine and muscles.

As the synovial joint pressure decreases during a chiropractic adjustment gas is released. This causes a cavitation.  The cavitation is what you hear when there is a cracking or popping in the neck or back during a chiropractic adjustment.

Why do chiropractic adjustments treat pain?

Joint capsules around the facets can also become entrapped causing sharp sometimes severe pain in the neck, mid and lower back. Joint capsules fibers are very sensitive to pain and when entrapped in the spinal facet joints can become a very bothersome condition that can be addressed with chiropractic adjustments successfully.  

The re-setting of the vertebral facet joints can take irritation and inflammation off of compressed nerves that are pressed on around the spine and relieve pain generated in ligaments and muscles which are irritated by vertebral joints not functioning with full mobility.

 The chiropractic adjusting of the vertebral segments may also take irritation off surrounding nerves, The picture below shows an example of this:

This picture was published in a public journal in 2002 from the journal Spine:27. 2459-2466. The Effects of Side Posture Positioning and Spinal Adjusting on the Lumbar Z Joints.  Figure copied from Cramer, et. al (2002)

You can see the example on the left above the R which symbolizes the right side of the body. These are two axial slices of a lumbar MRI looking down on the spinal cord, discs, nerves and vertebrae before and after a chiropractic adjustment on the same patients.  

The white areas circled represent the spinal nerve roots which exit the vertebrae in between the facet joints and the lumbar discs. When this area becomes compressed and irritated as it is in the photo on the right side it can cause significant low back pain, sciatica, nerve pain, leg pain and even lead to weakness in the legs and chronic numbness and pain in the lower back, thighs, and feet.

The figure on the below is an MRI taken right after a spinal adjustment was administered to the lower back on the same patient. As you can see there is a significant opening in the area in which the spinal nerve root comes out on the right side.

When vertebral joints experience dysfunction and inflammation it also affects of the spinal discs which can become irritated and inflamed. The cracking, popping and realigning of the spinal vertebral column can take unnecessary weight distributions off of the spinal discs and lead to a decrease in pain and increase in function and mobility.

In summary, Chiropractic adjustments have been used for over 100 years and an effective ways to manage musculoskeletal pain with minimal side effects in comparison to many medications such as NSAIDS and Opiates.

Chiropractic adjustments are covered by most insurances, Medicare and Medicaid.

Here is an example of a recent chiropractic adjustment and physical therapy performed in my office on a patient experiencing neck and back pain from her job….Enjoy the cracks and pops!

If you live in the Raleigh, NC area and would like to book an appointment, book online here .

In health,

Dr. Jeffrey Gerdes, D.C.

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Raleigh, NC

You just finished a long day of work or a great workout at the gym, and then it strikes you again: a deep achy pain in the front of the arm or in the back around your shoulder blade and spine.

Shoulder pain can be a big problem and shoulder pain affects millions of people every year in the United States alone.

In this blog posts I will discuss seven treatments you can do at home to help relieve shoulder pain.

Home remedy for shoulder pain #1: Refrain from activities that are causing the shoulder pain….Rest your shoulder

Oftentimes, shoulder pain is caused by tendonitis from repetitive movements of the arm and back. If you are able to stop and rest from the movements or activities that are causing the underlying shoulder pain it will give your shoulder a chance to heal and decrease the pain and discomfort that you are experiencing.

Home remedy for shoulder pain #2: Use ice

Again, one of the main causes of shoulder pain is tendonitis and inflammation in the ligaments and muscles in the shoulder. Ice is a natural remedy for tendonitis and inflammation. Ice acts by restricting blood circulation, dulling pain signals in the body, and decreasing inflammatory chemicals that get released when the body is experiencing inflammation and injury.

Try to combine number one above (i.e., rest) with number two (ice) for optimal results. Picture the baseball pitcher after a long game wrapping his his shoulder in an ice compression to minimize shoulder pain and repetitive injuries.

Home remedy for shoulder pain #3 Take care of your neck

Problems in the neck are often the underlying cause of shoulder pain. A pinched nerve in the neck can cause pain in the shoulder.

Tight muscles in the neck run down and attach close to the shoulder and around the shoulder blade. Try some neck stretches at home to keep your neck and shoulder muscles loose and limber.

Consider a massage to work the kinks out in the muscles in around the shoulder and neck. If your neck pain is coming from your pillow or mattress at home consider switching out your pillow and mattress until your neck pain and shoulder pains are resolved.

Home remedy for shoulder pain #4: Strengthen the muscles between your shoulder blades, and stretch your chest muscles

Often times, shoulder pain is caused by poor posture. A condition called kyphosis where are your upper back and shoulders are rounded too far forward (picture the Hunchback of Notre Dame) can cause biomechanical stressors on the shoulders and lead to shoulder pain.

If you like to focus on chest and biceps at the gym, take some time to learn how to work your back muscles. Consider taking up yoga or pilates which strengthens the muscles around the shoulder blades and spine. Develop a plan to combat the 8 to 10 hours most of us are in flexion at the computers and all the other activities of daily life.

On the other hand, as we sit in flexion for 8 to 10 hours a day, our chest muscles become chronically shortened and tightened. This pulls on the shoulders forward rounding them excessively causing shoulder pain.

Stretching your contracted pectoral muscles, which may be pulling your shoulders forward, will release your shoulder tension and may decrease your shoulder pain.

Home remedy for shoulder pain #5: Come up with a home exercise strengthening plan for your rotator cuff

You don’t need fancy equipment or a gym membership to strengthen your rotator cuff and shoulder muscles at home. In fact, most research suggests that low tech equipment, such as Therabands, and using your own body’s weight are superior to heavy weights when strengthening your rotator cuff.

If you need any help with a home strengthening plan schedule an appointment, and I will take you through it.

It’s important to note that, oftentimes, there may be a more serious underlying pathology, dysfunction, in the neck or back joints causing your shoulder pain. These conditions require the attention of a licensed medical profession. So, if you have tried treating your shoulder pain at home with no success make sure to seek out an appointment to get an evaluation by a licensed medical professional.

If home remedies are not enough – or if you are looking to add in a layer of professional help to combat and treat your shoulder pain, book an appointment with us today .

In health,

Dr. Jeffrey Gerdes, D.C.