Auto Accident Care?
What happens without the right care 15 years post accident trauma?
The Lingering Effects of Whiplash Injuries
Soft-tissue Injuries of the Cervical Spine 15 year follow-up
Reference: Journal of
Bone and Joint Surgery (British) November 1996, Vol. 78-B, No. 6, pp. 955-7 B.
Squires, M, F. Garman, G. C. Bannister: From the University of
Key Points:
- At an average of 15.5 years post whiplash trauma, 70% of injured patients continued to complain of symptoms from the original injury.
- Long-term
symptoms from whiplash injury include neck pain, arm paraesthesia, back
pain, headache, dizziness, and tinnitus or ringing in the ears.
- Women and older patients have a worse outcome from whiplash injuries.
- Radiating arm pain is more common in those with severe symptoms.
- From
10 and 15 years after the accident, only 18% of patients had improved,
whereas 28% had deteriorated.
- Soft tissue injuries to the neck may give persisting symptoms.
- This study showed ongoing symptom fluctuation between years 10 to 15.
- After 15-year follow-up, 65% had neck pain and 48% had low-back pain.
- 80% of women and 50% of men continued to have symptoms at 15 years post whiplash.
- Back
pain and tinnitus increased between years 10 and 15.
- Symptoms
remained static in 54%, improved in 18% and worse in 28%.
- Degenerative changes are associated with a worse prognosis for recovery.
- 60% of symptomatic patients had not been to a doctor in the previous 5 years because the doctors were unable to help them.
- 18% had taken an early retirement due to health problems they attributed to the whiplash injury.
- Whiplash symptoms do not improve after settlement of litigation.
- Most radiating pain is referral from the facets, and not radicular.
- Chronic
whiplash symptoms will cause an abnormal psychological assessment after
3 months.
- 100% of patients with severe ongoing problems had cervical spinal degeneration.
Who do you know that’s in pain from a past whiplash, from either a car wreck or sports injury? We help many recover successfully and change the forecast from chronic pain to renewed health. Check out the testimonials and refer someone in need today
"When I got hit I no longer could hold anything in my right hand."
After the accident I went to Urgent Care and the doctor
prescribed me Flexeril that made me unable to do anything on my own and
made me sick to my stomach. I stopped taking the drugs after one day.
Now
I feel more positive and more efficient at all my tasks. I feel I can
do more and I even feel better than before the accident. My mind is
much clearer and I do a lot more cheerfully, having more fun doing
it!! It’s a good feeling. I’ve graduated to stabilization/maintenance
care so I know that Dr David isn’t done with me yet. I can’t wait to
see how I’ll feel in the future!
Izumi Yamashita
Neck Injuries Causing
Hormone Problems!
Reduced
Reactivity and Enhanced Negative Feedback Sensitivity of the
Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorder.
Journal: PAIN, vol. 119, Issues 1-3, December 15, 2005,
pp. 219-224
Jens Gaab, Susanne Baumann, Angela Budnoik, Honspeter Gmunder, Nina Hottinger and Ulrike Ehlert
From Abstract:
Chronic whiplash symptoms may be the result of a
“general illness with widespread symptom presentation” caused by dysfunction of
systems beyond the neck injury. The hormones of the
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, is of prime interest, as these
are related to chronic pain and fatigue as seen in Fibromyalgia, Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, and low back pain.
The results of this study show that in chronic whiplash
injury, the ability of the endocrine system to secrete cortisol is
suppressed. Cortisol is an
anti-inflammatory steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. Individuals
with reduced cortisol are more inflamed and experience more pain. Chronic whiplash patients have more pain
and a reduced ability to produce cortisol.
Key Points:
- Dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis can cause chronic pain and fatigue.
- This study shows that chronic whiplash patients have dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis resulting in reduction of the normal production of the anti-inflammatory hormone cortisol from the adrenal gland.
- Chronic, persistent whiplash symptoms “occur in a considerable proportion of patients.”
- Rear end collisions are statistically most likely to cause chronic whiplash symptoms.
Whiplash injuries are so common in patients history that
the symptoms that drive them to our office are often traced back to that
original injury, even if many years prior. It is imperative that a whiplash injury to the spine be cared for
properly to prevent the future chronic pain and disability we often see with
past incorrect or faulty care. Don’t let
your family or friends become a chronic pain statistic. Steer them in the right direction.
Chiropractic, especially the Pettibon system of spinal
correction, has proven to be the most effective in caring for post auto-accident induced whiplash, acute and chronic, and other chronic pain patients, with proven results and improvements in
overall systemic health. Knowledge
is power.
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