Auto Accidents (MVA) and Chiropractic
Within Indiana in 2011, there were over 188,000 motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) resulting in injury or damage to property. [1] As an auto-accident chiropractor in Evansville, IN., Dr. Eric Mitz sees a significant number of suffering MVA patients; whether referred by their lawyer, doctor, family member or friend, Dr. Mitz and his staff can help you feel better today!
Most people are aware of the typical “whiplash” injury to the neck caused by a MVA but many are unaware that there are many other injuries Dr. Mitz treats that occur during a MVA. TMJ Syndrome, concussion, Low Back Pain, Mid-Back or Thoracic Spine Pain, Headaches and even problems with numbness and tingling in the arms and/or legs are often seen in patients following an MVA. Even in automobile accident cases where there is no significant new personal injury, patients usually experience a relapse or exacerbation of an old condition. There are few Evansville chiropractors that have the staff and experience necessary to not only rapidly get you back to health but also properly document your case, which is critical should there be a potential legal action.
Low-Speed Accidents Create Injuries Too!
More often than not and even at low speeds, whiplash occurs in car accident injuries. The research data clearly shows that even when there is no damage to the driver’s vehicle, and even at speeds as low as 4-MPH, the driver is more likely than not to sustain some degree of injury. [2]
The structures that support and move your body: muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and fascia, can all be injured due to the abrupt and powerful forces a car accident delivers. The spine is especially prone to injury due to the unnatural movements it experiences during an MVA. Studies have demonstrated these unnatural forces from an MVA are most likely to affect the neck, jaw, upper back, and low back.
Very frequently, patients report feeling well-enough at the scene of the accident to refuse an ambulance or other medical care. Unfortunately, 24 to 48 hours later, most of these people experience soreness, pain or worse due to the injuries received in the MVA. Sometimes, weeks or months may pass after the MVA before symptoms appear. This is why you should ALWAYS get checked by a medical or chiropractic provider who understands the necessary workup required to tease-out these hidden symptoms. At his Evansville chiropractic clinic, Dr. Mitz assists just these kinds of patients!
Chiropractic care is one of the only therapies proven in clinical trials to help whiplash patients with acute pain and a decrease in the long term consequences of MVA injuries. Undiagnosed and untreated painful conditions lead to muscle guarding — a situation wherein the body attempts to protect an injured site by limiting movement there via muscle spasms. This lack of movement left undiagnosed and untreated leads to a loss of strength and endurance within these guarded muscles. It is this loss of fitness which is the cause of so much long-term disability and pain seen in those who have been injured in automobile accidents. The sooner you can see Dr. Mitz after your accident, the less likely you are to experience these long term consequences with a side benefit of rapid and drug-free pain relief and a resumption of your normal activities. Even if it has been a while since your accident, Dr. Mitz can help you avoid or escape the downward spiral of chronic pain and disability.
Steps to Follow After an Automobile Accident:
- ALWAYS file an accident report with the relevant police agency
- Contact your automobile insurance company or agent to report the accident and to get educated about your automobile insurance benefits
- Consult a chiropractor that excels at working with patients involved in MVAs
- Consider hiring an attorney, especially if the insurance companies or other drivers are uncooperative or if your injuries will likely require ongoing care. Your chiropractor will help with this assessment.
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