Many accident victims falsely assume that wearing their seatbelt reduced the risk of Whiplash injury. Seatbelts can actually increase the likelihood and degree of neck injury. Now, no one denies that seat-belts save lives, but when the body is firmly secured to the seat, the seatbelt actually increases the “whipping” action of the neck this can increase injury to the neck and its supporting structures. Soft tissue injuries are often not visualized on x-rays and frequently overlooked. Soft tissue injuries can cause severe debilitating pain after a car accident.

Although “rear ender” type of accidents represent on 20% of motor vehicle accidents, it causes 80% of injuries giving long-term and persistent symptoms. An older accident victim will generally suffer more serious injury because of decreased elasticity, dramatic loss of flexibility and strength, and slowing of the natural healing rate. Auto accident victims have an 80% higher incidence of osteoarthritis and get it faster.

If you have been in a car accident with an impact of 10 mph or greater it is a good idea to get checked out by your local chiropractor who is well trained to evaluate and treat these types of injuries.

There are three basic kinds of stress (1) physical stress: like an accident or trauma; (2) emotional stress; (3) environmental or toxic stress. Any combination of these three types of stressors that the body cannot effectively handle can cause vertebrae in the spine to become displaced very much like the circuit breaker panel in your home. Chiropractic, which was discovered in 1895 can effectively treat misaligned vertebrae along with all of the symptoms associated with this physical problem.

Dangerous thought one: “It will go away if I ignore it.” While it does take the body time to heal; it sometimes needs some outside physical help. A simple muscle strain should only last a few days and then never come back. If you have back or neck problems longer than a few days then it is probably more than a simple strain and should get checked out. The body also has an ability to “adapt” to pain; where you don’t perceive the physical problem as much, all the while it is degenerating your body.

Dangerous thought two: “I’ll just take some Ibuprofen.” Drugs and pain killers often just mask a physical problem—if they have any positive effect at all for many types of neck and back disorders. Long term use of pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs can cause serious damage to vital organs (ex: long term Ibuprofen use linked to kidney failure). If you have been taking over the counter pain remedies for more than a week or two you should definitely consult a doctor to get at the true cause of your health problem. If you have tried a lot of chemical solutions (drugs) that have not permanently resolved your problem, then your problem may by physical in nature that would respond best to a physical solution–like a gentle chiropractic adjustment. A 2002 study from Annals of Internal Medicine found that Chiropractic was more effective than drugs in treating neck pain.

Dangerous thought three: “I’m fine my back doesn’t hurt at all.” This can be one of the more dangerous health attitudes. Just like death can be the first symptom of a heart attack, there could be misaligned vertebrae in your spine that are not giving you symptoms yet. Simple non-invasive tests by a Chiropractor can determine if your spine is in proper alignment or not. Preventative care can save you a lot of time and money. Unfortunately, most patients wait until their situation is unbearable before they seek help, then bounce around in the American “sick” care system a long time before they find it.

Dangerous thought four: “It’s too late. I’m too old to get better.” I have a number of patients who first sought my care when they were well into their 90’s and my oldest patient is over 100—all of these cases that I accepted had a positive outcome and were very happy with their care. I won’t waste your time or money. I only accept cases I feel I can truly help, others I refer on to the appropriate specialist.

Dangerous thought five: “I can crack my own back.” A gross manipulation delivered by yourself or some other unqualified person could be dangerous. Even if it feels good at the time moving the wrong vertebrae can lead to instability of the ligaments of the spine and other more serious complications. Frequently feeling the “urge” to “pop” your own back is a huge warning sign you are moving the wrong vertebrae. When the correct vertebrae is put back in place by a gentle specific Chiropractic adjustment, this sensation to “pop” your own spine usually goes away after just a few visits.

Dangerous thought six: “My doctor says there’s nothing else I can do.” All I can say is I have helped hundreds of patients who were given this advise—there is a chance I might be able to help you too.

Dangerous thought seven: “I went to a Chiropractor once and he fixed me.” This is like going to the dentist to get a toothache handled, then never going back for a check-up. If you have ever had a problem with your spine, then you are predisposed to having more problems with your spine. Getting a regular check-up can prevent serious issues in the future.

Dangerous thought eight: “I’m healthy. I’m not taking any medications at all.” Take this quiz: When was the last time I consistently felt my very best? If the answer is anything other than “now,” then you should come in to get checked out. You may need nutrition or lifestyle changes to regain optimum health.

Dangerous thought nine: “I’m too busy. I’ll do it next week.” The longer you wait the more time and money it can cost to handle or it may get to a point where conservative care (Chiropractic) is no longer an option for you. Some people think the worst that can happen by putting it off is having a surgery, only to be disappointed when the surgeon says they waited too long and will just have to live with it. Why wait until it is so bad you would even consider a surgery?

Dangerous thought ten: “My wife/husband/partner doesn’t believe in it.” Chiropractic is not a religion or a belief system. It is a type of physical medicine. It is the process of moving a misaligned vertebrae off a “pinched” nerve so the body can regain normal function to whatever that nerve controls.

Dangerous thought eleven: “I don’t have any money.” Could you find $300 to fix your car if it were broken today? Most people would easily say yes. Americans commonly take better care of their car than they do their body.

Dangerous thought twelve: “I only want to do what my insurance will cover.” The insurance company is in business to turn a profit for their shareholders and executives not to take personal responsibility for your health and well being. Their goal is to spend the least amount of money per diagnosis, if it is cheaper to patch a problem (like mask it with drugs) than it is to fix it, you can bet they will only pay for the patch. Wellness and holistic care are often foreign territory for an insurance company. HMO patients presenting with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart attack have twice the risk of dying in-hospital compared with AMI patients with fee-for-service type insurance in a study done by the American Heart Association.