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Orthopedic vs. Chiropractic Care After an Accident

Injured in a car accident? Thousands of collisions occur every day on American roads, and nearly half of them lead to injuries. The type of medical treatment you need depends on the type and severity of injuries you’ve sustained, and it’s critical to understand what type of medical professional can best help you. If you’ve sustained back, neck, or other musculoskeletal injuries, you may need to see a chiropractor or orthopedic surgeon. Here’s how you can determine which is best for you.

What Is a Chiropractor?

A chiropractor is a medical professional who provides non-surgical treatments for disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Using a combination of manual therapy and manipulative techniques, a chiropractor can adjust the spine and other joints in the body. By following a chiropractic care plan after an accident, many patients enjoy restored function in the neck and spine, as well as improved blood flow and reduced inflammation that helps muscles heal.

Sometimes, a chiropractor will recommend lifestyle changes and exercise in a comprehensive treatment plan. Chiropractors can treat a wide range of accident-related injuries, like:

• Back pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Headaches
• Joint pain
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Whiplash
• And more

What Is an Orthopedic Doctor?

Orthopedic doctors are medical doctors licensed in their state of operation. These doctors can perform surgeries, prescribe medications, and provide other forms of intervention to treat car accident-related injuries. While they treat many of the same conditions and injuries that chiropractors do, they’re more likely to recommend surgery for serious problems. Some of the most common conditions an orthopedic doctor treat include:

• Arthritis
• Dislocated joints
• Fractures
• Herniated discs
• Torn ligaments
• And more

When to See a Chiropractor vs. an Orthopedic Surgeon

If you’re experiencing pain or challenges with mobility after a car accident, visiting a chiropractor is a conservative treatment for musculoskeletal problems. An orthopedic doctor, on the other hand, is better for more serious injuries that may require injections, prescriptions, or surgery.

A chiropractor is an excellent first line of defense for car accident victims who suffer from back and neck pain, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ, and similar conditions. If you’ve been in a car accident, your primary care doctor may refer you to a chiropractor before considering surgery. If you’ve sustained injuries like broken bones or torn ligaments, your doctor will likely refer you to an orthopedic specialist.

Impact Medical Group of Tampa Supports Your Recovery After an Accident

If you’ve been in a car accident, seek a medical evaluation immediately—even if you don’t feel pain or have any apparent injuries. Delaying treatment can cause any underlying symptoms and conditions to worsen, so early detection and treatment are critical. The highly qualified team at

Impact Medical Group of Tampa is ready to help. In many cases, chiropractic care can reduce pain and restore mobility after an accident. Call us today at (813) 283-1910 to request your free consultation and personalized treatment plan!

Can Car Accidents Trigger Fibromyalgia?

Car accidents regularly lead to injuries to broken and dislocated bones, severe lacerations, spinal cord trauma, head injuries, and more. However, car accidents can also cause injuries that aren’t immediately apparent. One of these injuries is fibromyalgia, a medical condition that can lead to severe pain and mental health complications.

Our accident treatment team at Impact Medical Wesley Chapel explains what fibromyalgia is, how car accidents can trigger it, and how it is treated. Let’s get started!

What is Fibromyalgia?

As we discuss fibromyalgia, it is important to note that researchers do not know the exact cause of this condition. However, its onset is linked to infections, trauma, and genetics. Vehicle accidents could potentially trigger fibromyalgia due to physical trauma and psychological stress.

Fibromyalgia is a medical condition that affects the bones and muscles. It is relatively common and amplifies musculoskeletal pain throughout the body. The main symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread, chronic pain that lasts for a few months.

In addition to dull, widespread, aching pain, those with fibromyalgia also usually have other related symptoms including:

Pain Points

Many people with fibromyalgia experience extreme tenderness in some areas of the body. To diagnose fibromyalgia, doctors ask people if they have pain in four or five larger body areas at once.

Fatigue

People with fibromyalgia report extreme fatigue even after extended rest and sleep. To make things worse, many people living with fibromyalgia experience poor sleep due to unmanaged pain.

Decreased Cognitive Ability

Aside from physical pain, one of the most concerning symptoms of fibromyalgia is decreased cognitive abilities. Struggling to concentrate, remember, or focus are all problems for those with this ailment. Known as “fibro fog,” this can make it difficult to work, manage chores, or do household chores.

Women, seniors, and people with fibromyalgia in the family have an increased risk of fibromyalgia.

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Migraine
• Interstitial cystitis and other bladder conditions
• Temporomandibular joint issues (TMJ)
• Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders
• Postural tachycardia syndrome

How Do Car Accidents Trigger Fibromyalgia?

While research doesn’t know exactly what triggers the onset of fibromyalgia, many believe that specific types of nerve stimulation cause a change inside the brain leading to a significant increase in pain signals that travel from the spinal cord to the brain.

Though genetic factors and infections increase the risk, physical and psychological trauma associated with accidents could play a role. Researchers believe that the physical trauma sustained during a crash affects the brain’s neurotransmitters and alters pain signals.

Further, evidence suggests that prolonged or intense psychological stress can cause fibromyalgia or worsen its symptoms.

Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

Currently, there is no cure for fibromyalgia, but doctors can prescribe medications and physical therapy to help people live a more normal life.

Getting diagnosed with fibromyalgia requires meeting the diagnostic guidelines outlined by the American College of Rheumatology.

To meet the criteria, you must have:

• Widespread pain for three months or longer
• The pain can occur on both the right and left sides and above and below the waist

While diagnosis seems straightforward, it is not always easy since there are many other conditions that cause chronic, widespread pain. The workup to diagnose fibromyalgia includes a variety of tests, examinations, and bloodwork.

Treating Fibromyalgia

Treatments for fibromyalgia are generally in two categories:

• Medications that treat the symptoms.
• Therapies that help reduce the syndrome’s effects.

Medications

Pain medications such as over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and Aleve are often used. Lyrica is the first FDA-approved prescription drug that treats fibromyalgia directly. Opioids are not recommended for pain that is related to fibromyalgia.

Some antidepressants can help address the pain and fatigue associated with this condition, and muscle relaxers can help promote deeper sleep.

Therapies

Specific kinds of therapies are used to help relieve pain in those suffering from fibromyalgia. These include:

• Counseling to help sufferers strengthen their resolve and gain coping skills.
• Occupational therapy to help them adjust to their home and work environments to support their overall health and well-being.
• Physical therapy can increase strength, stamina, and flexibility.

Treatment for Fibromyalgia

If you have been in a car accident and are suffering from the pain associated with fibromyalgia, we can help. Our compassionate team at Impact Medical Wesley Chapel will help relieve your symptoms with targeted physical therapy, medication, and more.

Say goodbye to pain and call our medical clinic in Wesley Chapel at (813) 953-1002!

Can Car Accidents Trigger Pre-Existing Conditions?

A car accident happens in a single moment, but your medical history can affect the way it impacts your overall health. People with pre-existing conditions can be especially vulnerable if they are involved in a car accident and are often left with worsened conditions and lasting symptoms.

Learn how car accidents can trigger preexisting conditions from our accident care team at Impact Medical Zephyrhills.

What is a Pre-Existing Condition?

There is a lot of talk about pre-existing conditions in health insurance, but what exactly does it mean? Well, typically it refers to any injury, illness, or condition that you had prior to an accident.

Note: All pre-existing conditions might not be something that you were aware of at the time of the accident. A hidden disorder that causes only mild symptoms can still affect your body’s vulnerability in an accident.

Sometimes, it is only when a patient goes in for a post-accident medical examination and tests like X-rays or MRIs that pre-existing conditions are discovered.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions That Can be Aggravated by a Car Accident

There are certain injuries and illnesses that can be particularly susceptible to being made worse by the trauma and stress of an accident, including:

• Concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Brittle bones: medical conditions like osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta can make people more vulnerable to fractures in an accident. A person with brittle bones is also more vulnerable to damage to internal organs or spinal cord injuries.
• Fibromyalgia: this is a debilitating condition that causes pain throughout the body. It is not clear where it comes from, but car accidents can trigger its onset, or cause pre-existing fibromyalgia to become worse.
• Degenerative conditions: Conditions like degenerative disc disease or arthritis can be aggravated by the force of the crash, leading to severe symptoms and chronic pain.

Treatment for Injuries That Were Aggravated After an Accident

If you have been in an accident and have found that your pre-existing condition has been aggravated, there are several treatment options available to you at Impact Medical Zephyrhills.

These include:

Chiropractic Care

Healing is one thing, recovering is another. At Impact Medical Zephyrhills, we know how to relieve the pain caused by an injury with chiropractic adjustments to help you get back to normal daily life.

Chiropractic therapies include:

• Spinal manipulation and traction
• Manual and soft tissue therapy
• Ice and heat therapy
• Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation

Manual

Along with our physical therapy and chiropractic services, we also offer manual therapy, which often helps car accident patients recover more quickly.

Manual:

• Improves circulation.
• Breaks down scar tissue.
• Lengthens muscle tissue to aid in the healing process.

Physical Therapy

Our physical therapists will design a physical therapy program with the goal of strengthening the muscles around an injury, to alleviate the pain and pressure from the injury itself. Your physical therapist will also incorporate manual or heat therapy to maximize healing.

Pain Management

Interventional pain management uses several methods to reduce pain and improve a patient’s quality of life. These treatments are minimally invasive and are used by patients who may have tried other pain management therapies that haven’t been successful.

After Accident Pain Relief

If you have been in an accident and have pain resulting from the aggravation of a preexisting condition, our accident care team at Impact Medical Zephyrhills is here to help! From chiropractic care and physical therapy to interventional pain management, we will design a tailored treatment plan just for you.

Get ready to heal and move forward with Impact Medical Zephyrhills! Call (813) 706-5156 to schedule an appointment today!

Can A Car Accident Cause Tendonitis?

Car accidents can cause a range of physical injuries. Soft tissue injuries like whiplash and tendonitis can have a serious effect on a patient’s health. These types of injuries can create chronic pain, reduce the range of motion and impact the ability to complete daily activities. Impact Medical Group of Brandon explores these common injuries and techniques that may remedy them.

Soft tissue injuries after a car accident may seem minor to the untrained eye but upon further evaluation, may create extreme pain and discomfort that requires medical attention. Often, these injuries can occur from a forceful impact upon collision and affect multiple body parts like tendons, muscles, and ligaments. Without an immediate treatment plan in place, it can develop into tendonitis. Common areas to develop tendonitis after a car accident include rotator cuff injuries to the shoulder area. Initial symptoms include swelling in the shoulder and upper arm, a “clicking” feeling when the arm is raised, shoulder stiffness, and a loss in the range of motion of the shoulder. For injuries like this, where there is inflammation of the tendon around a joint, we recommend physical therapy.

Physical therapists at Impact Medical Group of Brandon may use techniques like manual manual, cold and heat therapies, and electrical stimulation to increase circulation in the affected area. These techniques help ease inflammation by encouraging blood and lymph circulation to the injuries. Most of these methods also involve manual treatments like balance and gait training, stretching, and functional mobility. Using these repetitive exercises and movements can strengthen the body and create a protective shell in the injured area. This style of treatment is generally more cost-friendly and offers less recovery time than surgery. Taking care of tendonitis at the earliest stage of injury can also help avoid an injury relapse.

Tendonitis can show up as long-term inflammation that occurs after soft tissue injuries. Because this type of damage can be difficult to detect medically, even with X-rays or scans, it is critical to seek medical care as soon as possible after a car accident. Patients should be able to describe the accident, where impacts took place, and any areas of pain.

Don’t let tendonitis affect your day-to-day! If you are ready to learn more about chiropractic care and how it can treat your accident injuries, we can help. Call the Impact Medical Group of Brandon team today at (813) 522-8885 or visit us online to schedule an appointment.