Wham! You're hit from behind during an auto accident involving several vehicles. Your car is a mess, but you walk away from the scene OK, or so you think. Even the ER doctor says all is well. However, later, you feel dizzy and your neck and left shoulder hurt. Should you seek medical attention? Dr. Stephen Wachs of Wachs Chiropractic Health Center in Chula Vista, CA recommends a chiropractic examination immediately after any MVA. Injuries such as whiplash from auto accidents often go unnoticed, but neglecting them leads to increased pain, longer recovery and decreased mobility. Call Dr. Wachs right away after a mishap involving hard and sudden impact.

What is whiplash?

According to the Palmer College of Chiropractic, whiplash injuries affect almost 300,000 Americans annually. Car accidents, or other situations in which the body absorbs a hard and sudden impact from the front, side or back, snaps the head in one direction and then quickly in the opposite. This motion resembles the quick flick and crack of a whip--hence the term, whiplash.

The many symptoms of whiplash don't always express themselves immediately. That's why Dr. Wachs advises all MVA victims seek chiropractic care as soon as possible. He and his dedicated team at Wachs Chiropractic Health Center in Chula Vista take special care of patients involved auto accidents because they understand the effects quick and substantial physical forces can have on the bones (vertebrae) of the back and on the nerves and muscles, too. Herniated discs and torn ligaments frequently accompany whiplash injuries.

The common symptoms of whiplash are:

• Vertigo
• Blurry vision
• Neck, shoulder and back pain
• Muscular stiffness
• Loss of range of motion, particularly in the neck

How Dr. Wachs helps

Dr. Wachs performs a complete chiropractic examination. He looks for subluxations, or misalignments of the spinal vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine, and he usually orders X-rays and other imaging to get an accurate picture of the damage. Additionally, Dr. Wachs writes a complete care plan to help alleviate the patient's most immediate and pressing symptoms and to achieve full rehabilitation over time.

Possible treatments include:

• Manual chiropractic adjustments
• Massage therapy
• Ultrasound therapy
• Cold laser treatments
• Stretching exercises
• Spinal rehabilitation
• Injury specific therapeutic exercises
• Neuromuscular re-education
• Post-injury medical relaxation techniques

Chiropractic care eases pain, promotes flexibility and strengthens the muscles surrounding the spinal column. As a result, recovery from auto accident injuries is more complete and long-lasting and patients avoid long-term disability, loss of wages and decreased quality of life.

Have you been in an MVA?

Don't wait. Your health, overall function and even your insurance settlement depend on receiving chiropractic care from Dr. Wachs. Please contact our Chula Vista, CA office right away in the event of an auto accident injury. Call (619) 427-4747.