What is an Auto Accident Injury?
Auto accidents are a major cause of injuries and death in the United States. Broadly speaking, auto accident injuries are defined as any injury caused by a motor vehicle incident. Auto accidents can range from minor fender benders to serious collisions involving large vehicles.
Signs and Symptoms of Auto Accident Injuries
If you’ve been in an auto accident, you may be experiencing symptoms that you don’t understand. These symptoms are not unusual after a motor vehicle crash, but they are often misdiagnosed. In addition to broken bones, whiplash, bruising, and muscle strain, auto accident victims may also experience neck and back pain, headaches, memory loss, dizziness, insomnia, and concentration difficulties.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Auto Accident Injuries
The upper cervical spine is a complex structure consisting of seven cervical vertebrae. In addition to supporting the base of the skull, these vertebrae are also responsible for protecting and connecting a range of major musculoskeletal systems, including the vertebral artery, spinal cord, and craniofacial nerve branches.
Auto accident injuries to the upper cervical spine are usually the result of a crash or crash-like events, such as a sudden stop, collision with another vehicle, or sudden deceleration or acceleration. During these events, it’s not uncommon for the vertebrae of the upper cervical spine to be displaced from their natural alignment, resulting in a number of different types of injuries. These injuries can include disc herniation, inflammation along the vertebral artery, and compression in the spinal cord or cranial nerves.
Without treating the underlying vertebral misalignment, these injuries can persist and worsen over time, often leading to a wide range of adverse physical and neurological symptoms.
How Our Auto Accident Injury Treatment Works
Upper cervical chiropractic care is a natural alternative to conventional auto accident injury treatments. It is a safe, effective, and non-invasive way to reduce pain, improve function, and increase the chances of a faster recovery.
Our treatment regime for auto accident injuries begins with a non-invasive physical assessment and a detailed musculoskeletal exam. If a misalignment is detected, our expert chiropractor, Dr. Bello, will use X-rays and cone-beam computed tomography to scan the upper cervical spine and determine the exact angle and location of the affected vertebra. Once we have located the abnormally aligned vertebra, Dr. Bello will perform a series of gentle, precise chiropractic corrections to stabilize and realign the vertebra. The corrections we make are designed to restore natural alignment to the affected vertebra and alleviate pressure and inflammation around the surrounding nerves, muscles, and ligaments.
Our team will also work with our patients to develop a customized treatment plan that will address any specific areas of pain or dysfunction that we’ve identified. In addition to helping the body heal from an auto accident injury, our treatment also helps to prevent future injuries by encouraging patients to make healthy lifestyle choices and improve their overall movement patterns.
If you’re looking for a safe, long-term remedy for auto accident injuries, Dr. Bello is here to help. He services patients in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Marina Del Rey, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Culver City, Westwood, West Los Angeles, and the surrounding areas.