In
collisions when cars run into cars (or trucks, motorcycles, bicycles,
trees, pedestrians, etc.) it is common to get injured. These injuries
are all to easy to sustain; the complete healing from them sometimes not
so easy.
Accidents can sometimes cause broken bones, cracked ribs, or organ injuries.
Those are some of the reasons that careful examination and appropriate
diagnostic tests or x-rays are important.
Frequently, injury results in pinched nerves, sprains, torn ligaments,
pain, inflammation and other symptoms. When these injuries are only partially
treated (such as just heat and massage) they heal incompletely. Pain or
numbness, and over the long haul, joint degeneration, and even arthritis
result from incorrect or incomplete treatment. You may easily understand
the way that injury occurs to the neck and spine. After all, the human
head has the weight of a bowling ball, and is supported on a bone spinal
column only about an inch and a half in diameter. "Whiplash"
is caused by snapping the weight of the head against the small neck ligaments
that hold it up.
Contrary to myth, not seeing an accident coming is worse; you can't brace
your body for the impact, and damaging the neck or spinal ligaments is
a frequent result. Frequently you could lose the normal healthy curve
that was in your neck before the accident. The mid- and low-back areas
can also be frequently hurt.
Bracing your hands on the steering wheel can cause the impact to be transferred
through the arms, injuring wrists, elbows, or shoulders. A knee can be
injured striking the dash. A foot jammed onto the brake pedal will transfer
the force to the ankle, leg, knee or hip. Recently a patient came in from
a rear-ender that caused his head to snap back and shatter the truck window
behind him. Talk about a headache (and a concussion too).
In our facility we have the medical doctor, chiropractic doctor, physical
therapy, specialized equipment, rehabilitative exercise and nutritional
support all working together for the needs of an injured patient.
Most importantly our staff is a caring group who work to see that our
patients get well, and take our patients' well-being as their most important
job.
Medical care can be essential in obtaining accurate diagnosis, and for
access to medical methods when
needed.
Physical therapy methods are often essential in bringing complete recovery.
Nutritional supplementation can be very valuable for its natural pain-relieving
effects and in supporting the complete healing of damaged (overstretched
and torn) joint tissues and inflamed nerves. Although anti-inflammatory
and pain-killing drugs have side-effects that indicate their use (if at
all) should be very short, scientific studies show that nutrients out-perform
them. They can relieve pain, and speed healing, which the drugs cannot.
Most automotive injuries and personal injury cases are paid fully by insurance.
Our office has assisted injured persons in getting well for over 20 years.
It certainly seems more important to get to the right doctor first, so
that healing can proceed promptly, than to find a "good personal
injury attorney". Ironically, an attorney stands to benefit more
financially if you don't get better than if you do! As a result a "good"
attorney's priority may be to recommend a doctor for his business needs
rather than for your health needs. From our years of experience, in addition
to providing your necessary care for complete recovery, we can provide
guidance for you in the correct insurance and legal directions. We can
make referrals to the professionals we have found to serve our patients
best. This added assistance is valued by individuals who find the hassles
of an accident confusing and unexpected. We have helped many understand
how to keep things simple and maximally effective.
We take accident cases on insurance and are qualified to make all necessary
insurance or lawyer communications. We have simplified this area to be
"one-stop shopping". This is because the upset and disruption
of an accident is already aggravating enough. After an accident, you can
call us first and promptly, and we can advise you on the proper steps
to take.
Most important: Don't let an accident go improperly treated. Those who
do often pay the price in later debility and pain. Too many times I've
had to show a patient in pain their x-rays, and pointing out the degeneration
of joints and discs ask them this question: "Did you have an accident
about 10 years ago?"
Why? Because the films show the damage of an improperly treated accident
in the past. And the joint degeneration is causing the pain, the numb
hands, or the limited movement that plagues the patient today.
If you had seen as many degenerated films of spines from just this cause,
you would never allow that to happen to your body.
And you don't have to!
Gordin
Center - Universal City Medical Group, Inc.
3535
Cahuenga Blvd West-Suite 206
Los Angeles, CA 90068