Auto Accident Injuries, Evaluation And Treatment Specialist

SHOULD I WORRY IF I HAD MINOR ACCIDENT AND I ONLY HAVE MINIMAL DISCOMFORT?

It is true that following a lot of minor accidents your body may recover with time but it is still best to be evaluated to minimize risk of developing chronic pain and disability in the future.

However, not all the minor car accident injuries are the same, some of them may persist, especially if not paid attention to on time. Generally, if your vehicle was hit hard enough to result in any damage you may have received some damage as well and should think about getting evaluation and treatment in the specialized care setting such as Advanced Pain Management Center. 

WHAT TYPE OF CAR ACCIDENT INJURIES SHOULD I BE AWARE OF?

Some of the injuries, such as broken bones are immediately apparent and will require treatment urgently. However, other injuries may present at a later time. For example, spinal injuries caused by whiplash are very common, so are the airbag or seatbelt related problems or other sources of pain caused by impact with various surfaces within the car. These injuries typically mean that harm has been done to the muscles, cartilage, or the various ligaments and tendons. For the best outcome these injuries are best evaluated and diagnosed and treatment discussed. Sometimes, additional testing may be necessary and if so our team at Advanced Pain Management Center can arrange that.

WHAT KINF OF SYMPTOMS CAN THESE INJURIES CAUSE?

Soft tissue injuries may include whiplash, spinal and head injuries and even herniated disc. It is possible to experience:

1. Stiffness
2. Headaches
3. Dizziness
4. Blurred vision
5. Knee pain
6. Back pain
7. Neck pain
8. Shoulder and neck range of motion problems
   
   

WHAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS I MAY NEED TO EVALUATE THE INJURY?

Sometimes just an interview and physical exam may suffice for evaluation but commonly X-rays or even MRI may be required. While X-ray may help to identify broken bones, hidden fractures and dislocated joints MRI looks more at the images of the soft tissue. MRI shows cartilage and bone structure problems that result from an injury, herniated discs, pinched nerves, spinal cord compression and traumatic brain injury. Sometimes, other more specialized tests may be required. Dr. Fiks and other providers of the team at Advanced Pain Management Center would advise you if any specific diagnostic tests can be helpful.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SEE A DOCTOR AFTER MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT?

If you see our doctors early after the auto accident not only will you improve your chances to obtain a good outcome and resolution of the accident related problems but your physical damages will also be assessed and documented. It is essential that all injuries resulting from the auto accident are properly treated and documented. This would be paramount to you receiving fair compensation from your insurance company. It is also very important that you follow a treatment plan and all progress and/or residual health problems related to the accident are noted and reflected in medical record. This can prove to be very important if your case needs to be taken up by a personal injury attorney to help you to resolve the losses sustained in the auto accident.

ARE THERE SPECIFIC TREATMENTS THAT CAN BE OFFERED AFTER THE AUTO ACCIDENT?

Typically after your condition is evaluated and the results of appropriate tests are obtained medical providers at Advanced Pain Management Center would make recommendations and develop a treatment plan for you.

This would likely include:

Physical therapy – this is a great way to recover from injuries after the car accident. It can be viewed as a way to prevent the body from incurring further damage. It can also promote healing by increasing the range of motion and strengthening the muscles, ligaments and tendons. Physical therapist will likely recommend and supervise a regimen of exercises, stretching maneuvers, and strength training to improve the range of motion, strength, support and prevent further damage of the tissues. Other modalities, such as laser therapy, heat, massage can also be utilized to promote healing. It is often best to start physical therapy under supervision and then transition to the set of stretches and exercises to perform independently at home

Interventional Pain Management – is a highly specialized treatment utilizing minimally invasive procedures that can aid in diagnosing your injuries or provide relief for long period of time. Frequently these procedures work together with physical therapy and enhance its effect. They can also be used if time, rest or physical therapy alone are not helpful. All symptoms following auto accident including but not limited to neck and back pain, radiating arm or leg pain, pain with movement, pain with sitting or standing can be successfully addressed by interventional pain management procedures. It is important to realize that small amount of medication can be delivered to the exact site of the problem by injection therefore enhancing the effect and minimizing the whole body exposure to this medication.

Medications – there are a lot of choices of medications available to address pain, muscle spasms, insomnia and other symptoms caused by auto accident. Generally, medications are used in combination with other treatment modalities to help you to manage your condition while your doctors are determining the source of the problem and developing a plan to address it more definitively.

Dr. Fiks and his associates have years of experience and will be able to utilize their knowledge and skill to locate the source of your problem and address it to achieve the best outcome possible.