1. A Chiropractor
2. Exercise
3. Medication

Question: I was in a car crash yesterday. We got hit on the passenger side pretty badly by a guy who ran a red light. My dad was OK, but my neck was a little sore afterward. The paramedics checked me out and said I’d probably be OK. But when I woke up today, my neck hurt a lot worse, and now I can barely move it. What should I do?

Answer: Neck pain, like whiplash, often doesn’t flare up until later, sometimes weeks after your car accident. If you’re experiencing neck pain, call in to get checked out right away. The sooner the better to get checked out for whiplash, and it even helps establish a paper trail for the insurance companies.  See your chiropractor as soon as possible. If you don’t have a chiropractor, then go to a walk-in clinic or make an appointment with us at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic. Make sure you call your auto insurance company as soon as is reasonable. In some cases, you should also consider consulting an attorney, if you haven’t already.  Our chiropractor will work personally with your attorney and is happy to consult with you and your attorney about any car accident injury case.

Just remember, you can’t be too careful when it comes to dealing with neck injuries.

Tension Headaches

The vast majority and almost 90 percent of all headaches are know as tension, or cervicogenic headaches. These are the most common headache, but are often misdiagnosed. They use the term “cervicogenic” now instead of tension because they are finding that it is produced in the cervical spine, and they are generated by the vertebrae in the neck as well as the surrounding tissues being unbalanced or misaligned.

Typically this occurs by a misalignment of the vertebrae in the upper cervical spine, specifically the first vertebrae, often times in combination with muscle spasm and tension as well as trigger points in the neck. This misalignment causes the spasm of a small muscle at the base of the neck called the rectus capitis posterior minor. This muscle attaches to the thin dural sheeth of the spinal cord which is very pain sensitive. So, you can imagine when this muscle pulls on the spinal dura that it can cause severe pain as well as referral pain behind and lateral to the eyes which is the pain you call a...headache!

Chiropractic adjustments realign the spine to its normal and healthy position relieving pressure from the spinal dura providing great relief from headaches. Make an appointment today for a FREE Headache Consultation at your Bozeman Chiropractor office at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic today! Call 406-551-2177

Which Driver Gets Hurt Worse In Auto Accidents?

Did you know that car accidents, even though they may be at slow speeds can cause severe and permanent injuries to the spine? On the other hand, some people involved in accidents it seems are not affected at all? Research now proves that car accident victims endure serious spine and nervous system damage in every day auto accidents at just moderate speeds. Scientists and researchers are finally discovering why it is that some people become terribly hurt while others remain relatively uninjured when involved in the very same accident.

If there is a rear-ended accident, take a guess who will be worse off? Do you think it is the driver who has been rear-ended, or do you think the person who collided into him is at greater risk?

If you guessed the person that got rear-ended to be at greater risk of injury, you are RIGHT! So why is the person being rear-ended worse off for injury?

First of all, the driver that rear-ended the other vehicle has time to brace him/herself from the accident, and is more likely to recognize the accident before it occurred. The person who was rear-ended often times is unaware that they are about to be hit, making their injuries much worse. One study revealed that those people that do not brace before an accident are 15 times more likely to sustain an injury. These people will also notice their symptoms for a longer period of time and are more likely to sustain lifelong injuries and a lifetime of pain.

Another reason why the person being rear-ended is worse off for injury has to do with seat belts and the design of car seats. Forces exerted on the body from the seat and seat belt during a rear-end accident can actually compound injuries and cause severe whiplash.

Regardless if you were hit from the front or back, it is crucial to get your spine checked immediately by a specialist. If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident, call (406) 551-2177. Even very minor accidents that cause little to no damage to the vehicle involved may cause pain to the spine later on and may lead to degenerative joint disease. For more information see our whiplash page at Bozeman Whiplash.