The chiropractic approach to wellness has piqued the interest of people in discomfort or pain for quite some time. This alternative strategy focuses on getting a patient’s body system back in sync, after being thrown out of proper alignment either due to an illness or injury. Treatment by a chiropractor differs compared to standard medicine, in that surgery and prescription medication are not the focus of treatment plans. A patient may have been told by their standard medicine doctor that the only option left for their condition is invasive surgery. In many cases, this is when a patient may turn to a Wheaton, Maryland chiropractor as a method of treatment.
If you would like to learn more about how a chiropractor can help you, contact AmeriWell Clinics. In the meantime, the following are some common questions our patients ask.
Are chiropractic treatments safe for everyone?
A chiropractor can treat a wide variety of people, with different types of conditions. Treatments can even benefit children, as well as those of senior age. When meeting with a chiropractor, be forthcoming about your current conditions so he or she can determine whether adjustments can be beneficial to your health. Chiropractic medicine is recognized as one of the top therapy approaches for those who desire drug-free and non-invasive care.
What conditions can a chiropractor treat?
A chiropractor treats injuries or disorders related to the musculoskeletal system. Areas of common pain and discomfort for patients are in the neck, back and other joint areas, in addition to frequent headaches. Conditions that impact the nervous system can cause dysfunction in other areas of the body too. Since our entire body system is linked together, many conditions affect more than just the site of the injury or illness.
My Body Hurts After Being in a Car Accident, Can a Chiropractor Help?
After being in a vehicle collision, many people may feel pain, stiffness, inflammation, decreased mobility, and more. The impact of car accidents can jolt the body out of proper alignment, causing the neck, back, spine, shoulders, and other areas to feel unease. A Wheaton, MD chiropractor focuses on injuries and conditions related to muscles and skeleton of the human body. A chiropractor can use spinal and joint manipulations to place the body back into positioning, encouraging the healing process through a more natural and alternative approach.
Why You Should See a Chiropractor Quickly After an Auto Accident
It’s always a good idea to book an appointment with a chiropractor in Wheaton, MD soon after you have been in a car collision. Whether your fender bender was small or a very severe crash, visiting a chiropractor will be of great help to your recovery. Don’t wait for pain or other health issues to rear their ugly head weeks or months down the line. The following reasons help explain why scheduling an appointment with Ameriwell is a smart decision for all car accident patients.
Evidence for Insurance
The fact of the matter is that many car accident injuries aren’t felt instantly. Many times the problems develop later, even though it was caused by the initial damage of the collision. By visiting a chiropractor in Wheaton, MD you will have x-rays and treatments on file to support any insurance claims for injuries sustained from the crash. Whether you just need the proof of your injuries and the medical treatment provided for reimbursement or you are working with an accident attorney and seeking compensation for damages, getting an appointment early after the crash will support your claims or case.
Immediate Relief
A huge plus of visiting an Ameriwell clinic soon after an accident is to get the relief your body needs. You could potentially be in intense pain and different pain medications that your general provider can provide might only act as a temporary band-aid. A chiropractor in Wheaton, MD can use different adjustments, icing techniques, or other therapies to help relieve your pain quickly while also correcting any injuries.
Prevent Major Injuries
Oftentimes small injuries will occur because of a car crash. Everyone expects a little soreness or minor whiplash. They might not cause you much issue at first, but over time they can evolve into major injuries that could even require intense surgery to relieve the pain. By starting treatment at an Ameriwell clinic you can significantly reduce the chance of developing a more severe injury later in life. Even if it was just a minor collision, you would be surprised to learn how often it develops into major back problems years later.
These are just some of the most important reasons you should see a chiropractor in Wheaton, MD after any type of auto accident. Even if you feel fine afterwards, having a thorough exam and x-rays performed will give you peace of mind for the future that no new ailments will arise from the incident.
What are Chiropractic Beliefs?
Practitioners of the chiropractic method frequently believe that the entire body is interconnected and when one area is in pain it can have a negative impact on nearby systems. When there are musculoskeletal injuries and misalignments in the body, this can add undue pressure to the nervous system. Chiropractors typically do their work with the perspective that structural and biomechanical abnormalities of the spinal column can directly impact the nervous system. And that through correcting these misalignments can a person experience relief from swelling, pain, and muscle aches.
The Role of Chiropractors in Treatment
After a car accident, a person may get an exam from their conventional doctor about certain aches and pains. However, in many cases, the person is prescribed heavy doses of muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, and painkillers instead of fixing the root of the problem. While these medications can work in the short-term, they can come along with major side effects and become addictive.
Chiropractors are medical providers who can evaluate, diagnose, and treat neuromuscular or mechanical injuries due to the car accident without the use of surgery or medication. Patients may also receive education on stretches, exercises, posture, ergonomics, and other strategies for keeping the body complaint-free once recovered. A chiropractor in Wheaton, MD may use spinal adjustments, massage, light therapy, heat therapy, and other methods to encourage the body to heal at a faster rate.
What Can I Expect During a Chiropractic Adjustment?
A chiropractor in Wheaton, MD may adjust a person’s body either through manual manipulation, or by using a small tool. Unfortunately, chiropractors are often seen as doctors who crack backs through aggressive twists and turns of the body. This perspective may dissuade people from trying chiropractics because they are afraid they will be in even worse pain afterwards. On the contrary, many patients who receive adjustments after a car accident find some degree of relief even after the first couple of sessions.
During adjustments, the chiropractor will apply direct, intentional, yet gentle force to vertebrae of the spine or other joints. The goal is to push the site back into place so it can function at its optimal level, and blood and nutrients can be delivered to the injured area to aid in healing. Depending on the injury and the patient, a Wheaton, MD chiropractor may use more or less force during manipulations. It is common to hear popping noises during the adjustments, which is built-up gas being released from between joint cavities. Mild body soreness may occur after a treatment session, but should only feel like the type of soreness after a strong workout at the gym.
What about horror stories about an adjustment that ended badly?
Some people may have heard terrible stories about patients who have received a chiropractic treatment, only to have a worsened condition. There are risks that can come along with any type of wellness approach. However, the risks associated with a chiropractic treatment are incredibly small. It is important to find a Wheaton MD chiropractor that is legitimate and has gone through the proper training.
What education level do most chiropractors have?
The majority of chiropractors have gone through four years of pre-medical undergraduate education and then five years of study at an accredited chiropractic college where they complete thousands of hours in clinical, classroom, and laboratory experience. The educational requirements for chiropractors are among some of the most demanding of health care professions. Most chiropractors have studied topics such as biology, physics, psychology, chemistry, neurology, anatomy, diagnosis, nutrition, and more.
What if I feel sore after a chiropractic treatment session?
It can be very normal to experience some degree of soreness after an adjustment. The soreness should be similar to what you would feel after working out. If you are concerned about any stiffness, do not hesitate to reach out to you chiropractor for reassurance. Soreness after a chiropractic treatment is often due to your body being moved back into proper alignment.
Why You May Want to See a Wheaton, MD Chiropractor After a Car Accident
Those who have been involved in a vehicle accident may have suffered minor or severe aches and pains. Neck and back injuries can take months or years to fully heal, depending on the severity of the crash. Even victims of minor car accidents can benefit from visiting a chiropractor soon afterward. While prescription drugs and surgery may be the recommended treatment from a conventional doctor, a person may be able to avoid going under anesthesia by trying chiropractic care instead. There are many reasons why a person may want to see a chiropractor in Wheaton, MD after being part of a car accident:
Not All Injuries are Externally Visible
Heavy bruises, broken bones and deep cuts are easy to notice after a vehicle collision. But, when it comes to neck and back related injuries, conditions like whiplash may not be apparent right away. It can take hours, days or even weeks before a person feels the full extent of a neck or back injury.
Common symptoms of a neck or back injury can include dizziness, soreness, headaches or pain around area. Ignoring a possible injury may only result in long-term or chronic discomfort. To help prevent from a worsened neck and back injury, consider getting an exam from a chiropractor in the days following the accident. The sooner a chiropractor in Wheaton, MD
can do an evaluation, the sooner treatment and healing can begin.
Non-Invasive Treatment Option
Patients who wait longer than they should have to get medical care after a car accident may be told by their primary physician that surgery is the only treatment option left for a neck and/or back injury. However, chiropractic care can be a great alternative for those who want to try non-invasive methods before committing to surgery. The majority of people do not appeal to the idea of surgery, so it is often the very last resort after everything else has been tried.
Reduction of Inflammation
When the victim of a car accident receives an exam from a conventional doctor, he or she may get an X-ray as a way to identifies areas that have been injured. Unfortunately, micro-tears in muscles and ligaments do not show up on X-ray images. These small tears are often the reason why people experience severe pain the next day or so after an accident. A Wheaton, MD chiropractor can perform a treatment that realigns the spinal cord, encouraging the body system to release natural healing properties to reduce inflammation and pain in these troublesome areas.
Relief from Pain without Medication
A conventional doctor may prescribe a car accident victim an array of prescription medications, including muscle-relaxers, pain killers, and anti-inflammatories. While this may work in the shorter term to alleviate discomfort, it may not be helpful in healing the root of the problem. Additionally, painkillers can become addictive and muscle-relaxers can cause disorientation. With chiropractic adjustments, a person can experience pain reduction the more natural way. Treatments by a chiropractor in Wheaton, MD address the injury directly, versus simply masking the pain temporarily.
If you would like to learn more about how a chiropractor Wheaton, MD patients recommend can help you, contact AmeriWell Clinics today.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help Whiplash?
The thought of needing medical treatment after a car accident can almost be enough to keep you from getting behind the wheel again. In some instances, you may have very little control over being hit from behind when you’re driving.
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that people suffer from after a motor vehicle accident. Fortunately, a Wheaton, MD chiropractor is trained to diagnose and treat many of the injuries that are typically associated with whiplash, which may include more than just pain.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is the medical term that describes a neck injury that occurs as the result of a car accident. Being hit from behind, or “rear-ended,” is typically one the most common type of vehicle accidents and can be the one most likely to produce whiplash. When your vehicle is struck from behind, your head may whip back and then forward again, causing a whiplash injury.
How Is Whiplash Diagnosed?
At AmeriWell Clinics, a chiropractor in Wheaton, MD will examine you in the aftermath of a whiplash injury and evaluate your entire spine to ensure that there aren’t other spinal injuries from the accident. Your chiropractor will search for any areas that display a reduced range of motion, lack of flexibility, muscle spasms, general weakness, and pain.
In the acute phase of whiplash, you likely won’t be able to turn your head comfortably. Your head may hurt as well. Your Wheaton, MD chiropractor will also feel around your neck and back looking for tender spots and tightness. Some cases of whiplash, even the mildest one, can cause muscle stiffness that leads to long-term chronic pain.
What Is Chiropractic Treatment for Whiplash?
To treat an acute stage whiplash, a chiropractor may use gentle stretching, ultrasound therapy, and other non-invasive techniques to reduce the inflammation. You might need ice or cold treatments to reduce the swelling.
After the initial swelling subsides and the pain eases, the treatment will probably turn to spinal manipulation with the aim of restoring the normal blood flow and range of motion to your neck.
Questions To Ask Potential Chiropractors
If you’re experiencing back pain or discomfort that your primary physician and other doctors have been unable to treat, consider seeing a chiropractor. Many still fail to understand the health benefits these specialists provide. They’re safe, too, making them a wise option for chronic sufferers. When looking for a chiropractor in Wheaton, MD, ask the following questions. The answers you get will help determine which is best for you.
What Techniques Do You Perform?
Not all chiropractors are alike. They attend schools that have different philosophies of what methods are most effective. You’re seeking a chiropractor for a specific reason. Make sure the one you pick knows ways of treating your condition. The back specialists at Ameriwell have incredible knowledge that allows them to help many types of patients effectively.
Can You Provide References?
Just as you wouldn’t pick any other medical doctor at random, it’s better to choose chiropractors who give references. Only ones who’ve been in business and have good reputations will be able to provide you with the names of individuals you may contact. Positive words from those who’ve visited a particular office will give vital reassurance you’re in good hands.
What Types of Payment Plans Do You Offer?
Money is a struggle for most. Adding another expense to your monthly budget could become an additional stress point. Check with your health insurance provider whether chiropractic care is one of your benefits. Next, verify that the chiropractor in Wheaton, MD handling your spine has flexible payment structures. That way, you can deal with bills over time, making the financial aspect less burdensome. While you’re talking money, find out what sort of deductibles there’ll be.
Are There Guarantees?
It’s a law that doctors cannot promise particular outcomes. Nonetheless, your chiropractor should be able to assure satisfaction. Some even offer a money-back guarantee. Offers like these are a show of confidence in the quality of service. The chiropractors at Ameriwell believe every patient of theirs will leave content.
Do You Offer Free Consultations?
Patients are dealing with enough already. Chiropractors should never charge for initial meetings. For that matter, relief seekers shouldn’t feel pressured into choosing a particular doctor. Make sure the one you decide on isn’t going to bill you unreasonably.
Selecting a chiropractor in Wheaton, MD isn’t as simple as searching online. To get one that meets your needs, you must perform your due diligence. Only by making pertinent queries will you select a back specialist who makes you feel comfortable and provides fantastic treatments.
Wheaton Chiropractor Statistics
According to statistics published by the National Library of Medicine (NIH), you are 60% less likely to need hospital treatment when you receive chiropractic care for your ailment. Low-back pain treatment by a medical doctor is 40% more expensive than by a chiropractor. These figures should leave no surprise that more than one million chiropractic adjustments are performed each day in the United States.
Five Conditions Chiropractic Care Could Help
TMJ Disorders
Chiropractors can help treat your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which may stem from arthritis or jaw injury. Clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth can also lead to TMJ disorders. Symptoms of TMJ disorders include:
- Jaw pain
- Facial pain
- Pain in and around your ear
- Trouble chewing
- Lockjaw — when your jaw locks up and you can’t open your mouth
Traditional means of treating TMJ include NSAIDs, physical therapy, and surgery. Your chiropractor in Wheaton, MD, at Ameriwell may be able to adjust your jaw to treat your TMJ.
Vertigo
Vertigo is the feeling of dizziness, like the room is spinning or moving around you. You may also experience loss of balance, nausea or vomiting. Causes of vertigo include:
- Labyrinthitis — an infection of the inner ear
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) — certain head movements that trigger vertigo
- Vestibular neuronitis — inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which runs from the inner ear to the brain to help control balance.
- Migraines — severe headaches
Your chiropractor in Wheaton, MD, may be able to adjust your neck and cervical spine to alleviate symptoms of vertigo.
Sciatica
Sciatica is caused by inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down your legs. Symptoms can include:
- Pain in the lower back, buttocks, hips, legs or feet
- Weakness in your legs or feet
- A strong tingling sensation in your legs or feet
- Numbness in your legs or feet
Your Ameriwell chiropractor in Wheaton, MD can adjust your lower back and hips to relieve the stinging, burning pain of sciatica.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. Mild cases may cause nothing more than back pain, while more severe cases cause serious physical disabilities. The only cure for scoliosis is surgery, but chiropractors may help lessen back pain and help prevent the spine from curving more than it already has.Your chiropractor should be able to come up with a holistic treatment plan to reduce your symptoms.
Arthritis
According to the Arthritis Foundation, chiropractic care is the safest treatment for back and neck pain caused by arthritis. If you’ve got rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis or another inflammatory illness causing your back and neck pain, chiropractic adjustments are contraindicated. Instead, your chiropractor may use other methods, including:
- Ultrasound — the sound waves can penetrate into the soft tissues around your painful joint and bring pain relief
- Cold laser — this low-level laser is used to penetrate into the soft tissue and can reduce inflammation
- Electrotherapy — stickers will be placed on the soft tissue, and tiny electrical charges will be sent through them, causing them to relax
Wheaton Chiropractor Infographic
Can Whiplash Lead to Long-Term Chronic Pain?
Over a million people suffer whiplash injuries every year, and about 10% of them end up with chronic pain that affects their lifestyle and daily activity. If you or a loved one is suffering from pain sustained in an auto accident, you are well-advised to have the injury checked out by a chiropractor in Wheaton, MD.
At AmeriWell Clinics, we are keenly aware that whiplash accidents happen all the time. We also believe that you don’t deserve to be in chronic pain afterward. Schedule an appointment with a Wheaton, MD chiropractor so we can assess your situation and get you started on the appropriate chiropractic treatment protocols that can eliminate your pain and resolve your issues.
Don’t wait to you have your whiplash injury treated. Each whiplash case comes with its own set of symptoms and damages. Regardless of the intensity of those symptoms and the extent of those damages, whiplash isn’t something that should be left untreated. Our team is eager to help and to answer your questions. Please feel free to contact us today.
Client Review
“Amy is great. She is very detail oriented and friendly. The entire staff makes my treatment an amazing experience”
Sean Baird
Take The First Step
If you’ve been injured in an accident as a result of recklessness, negligence, a defective product or other fault, you should be diagnosed and treated by an experienced chiropractor as soon as possible so that your health does not deteriorate, and you have the proof that you need to seek deserved monetary compensation.
Many times injuries are hidden, or are underestimated, so please call AmeriWell Clinics today for a free consultation at (301) 576-0500, or email us. We also provide free legal referrals to our patients who are suffering from accident-related injuries.