Chronic Pain, Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries, Running Injuries

Chronic pain is pain that lasts more than several months (variously defined as 3 to 6 months, but certainly longer than “normal healing”). It’s a very common problem. Recent clinical studies suggest the following:

• About 25.3 million U.S. adults (11.2 percent) had pain every day for the previous 3 months.
• Nearly 40 million adults (17.6 percent) had severe pain.
• Individuals with severe pain had worse health, used more health care, and had more disability than those with less severe pain.

What Types of Conditions Sometimes Result in Chronic Pain?

People can suffer with chronic pain in a number of areas of the body. We commonly treat patients that have chronic pain in the follow areas:

• Headaches caused by postural syndromes and work-related activities
• Neck pain caused by car accidents, postural syndromes, work-related activity
• Lower back pain caused by car accidents, lifting injuries, slip-and-falls
• Hip pain as a result of osteoarthritis or injury
• Knee pain as a result of osteoarthritis and sports injuries

Problems Associated with Chronic Pain

Patients that are experiencing chronic pain often have some or all of the following:

• Fear of performing daily activities
• Tightness and stiffness
• Increased use of pain pills
• New or worsening conditions
• Circulation problems

How Physical Therapy Can Help

Physical therapist directed treatment can help chronic pain patients in the following areas:

Patient education - physical therapists help chronic pain patients understand that chronic pain is complex involving more than damaged muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joint tissues. Emotions, depression, anxiety, nervous system hypersensitivity, tissue damage, and pain caused in the brain are all components of chronic pain that may be addressed by

Hands-on treatment - soft tissue and spinal manipulative techniques are often effective to help decrease pain and increase mobility. Graded exercise programs - improving your strength and endurance can make it easier to move around during the day. Consider daily activities like getting out of of a chair or a car, climbing stairs, or walking long distances. These are daily activities that graded exercise programs, provided by a physical therapist, can help with.

Posture and body mechanics instructions - understanding how to properly lift, sit, bend, reach, and perform specific daily activities can help. Moreover, progressively recovering normal movements through stretching and strengthening can assist in the return to normal daily activities.

Physical Therapy for Auto Accident Victims

Unfortunately, studies show that most of us will be in an auto accident at some point in our lives. The only question remaining is how bad will it be?

Important things to remember:

1. Seek treatment as soon as possible.
2. If you are seriously hurt, go to the ER or local hospital. Be sure to ask for a physical therapy prescription, just in case you may need it.
3. Don't have a doctor? We have a team of doctors who can see you and refer you to physical therapy at no out of pocket expense to you. Call us.
4. If you still experiencing pain or discomfort a few days or more, come to our office to determine if you need further care.
5. Remember, come in ASAP in order to get better, faster.
6. Most Auto Insurance companies have what is called Med Pay or PIP. This means you are covered 100%, with no out of pocket expense up to a certain limit. Our office can check into that for you.
7. If the accident was not your fault. The other party's auto insurance should cover your health care expenses in our office. We will do all of the paperwork for you.
8. At the accident scene, gather as much information on the other driver or drivers as possible. An accident report by Police is always helpful, but not required to have a case.
9. You should never settle with an insurance company before you have had us evaluate your injury for you. If you settle before your injury is fully resolved, you will be completely on your own and will have to pay out of pocket for your care.
10. Dealing with insurance companies can be difficult after an auto accident. Hiring a reputable Attorney essentially takes you out of the direct bargaining process with the insurance company and all the paperwork & phone calls associated with that process, and allows you to concentrate on healing.
11. Injuries sustained after a car accident if left untreated can lead to spinal degeneration and a host of other problems for years to come.

FINAL NOTE: We find that many people involved in an auto accident that WAS THEIR FAULT never get treatment.

This tends to be due to the fear that their insurance will go up after a claim is filed. Your PIP (Personal Injury Protection) is why you have auto insurance in the first place.

Many insurance companies will not raise your rates after 1 or even 2 accidents in the same year.

THE INJURIES SUSTAINED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT CAN CAUSE A HOST OF PROBLEMS FOR YEARS TO COME, OR EVEN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO COME IN AND GET CHECKED.

CALL OUR OFFICE TODAY AT (469) 372-0021.