Neck Injuries Archive - CityWide Injury & Accident

November 4, 2022April 6, 2023

How to Recognize Delayed Car Accident Symptoms

You should never put off getting medical attention after any accident, even if you don’t feel like you’re injured at the time. Many car accident injuries don’t feel painful right away, but you should still see a car accident chiropractor as soon as possible after an accident. Seeing a professional is the best way to assess your risk for experiencing delayed shock symptoms after a car accident and to get treatment for any delayed car accident symptoms you may develop. However, learning to recognize delayed car accident symptoms in yourself can also help you be aware of concerns in the days following an accident.

What Are Delayed Car Accident Symptoms?

Delayed car accident symptoms are injuries that you may not immediately notice after a car accident. While surface-level lacerations are an obvious external sign of injury, many people don’t experience the pain and discomfort of internal injuries until a day or longer after the accident. In fact, most symptoms of car accident injuries don’t appear until 24 hours or longer after the collision.

For example, a concussion or traumatic brain injury isn’t always recognizable from the outside, and the initial shock of the accident may prevent you from fully realizing the effects of the injury. Only in the days following the accident might you notice the symptoms of something being wrong.

Therefore, your first stop after a car accident should always be a doctor’s office. It’s best to visit a doctor who is familiar with car accident injuries and knows what to look for. Some put off seeing the doctor because they “feel fine,” but that’s an extremely dangerous choice to make. Many injuries can have long-lasting consequences for your health, and some may even be deadly if left untreated. Some common injuries people experience after a car accident include:

Concussions and brain injuries.
Whiplash.
Internal bleeding and organ damage.
Neck and back injuries.
Muscle sprains, strains, and contusions.
Spinal injuries like herniated discs.
Mental health symptoms like anxiety and mood swings.

How Can I Recognize Delayed Car Accident Symptoms?

While it’s best to see a doctor immediately following an accident, you can also learn to recognize delayed car accident symptoms in yourself. Be aware of these signs and seek medical attention if you experience symptoms.

Back Pain

Back pain is very common after a car accident, and it can signal several different concerns. These include bruises and pulled muscles, or more serious injuries of the spinal cord, that could lead to permanent disability. Misaligned vertebrae in your spine can lead to nerve compression that causes pain, numbness, and a tingling sensation. Not only can pain from a back injury make it hard to move and function throughout the day, but it can also have permanent consequences, like nerve damage and paralysis.

After your collision, your car accident chiropractor will ask you how the pain feels. If your back pain is severe, this is a red flag and may be a symptom of a spinal cord injury.

Note that your back pain may be low at first because of shock after the car accident and may increase as time goes on. Thus, it’s important to see your doctor soon after the accident.

One of our car accident chiropractors can help ease your back pain and lower the chances of any long-term spinal cord injury.

Changes in Mood, Communication Skills, or Vision

A car accident is a traumatic event, and it’s natural to feel emotional shock after the accident. You may have physical symptoms of shock like rapid breathing, a fast pulse, clammy skin, and shaking limbs, along with emotional symptoms like fear and heightened alertness. However, if you start exhibiting abrupt mood swings or feel a general change in your usual mood after the shock wears off, these may be signs of an underlying health concern.

Changes in your cognitive abilities can be a symptom of a brain injury. When you experience cognitive difficulties, you may notice symptoms like irritability, brain fog, trouble communicating, impulsiveness, fatigue, and difficulty with focus and problem-solving. Blurry vision and slurred speech can also indicate a brain injury, so it’s important to get assessed for a concussion or traumatic brain injury right away if you have any of these symptoms.

In other cases, changes in mood can indicate a mental health concern, which should be taken just as seriously as a physical injury. If you experience anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, irritability, intrusive thoughts, and negative mood changes like feelings of guilt and shame that interfere with your daily life, talk to your doctor about getting a referral to a mental health specialist.

Numbness and Tingling

Ever had your foot “fall asleep”? It’s a common phenomenon. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not caused by blood flow issues, but temporary nerve compression. Your nerves communicate with your brain and spine, and when they’re pinched, they can’t communicate correctly.

Much like a hose stops spraying water when twisted, nerves can’t send signals to your brain if something is twisted or compressed. That tingling feeling you get is a result of the nerves regaining function in your body. The medical community refers to this phenomenon as paresthesia.

After a collision, numbness or tingling in your extremities — even a few days afterward — may signal a spinal cord injury. You should take any loss of sensation seriously.

Note that numbness can grow over time, as swelling increases, so see a car accident chiropractor in Houston as soon as possible for proper treatment.

Nausea

Feeling sick to your stomach? Vertigo, nausea, and vomiting are all common symptoms, even after small collisions. Shock and anxiety can contribute to nausea and vomiting, but don’t assume your nausea will pass. In some cases, these symptoms can signify serious injuries, such as:

Whiplash.
Internal bleeding.
Broken bones.
Organ damage.
Traumatic brain injury.

If you’re feeling nausea along with numbness, tingling, confusion, dizziness, peeing blood, or other symptoms, make an appointment with a car accident doctor immediately.

Headaches

If your head hurts after a collision, it’s a sign you need to see a car accident doctor immediately. A post-accident headache could mean you have a concussion, or even worse, a traumatic brain injury

If you’re experiencing any of the following, make an appointment with a qualified car accident chiropractor in Houston right away:

Headache that gets worse over time.
Headache with blurred vision.
Headache that won’t go away.

Schedule an Appointment With a Car Accident Chiropractor in Houston today!

If you’ve been in an accident, there’s no time to lose. Make an appointment with a qualified car accident doctor immediately for treatment. City Wide Injury has many locations to choose from, so make an appointment with us today or contact us at 713-782-0082 for more information.

How to Recognize Delayed Car Accident Symptoms | City Wide Injury & Accident

Joe Danna

Joe Danna is a Chiropractor specialist practicing in Houston, TX. Where he has lived his whole life.

www.citywideinjury.com/

October 31, 2022April 6, 2023

How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Whiplash Injury?

One of the most common car accident injuries is whiplash. Most people are familiar with this injury that causes pain and stiffness in the neck, but you might not be aware of how long it lasts and what the potentially enduring side effects are. Read on to learn how long it takes to recover from a whiplash injury and view tips for speeding up the healing process.

Whiplash Meaning

A can accident doctor in Houston checking neck injury

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that results from sudden force or movement causing your neck to extend beyond its normal range of motion. This injury can result in damage to your neck and your spine’s muscles, ligaments, and nerves. Common causes of whiplash include sporting accidents, physical abuse, and falls, though most people who experience whiplash are rear-ended car accident victims. A vehicle crashing into another vehicle results in the passengers’ heads jerking back and forth with significant force.

What Does Whiplash Feel Like?

Though you might not immediately feel whiplash after your accident, the injury often presents itself in the form of neck pain and stiffness. Most people describe a constant, aching pain that worsens as you move your head. Other whiplash injury symptoms include:

Limited range of motion when you move your neck.
Muscle spasms.
Tense, knotted muscles.
Dizziness.
Blurred vision.
Headaches, especially those that originate at the base of the skull.

Side Effects of Whiplash

If you don’t receive the appropriate treatment, long-lasting side effects of whiplash may include:

Ongoing pain.
Chronic headaches.
Difficulty concentrating.
Sudden mood swings.
Insomnia.
Ringing in the ears.
Depression.
Anxiety.
Jaw pain.
Memory problems.

When Does Whiplash Onset?

Most whiplash symptoms develop within 24 hours after the accident, though some people might not experience symptoms until days or weeks later. Even if you feel fine, be sure to see a personal injury doctor immediately after being in a car accident. These professionals will provide documentation for insurance companies and track the development of symptoms.

How Long Does Whiplash Last?

How long it takes to recover from whiplash depends on how severe your injury is. Mild cases may mostly resolve within a few days, though some people have symptoms that persist for weeks or months. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers to help you manage your symptoms. In some cases, prescribed antidepressant drugs can relieve persistent nerve pain. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions and complete rehabilitation exercises. You can also speed up the recovery process by refraining from activities such as playing contact sports that would aggravate the pain.

Whiplash after a car accident can make the recovery possible even more painful, but CityWide is here to help. Schedule an appointment to see a personal injury doctor immediately after your accident. We also have personal injury attorneys for those who need help building their negligence cases.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Whiplash Injury? / City Wide Injury & Accident – Houston, TX

Joe Danna

Joe Danna is a Chiropractor specialist practicing in Houston, TX. Where he has lived his whole life.

www.citywideinjury.com/

January 11, 2022April 6, 2023

What To Do if You Develop Whiplash After a Car Accident

auto accident doctor, car accident doctor, car accident doctor in Houston, injury & accident chiropractor clinic houston, personal injury doctors in Houston

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries people develop after being in a car accident, affecting over 1 million car crash victims each year. Whiplash occurs when the force of impact, such as that created during a car accident, causes the head to jerk violently back and forth. Individuals most commonly develop whiplash after a rear-end collision, but you can develop it in any type of car crash — including those that occur at speeds as low as 5 mph.

Though whiplash generally goes away on its own with little or no treatment, complications arise in approximately 10% of cases. Whether you are at risk of developing complications or simply want to speed up the recovery process, it may be in your best interests to seek whiplash treatment from an experienced car accident doctor in the days immediately following your crash.

Whiplash: An Overview

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that develops when the neck extends beyond its normal range of motion and at speeds to which it is not accustomed. In terms of car accident injuries, it is relatively mild and requires little more than at-home care to treat. However, it can cause you significant pain and discomfort in the early days after your accident. In severe cases, that pain and discomfort may continue for far longer than is normal, such as up to a year and beyond. To prevent complications, you should seek a diagnosis and treatment from a qualified car accident doctor as soon as you start developing symptoms.

Whiplash Symptoms

Whiplash is tricky in that it is a delayed car accident injury. What this means is that most people do not begin to develop symptoms until hours or even days after the triggering event. If your case is more typical than not, you may start to notice symptoms within the first 24 hours of the crash. However, the first signs may not arise until days later. Typically, whiplash symptoms look more or less the same for everyone. The most common symptoms are as follows:

Headache, especially at the base of the skull
Neck stiffness and pain
Pain and stiffness across the shoulders
Blurred vision
Dizziness
Chronic fatigue

Some car accident victims do develop less common symptoms of whiplash. Those are as follows:

Neck muscle spasms
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Memory and concentration problems
Irritability
Sleep disturbances

Once you begin to develop symptoms, consult with a car accident injury doctor regarding whiplash treatment.

Whiplash Complications

Often, whiplash patients recover completely from their injuries. However, in rare cases, individuals may develop complications that linger for years, if not their entire lifetimes. Lingering complications may include ongoing pain, chronic headaches, and neurological issues, such as difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and sudden mood swings. Though there is no known medical cause for why some people develop whiplash complications, health care professionals suspect it has something to do with damage to the discs, joints, and/or ligaments in the neck.

Seek a Diagnosis as Soon as You Develop Whiplash Symptoms

If you develop symptoms of whiplash in the hours or days following your car accident, the best thing you can do to protect your physical health and legal rights is to seek a proper diagnosis from a car accident doctor. Your initial appointment may consist of three parts: a Q&A session, a physical exam, and imaging tests.

When you first meet with your doctor, he or she may ask you about the accident and injury. He or she will want to know how the accident happened, what you felt during the accident, how you feel now, and whether the pain is shooting, dull or sharp. Once your doctor feels you have provided all the information he or she needs to know, you will move on to the physical portion of the exam. During the physical exam, your doctor may check for tenderness, assess the range of motion in your neck, and look for any bruising.

Though not always necessary to make a whiplash diagnosis, your doctor may order imaging tests such as CT scans, X-rays, and MRI scans. These tests allow your doctor to assess for inflammation along the spinal cord, in the soft tissues or among the nerves. Imaging tests are also helpful for identifying possible brain injuries.

In rare cases, car accident injury doctors order more advanced forms of imaging tests, such as positron emission tomography and diffuse tensor imaging. Your doctor may only order these kinds of tests if he or she suspects brain damage, as both PET scans and DTIs can find and measure the extent of damage to the brain and other areas of the body.

Prevent Complications With Whiplash Treatment

The best way to prevent adverse outcomes of whiplash following a car accident is to seek a diagnosis and treatment from a qualified car accident doctor. The sooner you schedule a visit with a doctor, the less likely you are to exacerbate your injury and develop complications in the future. After performing a thorough exam, your doctor may prescribe a course of treatment that includes a mixture of at-home care and professional therapy.

At-Home Care for Whiplash

If your whiplash symptoms are mild, your doctor may advise you to do little more than rest, take over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin or acetaminophen, and apply heat and ice alternatingly to the injured area. If your doctor suspects that tension will be a problem for your recovery, he or she may prescribe muscle relaxers. You may also have to wear a neck brace for support for a short period.

Physical Therapy for Whiplash

If your injury is more severe, your doctor may recommend range-of-motion exercises you can do at home to stretch the injured area and help strengthen it. However, if at-home exercises prove inefficient, or if your doctor thinks you can benefit from professional help right away, he or she may recommend physical therapy. Like at-home neck exercises, physical therapy can help to strengthen your neck muscles and reduce your pain.

Chiropractic Care for Whiplash

More stubborn cases of whiplash may require spinal manipulation, massage therapy, trigger point therapy, epidural spinal injections, electronic nerve stimulation, and other more intensive forms of therapy to heal. If yours is one such case, your doctor may recommend chiropractic care as a form of whiplash treatment.

Soft Tissue Rehabilitation

Soft tissue rehabilitation can help heal torn, sprained, or otherwise damaged tendons, ligaments and muscles along the neck and spine. If the soft tissues in your neck or back fail to heal properly in the months following your crash, soft tissue rehabilitation may be the next line of treatment.

Surgical Treatment

Finally, your car accident injury doctor may recommend surgery as a last resort. Surgical treatment is rarely necessary for whiplash but may be the only option for individuals who developed herniated discs or spinal fractures in the accident. Surgery can help realign the spine and restore joint movement.

See a Car Accident Doctor Who Specializes in Whiplash Treatment

After a car accident that leaves you injured, you should not work with just any doctor. You should work with a doctor who has experience helping car accident victims recover from their injuries and, just as importantly, who maintains an expansive network of both health care and legal professionals.

After an accident, you may find that you are dealing with more than just physical pain and the associated recovery. You may also face financial challenges, issues with your insurance claim and legal worries, all of which can slow your recovery. The right doctor will provide relief for your injuries first and foremost. However, he or she will go on to do more than that. He or she will connect you with the health professionals who can aid in your recovery, answer any questions you have regarding insurance and billing, and, if necessary, refer you to a reputable personal injury lawyer.

Just as important as your recovery, the right car accident doctor can tie your whiplash injury to your car accident. If you later develop symptoms, or if the cost of your whiplash treatment proves to be more than you can afford, it will be beneficial for you to have medical records dating back to as soon after your accident as possible. Your doctor can forward your medical records to your personal injury lawyer, if applicable, and thereby streamline the discovery process of your claim.

Get the Specialized Treatment You Need

Some people will tell you to only seek whiplash treatment if you experience symptoms that linger for more than two weeks or if your pain prevents you from engaging in most or all of your daily activities. We encourage you to ignore this advice and to schedule an appointment with a car accident doctor as soon as you suspect something is amiss. At CityWide Injury & Accident, your first exam is free, which means it costs you no more than an hour of your time to take the first step toward protecting your health and legal rights. Do not wait for your pain to become unbearable. Make your appointment today.

Joe Danna

Joe Danna is a Chiropractor specialist practicing in Houston, TX. Where he has lived his whole life.

www.citywideinjury.com/

August 30, 2021April 6, 2023

5 Benefits of Seeing a Car Accident Chiropractor After an Accident

If you were recently in any severity of a car accident, then seeing car accident doctors should be on your list of immediate concerns. Even fender-benders could result in misalignments that could lead to aches and pains now but could progress into something further later. You never want to take a chance with car accidents. You may not notice anything now, but shock can hide symptoms that could show up later. You must see a car accident chiropractor right away, just in case there was an injury you did not notice immediately.

Types of Injuries Common After Car Accidents

When you experience a car accident, your entire body jolts around. This can lead to many types of injuries. The most common types of accident injuries include:

Neck injuries
Jaw injuries
Back injuries
Soft tissue injuries
Radiating pain down the limbs

Benefits of Seeing a Car Accident Chiropractic After an Accident

Luckily for you, if you were recently in a car accident, seeing a chiropractor can help immensely. Here are some of the best benefits you get when you receive chiropractic treatment.

1: Insight Into Injuries

When you see a chiropractor, they will listen to what happened and examine your body. You may have little or no pain at this stage, and that is alright. The pain may not be something your body recognizes just yet. Once you explain the type of accident you had, the chiropractor will look at your body. The way your neck and spine are aligned can tell them a lot about if your body is or will be in pain.

2: Less Swelling

One of the natural benefits of chiropractic care is that it reduces inflammation. This happens because of the increased blood flow from the massage and alignment. If your body was going to swell, it would likely do so less following treatment.

3: Easy Treatment

Chiropractic care is an easier treatment for many. This is because the treatment does not involve any medication, and the treatments are also non-invasive. That helps people feel better without the worry that they will become addicted to medication or be left with even more healing to do.

4: Less Pain

Pain may not be something your body has the moment you see a chiropractor. However, in most cases, the pain will come. By visiting a car accident chiropractor, you can avoid this pain becoming extreme, or if you get treated soon enough, you may prevent it together.

5: Better Movement

One of the best benefits of chiropractic treatment is the ability to move. When your body gets out of alignment, it can make moving difficult. Realigning the body can make moving easier and less painful. That increased range of motion may even leave you feeling better than you were before the accident.

Ways a Chiropractor Could Help Ease Your Pain

It is essential to remember that your spine is where the messages travel within your body. That is the core of your central nervous system. If your spine is out of alignment, it could result in pain or struggles you do not want, even by a slight amount. After an accident, seeing a car accident chiropractor allows them to see where your body is off and correct it. You may need a massage to guide your neck or spine back into proper alignment gently. Some people need a full adjustment. No matter what you need to feel better, a chiropractor is a reliable and gentle way of getting it.

Simple adjustments can give you instant relief. If you do not get your body realigned right away, the damage could become worse. You may face lingering pain even after everything goes back into proper alignment. If those problems are left untreated long enough or never receive treatment, the pain may become permanent. Chiropractors are experts at body alignment. Let them help ease your body into the alignment it needs to function properly.

Let City Wide Injury & Accident Be Your Car Accident Chiropractor

Any car accident can leave you facing chronic pain for a long time, even the rest of your life, if you do not get it treated. Turn to City Wide Injury & Accident today. We are the car accident chiropractor you need to address your injuries. Let us help restore the alignment of your body so you can begin to feel better right away. Contact us now to set up a time to come in for a consultation.

5 Benefits of Seeing a Car Accident Chiropractor After an Accident | City Wide Injury & Accident – Houston, TX

Joe Danna

Joe Danna is a Chiropractor specialist practicing in Houston, TX. Where he has lived his whole life.

www.citywideinjury.com/

May 12, 2021April 6, 2023

How A Houston Personal Injury Accident Attorney Can Help Your Soft Tissue Injuries

houston personal injury attorney assisting man in a car crash

Seek The Help of a Houston Personal Injury Accident Attorney

Did you know that you can hire personal injury doctors Houston for soft tissue injuries?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident or have an injury, you may be feeling lost, alone, or confused. Along with your expenses and trauma, you are likely inundated with information, requests, and even accusations by opposing parties or attorneys.

However, depending on your type of accident, you may be ignoring a serious injury right under your nose. Soft tissue injuries are the insidious, dirty little secret of the personal injury world. While not as flashy as those injuries related to “hard” tissues in the body, soft tissue injuries can seriously impair your ability to function…and you may not even know you have one.

Below are some ways a personal injury lawyer Houston might help you navigate your soft tissue injuries.

What is a Soft Tissue Injury?

A soft tissue injury sounds more exotic than it is. In truth, soft tissue injuries encompass all sorts of things like bruises, sprains, tears, and other muscle contusions. These soft tissue injuries naturally affect soft tissues, like skin, fat, organs, and muscle. “Hard” injuries are things like fractures or breaks in bones or blood loss.

However, soft injuries can be deceptively serious. There’s an argument that soft tissue injuries may be more detrimental to health over the long term because they are harder to catch earlier and harder to treat compared to most hard tissue injuries.

Soft tissues are softer than bone and the other organic hard materials that make up our bodies, making them more susceptible to injury and damage.

While soft tissue flexibility may prove to be an advantage in some instances, soft tissue is still just that: soft. It is especially vulnerable to harsh and sudden impacts, aggressive maneuvers, etc., like those associated with crashes. Even collisions at slow speeds can do serious damage!

Soft tissue injuries are very common in motor vehicle accidents. For instance, you may have heard of a muscle disorder known as “whiplash.”

Can a Houston Personal Injury Accident Attorney Treat Whiplash?

Whiplash is a neck muscle injury caused by the rapid back and forth motion, such as a sudden jerking resulting from an unexpected impact.

Whiplash has a very dramatic name and tends to attract a lot of concern–and for a good reason. However, whiplash’s presentation is much quieter in reality and belies its explosive namesake.

Just like other soft tissue injuries, whiplash can be so subtle that sufferers of whiplash may not know they have it until they begin experiencing complications from it. Spinal injuries as a result of whiplash are not uncommon.

Stiffness, fatigue, and sleep problems are just a few potential symptoms. This is one of the more complicated aspects of properly evaluating soft tissue-related injuries. Their symptoms can be ascribed to nearly anything, which makes them insidious and dangerous.

A Houston personal injury accident attorney can help you discern whether you have suffered injuries due to a car accident like a rear-end collision, but you need to be your own best advocate in these cases. If you’ve recently been in a car accident and are concerned that you may be suffering a complication, seek medical attention immediately from a car accident doctor.

Importance of Medical Evaluation from a Houston Personal Injury Accident Attorney

Even if you don’t end up needing a medical report down the line, it is always nice to have. It is even better to have if you find yourself in the middle of a lawsuit related to a car accident in Houston!

Regardless of whether you believe you’re injured, even the slightest muscle spasm after an accident could be cause for concern. Only an experienced professional can help you identify any causes for concern.

However, the longer you wait between the accident occurring and seeking medical attention, the more doubt you cast on the validity of your claim under the eyes of the legal system.

If you eventually decide to pursue a legal case related to your motor vehicle accident, you will want to have a record of any related medical attention you received. Plus, a doctor’s note can always come in handy if you need time off work for your injuries or insurance documentation later.

Navigating Insurance with Your Houston Personal Injury Accident Attorney

A Houston personal injury accident attorney may help navigate the complex world of car insurance. There are too many intricacies to keep tabs on to rely on your expertise to protect you from opposing attorneys.

Alternative Therapies

Not every Houston personal injury accident attorney will be equipped for the nuanced demands of physical therapy after an accident. Soft tissue injuries can be difficult to pin down and, therefore, hard to treat.

At CityWide Injury, you can find an empathetic team of qualified specialists in today’s hottest breakthrough alternative therapies. Contact us today!

Joe Danna

Joe Danna is a Chiropractor specialist practicing in Houston, TX. Where he has lived his whole life.

www.citywideinjury.com/

February 26, 2021April 6, 2023

How A Houston Personal Injury Doctor Can Help With Car Accident Injuries

Houston Personal Injury Attorney - Citywide Injury & Accident

Even if you do not think you are hurt after a car accident, it is still a good idea to seea personal injury doctor in Houston as soon as possible. Firstly, it can take time for symptoms to develop, so you may have a serious injury and not know it. Secondly, if you need to take legal action to recover damages later, the records from your treatment can be invaluable evidence to your personal injury lawyer Houston.

Learn How A Houston Personal Injury Doctor Can Make The Difference After A Car Accident Injury

A Houston Personal Injury Doctor Can Help With Soft Tissue Injuries

The term “soft tissue injuries” usually refers to those tissues that are part of the musculoskeletal system, differentiating soft tissues from bones, which are harder. Three kinds of injuries affecting these tissues are common after a car accident:

Muscle strains
Ligament sprains
Tendon tears

Soft tissue injuries aren’t necessarily the most serious, but they can be painful and debilitating because it sometimes takes them to heal.

A Personal Injury Doctor will perform an in-depth examination to determine whether you have a soft tissue injury. In addition to a physical evaluation, this includes taking X-rays to rule out a bone fracture. Once we have diagnosed a soft tissue injury and determined its severity, we can decide on a treatment plan for you. Treatment for soft tissue injuries may involve bracing or therapeutic taping, heat, cold therapy, muscle stimulation, or ultrasound therapy.

How a Personal Injury Doctor Can Help With Head Injuries

Prompt evaluation of a head injury is essential because of the risk of damage to the brain. It is partly for this reason that CityWide offers same-day appointments. Signs of a brain injury from a car accident include blurred vision, clouded thinking, dizziness, nausea, and headache. These symptoms may not occur for a few hours after the accident, but they suggest potentially serious injuries such as a concussion, skull fracture, or intracranial hematoma.

A concussion is a common head injury from a car accident. It can occur when your head makes forceful contact with another object, but it can also happen when your brain hits against the inside of your skull with a sudden jolt. Concussions can range in severity, and while they usually resolve completely over time, they can put you at risk for other dangerous conditions.

How a Personal Injury Doctor Can Help With Back and Neck Injuries

The spine is a collective name for a column of bones that protect the spinal cord while allowing for movement. Spinal injuries from a car accident can be primarily musculoskeletal or involve damage to the spinal cord itself, resulting in paralysis.

Sometimes an injury that involves the musculoskeletal system primarily can also affect the spinal cord. For example, a herniated disk occurs when the hard outer ring ruptures, allowing the soft interior layer to leak. This can put pressure on the spinal cord, leading to symptoms such as radiating pain or numbness. A fracture of one of the vertebral bodies can also pressure the cord if the fragments become displaced. Relieving the pressure on the spinal cord can resolve the symptoms, but treatment should take place quickly to prevent permanent nerve damage.

One of the most common spine injuries from a car accident is whiplash, more accurately referred to as whiplash-associated disorder. The force of a collision can cause your head to jerk violently back and forth, damaging the tissues in the neck. Whiplash can cause various injuries, such as neck pain and stiffness, headaches, sleep disturbances, depression, ringing in the ears, numbness, and tingling in the arms.

How a Personal Injury Doctor Can Help With Referrals

Some injuries require treatment beyond what a typical car accident doctor Houston can provide. For example, a traumatic injury of the brain or spinal cord may require evaluation by a neurologist. Some injuries, even if they are relatively more minor, may require surgery to treat. CityWide Injury primarily provides chiropractic care to our patients. If we believe that an injury requires a specialist’s care, we can refer you to someone with the necessary training to treat it.

Our referral services extend beyond other doctors. If you require legal assistance following your car accident, we can also refer you to a Houston personal injury attorney. Learn more about how we can help you find a car accident lawyer you can trust.

How A Houston Personal Injury Doctor Can Help With Car Accident Injuries | City Wide Injury & Accident – Houston, TX

Joe Danna

Joe Danna is a Chiropractor specialist practicing in Houston, TX. Where he has lived his whole life.

www.citywideinjury.com/

January 18, 2021April 6, 2023

Visit Personal Injury Medical Services For These 3 Hidden Injuries

Sustaining even a minor impact on your vehicle can have a more significant effect on your body than you think. While you may not see or feel an injury, there may be damage beneath the surface. Even some fender benders can result in painful and long-lasting injuries if you don’t receive care from personal injury doctors Houston straight away. Visit personal injury medical services for these car accident injuries that may not show signs right away.

Why Visit Personal Injury Medical Services?

A crash will not come at a convenient time. It may happen during your commute or while rushing off to a child’s performance. However, when the collision is minor with little or no vehicle damage, you may want to skip formalities and continue with your day. Doing this can have negative consequences for an insurance claim and, more importantly, your health. Taking the time to visit personal injury medical services allows a medical provider the opportunity to examine you for hidden injuries that may result in painful and permanent damage.

3 Hidden Injuries That Personal Injury Medical Services Can Find

Violent crashes cause apparent damage to the body. For example, your head may strike the headliner, leaving you unconscious with a head wound. In these situations, it is likely you would be transported to the hospital from the accident scene. However, when the impact is not as forceful, your body may not exhibit signs of damage. These three injuries are common in low-impact crashes.

1. Neck Injuries

Cars don’t need to collide at high speeds for the body to be damaged by the forces generated in a crash. The neck is particularly susceptible to injury in any collision. It is made up of a complex network of muscles that work to support the head and shield the cervical spine. Whiplash is the most common injury in car accidents. The effects of whiplash are sometimes not felt until hours later. Whiplash is the result of microtears in the muscles surrounding the cervical spine. The treatment often involves immobilizing the neck, alternating hot and cold packs to the area, and medication. Some cases of whiplash warrant physical therapy.

2. Brain Trauma

An impact to the head is not the only way it can be damaged in a crash. The force of the accident can cause the head to jerk and jolt violently from one side to another. This movement not only results in whiplash, but it can cause a head injury with no visible signs. If you have whiplash, personal injury medical services will want you to be examined for a brain injury.

The brain does not take up the entire skull. When the head snaps or shakes violently as it may in a car crash, the brain can move and hit the skull. Since the brain tissue is sensitive, this impact on the head may cause bruising or bleeding. Without imaging studies performed by personal injury medical services, you may have severe damage to the brain and not know it. A bleed that goes undetected may become deadly. Signs of brain trauma to watch out for include:

A worsening headache
Extreme exhaustion and lethargy
Nausea and vomiting
Blurry vision
Ringing in the ears
Slurring speech

A brain injury may cause irreversible damage and even death if it is not diagnosed immediately.

3. Soft Tissue Damage

The musculoskeletal system is made of bones surrounded and connected by soft tissue. Muscles, ligaments, and tendons are all soft tissue. One of the first signs of damage to soft tissue is pain. Tears and impacts can cause bleeding in the tissue. If the impact is forceful enough, the bleeding will pool under the skin, causing a bruise. After a crash, you may dismiss pain as nothing. However, if there is a bleed or tear in the muscle, you may not be able to get out of bed the next day. A medical provider can perform a cursory exam and identify any possible soft tissue damage before you have a major injury to deal with.

Even though you may think it unnecessary, a medical examination by personal injury medical services is critical after an accident. The staff at CityWide Injury stands by to conduct a thorough exam and make recommendations based on the findings. Do not get sidetracked by a hidden injury. Get the treatment you need before any underlying issues worsen.

Joe Danna

Joe Danna is a Chiropractor specialist practicing in Houston, TX. Where he has lived his whole life.

www.citywideinjury.com/

November 17, 2020April 6, 2023

The Most Common Car Accident Injuries

Black Car Accident - Citywide Injury & Accident

A personal injury attorney Houston may handle more car crash cases than any other type. That’s because the number of vehicle accidents in the area increases, as does the likelihood of injury. The severity of these injuries ranges from surface bumps and bruises to life-altering. However, some crash injuries occur more frequently than others. Discover some of the most common car accident injuries a personal injury lawyer Houston TX handles.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Aside from surface bruising, the most common injury people in accidents face are soft tissue injuries of the body. The body contains a vast network of muscles, ligaments, and tendons that connect bones and make overall movement possible. This soft tissue can become torn, pulled, sprained, or bruised.

Soft tissue injuries in car crashes can result in some of the most painful and difficult to treat conditions. Whiplash is actually of the most common car accident injury. It occurs when the forces of the collision cause the neck to snap violently. When this happens, small tears in the neck’s soft tissue can cause pain with movement. Something like whiplash is often hard to diagnose as the micro tears do not appear on medical imaging. However, the immobility and pain warrant physical therapy and medication.

Back Injuries

The back is comprised of a network of soft tissue that surrounds and protects the spine. The spinal column is a combination of bone and tissue that covers the spinal cord. The bones or vertebrae lock together with soft tissue known as discs for padding. Some car accidents may cause injury to the large muscles of the back. Other times, the spinal column and cord may become compromised. A herniated disc is a very common back injury a car accident may bring. When a disc is knocked out of place, it may bulge and strike the spinal cord. A herniated disc may cause other problems if it presses into the cord, such as numbness or pain in other parts of the body. If the spinal cord itself is injured, permanent paralysis may result.

Head Injuries

The skull is one of the thickest bones in the body, and for a good reason, as it protects the brain. When the brain gets hurt, the entire body may suffer. The brain controls every aspect of the human body, so when this complex organ is injured, the consequences can range from mild to deadly. A heady injury is relatively common in a car crash. A collision may cause the head to strike an object in the vehicle causing an impact injury to the head. However, the brain can also become injured without striking a hard object. The brain can slide and hit the skull if the neck and head forces cause it to snap violently back and forth or side to side. When the brain hits the skull, it can bruise and bleed.

What happens if a head injury is not treated? For starters, an undiscovered brain bleed may lead to long-term brain damage. If the blood clots, a stroke may occur. Permanent brain damage may result in:

Cognitive impairment
Paralysis
Mood changes
Memory deficiencies

A head injury is very serious, especially if it is undiagnosed. A personal injury lawyer Houston would advise you to get checked out after an accident to ensure that you do not have a head injury.

Fracture Injuries

Broken bones may not seem like a big deal, but if you have to deal with one or more after a car crash, you may change your tune. Consider the most common bone fractures in auto accidents that happen to the ribs, wrists, and ankles. Any or all of these areas are vital to the movement of the body. You may not be able to work if any of these are fractured. Not getting a paycheck may result in a good deal of financial hardship and stress.

Finding a place to get help after sustaining an accident injury is crucial to recovering quickly. If your injury warrants ongoing medical care, then you will want to get some guidance from a personal injury attorney Houston. A lawyer can fight for the money you need to get the level of medical care your injury warrants.

The Most Common Car Accident Injuries | City Wide Injury & Accident – Houston, TX

Joe Danna

Joe Danna is a Chiropractor specialist practicing in Houston, TX. Where he has lived his whole life.

www.citywideinjury.com/

November 10, 2020April 6, 2023

See Your Car Accident Doctor for These 5 Delayed Injury Symptoms

Car Accident - Citywide Injury & Accident

Sometimes, when people get involved in car accidents, they’re under too much shock to realize they’re injured. In fact, it’s fairly normal for people involved in car accidents to feel little or no pain until days after the event. That’s why it’s so important not to discount the possibility of serious issues even if you feel alright immediately after a wreck. The most important thing to do is to contact your personal injury lawyer Houston after an accident.

If you don’t promptly receive treatment once you develop delayed injury symptoms, you could end up with serious complications that are harder and more expensive to treat down the road. That’s why early intervention is key to the best outcome. Here are five of the most common delayed injury symptoms that warrant an immediate visit to your car accident doctor.

Neck and Should Stiffness and Pain

Your neck and shoulders are most likely to hurt after a collision if you have whiplash. This is one of the most commonly delayed symptoms associated with car accident injuries. According to patientinfo.com, most whiplash injury cases occur after vehicle collisions at speeds of less than 14 miles-per-hour. This means that even if you’re involved in a minor “fender-bender,” your chances of developing delayed neck and shoulder stiffness and pain are quite high.

Whiplash injuries can be quite serious. That’s why you should talk to your personal injury lawyer Houston immediately after a wreck and in the following days. If you develop whiplash symptoms, make sure your personal injury lawyer knows about it so he or she can advise you. When you go to the doctor for these injuries, he or she will likely conduct a CT scan, x-ray, or MRI to diagnose your condition.

Headaches

Headaches can develop several days or even weeks after an accident. In some cases, they can occur due to vertebral misalignment or muscle and ligament strain. However, in some cases, headaches after a collision can indicate a very serious problem, such as a blood clot in the brain or a concussion. Talk to your personal injury attorney Houston if you experience headaches after your wreck.

Numbness

If you have any damage in your spinal column or neck due to a car accident, you could develop numbness or loss of feeling in the hands and arms. It’s estimated that up to 20% of people experience this symptom of being involved in rear-end vehicle accidents. Your personal injury lawyer Houston TX can help you understand your rights regarding compensation for accident-related injuries.

Abdominal Swelling and Pain

Any abdominal swelling or pain after an accident could indicate that you’re experiencing internal bleeding. You should talk to your personal injury lawyer Houston and see a doctor immediately. If dizziness, deep purple bruising, and fainting accompany the swelling, go to the emergency room directly since the condition can be life-threatening.

Changes in Physical Function or Personality

If you notice that you’re no longer able to use different parts of your body in normal ways after a wreck, it’s time to visit the doctor without delay. Additionally, any unexplainable changes in personality after a collision should be brought up with your doctor. According to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are the third most common cause of traumatic injuries to the brain. Additionally, motor vehicle accidents are the second most common cause of death due to traumatic brain injuries.

If you are depressed or have any issues with vision, hearing, movement, or memory after a car accident, take the issue seriously. You may be embarrassed if you’re suddenly unable to remember things that shouldn’t be difficult to remember or if you’re moody and depressed all the time. But don’t let your embarrassment keep you from getting the medical attention and support you require.

Contact Us After an Accident

It may be hard to know who to contact after an accident. Here at CityWide Injury & Accident in Houston, we offer after-accident evaluations to help you discover if and how badly you’ve been injured in a car accident. We’ll work as your liaison with your attorney to ensure you get the compensation you need and deserve. We’ll also make sure you understand all your rights so that you aren’t stuck with a bill you shouldn’t have to pay. To learn more about how we can help you after a car accident, contact us today.

See Your Car Accident Doctor for These 5 Delayed Injury Symptoms | City Wide Injury & Accident – Houston, TX

Joe Danna

Joe Danna is a Chiropractor specialist practicing in Houston, TX. Where he has lived his whole life.

www.citywideinjury.com/

September 3, 2020April 6, 2023

Wrist Pain From Car Accident and Other Injuries a Crash Might Cause

The Vital Role of Personal Injury Physicians in Your Claim | CityWide Injury & Accident

When you face wrist pain from a car accident, it may significantly alter the way you live for a few months. However, this is not the worst injury you can walk away from a crash having sustained. Discover some of the most common and sometimes catastrophic injuries you may face after getting into a collision.

Neck Discomfort From a Crash

A frequent complaint after a collision is neck pain. While you may not notice the discomfort immediately, it may come on in the hours or days following the accident and may make it difficult to rotate the neck. The leading cause is a whiplash injury. The damage to the neck from this type of injury is temporary, but it can be quite painful. A car accident doctor Houston can diagnose the injury from your symptoms. X-rays and MRIs are rarely helpful as the micro-tears in the neck are so tiny, they are not seen on imaging studies. Thus, a doctor may prescribe a course of muscle relaxers and even physical therapy to help you get through the painful condition.

Wrist Pain From Car Accident

A car crash results in a great deal of force traveling through the vehicle and into your body. When your hands are affixed to the steering wheel, a great amount of energy is transferred into them. Wrist pain from a car accident is something that drivers often deal with after leaving the scene.

Sometimes, the pain signals a fracture. If you have issues with carpal tunnel syndrome, a car crash may speed the need for surgery to remove wrist pain from a car accident and pressure from the median nerve. The hand is not immune to injury during a collision. You may find yourself dealing with a fracture of a finger or a loss of grip strength from the stress of the event on the hand.

The Complexity of a Back Injury

The back contains some of the largest muscles in the body. When something happens to this area of the body, the pain can often debilitate a person. A car crash is a common source of back injury and pain. Back strains and sprains can be some of the most difficult to recover from, as the muscle group is challenging to repair. Many drivers who deal with a muscle injury in the back may need physical therapy and a course of medication to keep the pain at bay.

If you feel back pain after a crash, it is essential not to move. A car injury doctor Houston can help diagnose whether the spine is damaged. The spinal cord is among one of the most sensitive and vital organs in the body. It consists of a matrix of nerves responsible for sending messages from the brain to the rest of the body. It is surrounded by the spinal column made up of tissue and vertebrae that protect the cord underneath. Based on the severity of the crash, you may suffer a spinal cord injury. A vertebra may break and intrude into the cord. When this happens, you may experience further damage if you move. A spinal cord injury may cause permanent paralysis and even death.

The Danger of Skull Damage

The skull is a thick bone and rightfully so, as it’s the only form of protection the brain has. As the central hub of the body, the brain is a complex network of matter, neurons, and impulses that are responsible for every other facet of the body. Without proper brain function, the lungs don’t breathe, and the heart doesn’t beat.

Protecting it is the primary purpose of the skull, and if this suffers an impact during a crash, a head injury may spell disaster. The most common injury to the head during an accident is a concussion and can vary in severity. A high impact crash may yield an opening in the skull and cause direct damage to the brain.

In this case, the damage to the organ may be permanent and result in a loss of essential bodily functions. If the concussion is minor, you will still need close monitoring. A bleed, even a minor one, can cause swelling and permanent damage to the brain. No amount of therapy or surgery can fix damage to the brain.

Caring for your health after a car accident is paramount to a full recovery. Consult with a medical professional at CityWide Injury and Accident after a crash to relieve wrist pain from a car accident or if you have a more threatening injury.

Wrist Pain From Car Accident and Other Injuries a Crash Might Cause | City Wide Injury & Accident – Houston, TX

Joe Danna

Joe Danna is a Chiropractor specialist practicing in Houston, TX. Where he has lived his whole life.