Archive for category injury
Living with Back Pain: Self-Education review KBNI Houston, Woodlands, Sugarland, Spring, Katy, Pearland, Kingwood, Humble, Memorial, Conroe, Beaumont
Posted by admin in back injury prevention, back pain, baytown, beaumont, car accident, chiropractic, chiropractor, chiropractor near me, core strengthening exercise, exercise, facet joint, houston, injury, katy, lifting techniques, low back pain, nerve damage, personal injury, physical therapy, preventive lifestyle, sciatica treatment, spinal injury, strengthening, stretching, woodlands on April 17, 2015
Living with Back Pain: Self-Education
back pain, low back pain, spinal discs, physical therapy, chiropractic, injury, personal injury, chiropractor, pain levels, nerve damage
Living with Back Pain: Self-Education review KBNI Houston, Woodlands, Sugarland, Spring, Katy, Pearland, Kingwood, Humble, Memorial, Conroe, Beaumont
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons for missing work in the modern world, yet many still believe its origins are a mystery. Normally, low back pain is caused by a set of very predictable (and unfortunately, all-too-common) conditions. Too much strenuous activity (bending, heavy lifting, twisting, fast or repetitive articulation of the spinal column) accelerates the natural wear on spinal discs as well as the cartilage covering the ends of the facet joints (the joints that allow for articulation of the spinal column). Too much sedentary activity (sitting at an office computer monitor, standing for excessive periods of time) depletes the oxygen supplies of tensed muscles in the back, often leading to painful muscle spasms and an increased chance of compressed spinal nerves. As such, back pain patients need to take steps to educate themselves on how to best maintain the stability and pain-free articulation of their spinal columns as they age.
back pain, low back pain, spinal discs, physical therapy, chiropractic, injury, personal injury, chiropractor, pain levels, nerve damage
Self-education is vital not only to mediating back pain levels, but also for maintaining a high quality of life as you age. Too many people give up on activities (such as physical therapy or yoga) that boost strength and flexibility. As a result, they gradually lose mobility and their pain levels continue to rise during activities that they once found quite manageable. Perhaps the most important tenet of living with back pain is an understanding that regular exercise is essential to mediating pain levels. Core strengthening exercises develop muscles along the spinal column and throughout the torso, lessening the shocks and stresses of everyday movement for compromised spinal discs and facet joints. Stretching is also very important to loosen the muscles, and gently stretch the tendons.
Beyond physical therapy designed to strengthen the core, however, it’s important that back patients understand their own bodies. Know which activities represent a higher risk of back pain and how to avoid them, and prevent back injury. Learn the difference between muscle soreness (such as from a vigorous workout) and sharp back pain resulting from compressed spinal nerves and herniated discs (which, over time, can lead to muscle weakness, loss of sensation, and nerve damage and sciatica ). Communicate honestly and often with your physician regarding your progress in your physical therapy program or chiropractic program. Are certain exercises causing too much (or the wrong kind of) pain? Which exercises seem to be most effective at getting you through your routine? What elements of your lifestyle have you had to change in order to mediate pain levels and how have these changes helped? Giving your doctor all of this information will help in making specific adjustments to your physical therapy regimen or chiropractic regimen in order to give you the best chances of retaining your long-term mobility.
back pain, low back pain, spinal discs, physical therapy, chiropractic, injury, personal injury, chiropractor, pain levels, nerve damage, Houston, Woodlands, Sugarland, Spring, Katy, Pearland, Kingwood, Humble, Beaumont, Memorial, Conroe
Physician spine experts at the Kraus Back and Neck Institute (KBNI) in Houston have significant expertise treating many patients suffering from low back pain and neck pain, without the need for surgery on the spine. When surgery is necessary, the latest techniques in minimally invasive surgery of the spine are available. Neurosurgeon experts will evaluate patients, and review images of the spine, and help the patient to try to get through the pain they are experiencing, and return them to a normal and healthy lifestyle, when possible.
Patients may have suffered a car or truck motor vehicle accident, or been in some other type of motor vehicle accident or other personal injury. Many patients may recall a specific injury to the spine, which had caused the onset of pain, while others don’t recall any type of injury, but have had a gradual onset of pain. Some patients may simply have turned the wrong way, or got up out of bed the wrong way. No matter what the cause of pain is, physician experts at the KBNI will be happy to evaluate any patient experiencing neck pain, low back pain, or pain in the arms or legs.
back pain, low back pain, spinal discs, physical therapy, chiropractic, injury, personal injury, chiropractor, pain levels, nerve damage, Houston, Woodlands, Sugarland, Spring, Katy, Pearland, Kingwood, Humble, Beaumont, Memorial, Conroe
The Kraus Back and Neck Institute (KBNI) in Houston TX takes care of patients in Houston and the surrounding areas, including Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sealy, Baytown, Pearland, Beaumont, Galleria, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Port Arthur, Galveston, Texas Medical Center (TMC) and other Texas TX cities including Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin.
If you have SUFFERED AN INJURY, you can contact the Kraus Back and Neck Institute at
……. 281-713-6296
……. Or visit www.SpineHealth.com to schedule an appointment online
……. KBNI VIDEO
Keywords: back pain, low back pain, spinal discs, physical therapy, chiropractic, injury, personal injury, chiropractor, pain levels, nerve damage, Houston, Woodlands, Sugarland, Spring, Katy, Pearland, Kingwood, Humble, Beaumont, Memorial, Conroe, Sealy, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas
Spinal Cord Injuries review KBNI Houston, Katy, Sugarland, Woodlands, Spring, Memorial City
Posted by admin in baytown, beaumont, car accident, houston, injury, low back pain, physical therapy, review, spinal injury, spinal injury rehabilitation, sugarland, woodlands on November 18, 2014
stem cell, spinal nerves, spinal cord injuries, physical therapy,
Houston
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord runs from the occipital bone at the base of the skull all the way down between the first and second lumbar vertebrae (lower back). Along with the brain, the spinal cord composes our central nervous system, responsible for communications between the brain and many parts of the body. These signals transmit signals for sensation as well as motor commands for movement. In patients with spinal cord injuries, these communications are impaired, generally through physical trauma or congenital birth defects.
Trauma in spinal cord injuries (motor vehicle accidents, truck accidents) varies widely: pressure, severing, lacerations, bruising, or excessive stretching can all be serious enough to break down communications between the brain and the affected area. If the trauma is serious enough (or if our spinal discs have degenerated to this point) the vertebrae and spinal discs may shatter and impinge on the nearby spinal cord, where sharp shards of disc or bone can penetrate the membrane of the spinal canal and do serious damage to spinal nerves.
stem cell, spinal nerves, spinal cord injuries, physical therapy,
Houston
In serious cases, spinal cord injuries may leave the patient paralyzed, unable to move parts of his or her body. Generally speaking, the higher the trauma is on the spinal cord (closer to the occipital bone at the base of the skull) the more risk there is to a patient’s long-term mobility. This of course also depends on the severity of the injury. A serious laceration or severing high on the spinal cord may lead to quadriplegia, or paralysis of all extremities. While extensive physical therapy may improve a patient’s mobility and allow the brain to generate new ways of executing movement, some spinal cord injuries are too severe for physical therapy in its present state to have much of an effect. This is because damaged nerve cells in the spinal cord do not regenerate, whereas wounds in other parts of the body are gradually repaired.
The medical community is hard at work engineering new potential solutions to the problem of nerve cell regeneration. Stem cell research and the field of nanotechnology hold promising developments if public and private funding continues. Stem cell research focuses on learning about the various kinds of cells our bodies are able to produce, as well as how general stem cells are specialized into the incredible number of different cell types. Nanotechnology, on the other hand, is a field that incorporates a number of different sciences to manipulate and change matter on an extraordinarily small scale. Medical scientists hope to use both disciplines in repairing previously irreparable spinal cord injuries.
Physician experts at the Kraus Back and Neck Institute (KBNI) in Houston, TX, have significant experience in diagnosing and treating spinal cord injuries. The Kraus Back and Neck Institute (KBNI) in Houston TX cares for patients in Houston and the surrounding areas, including Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sealy, Baytown, Pearland, Beaumont, Galleria, Tomball, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Port Arthur, Galveston, Memorial City, Texas Medical Center (TMC) and other Texas TX cities including Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin.
stem cell, spinal nerves, spinal cord injuries, physical therapy,
Houston
Patients suffering from neck pain or lower back pain, or who have been told they may require a spine surgery, can contact the Kraus Back and Neck Institute at
……. 281-713-6296
……. Or visit www.SpineHealth.com to SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE
……. KBNI VIDEO on Back and Neck Pain Treatment : Don’t Live in Fear and Pain
Keywords: stem cell, spinal nerves, spinal cord injuries, physical therapy,
Houston, Baytown, Conroe, Galleria, Beaumont, Galleria, Galveston, Humble, Katy, Kingwood, Memorial City, Woodlands, Sugarland
Spine Health Core Strengthening with Spine KBNI Houston, Katy, Woodlands, Sugarland, Memorial City, Texas Medical Center TMC
Posted by admin in back injury prevention, baytown, beaumont, chiropractic, chiropractor, chiropractor near me, core strengthening exercise, disc degeneration, healthy diet, herniated disc, houston, injury, katy, lifting techniques, nutritional supplements, physical therapy, recover, smoking, spinal injury rehabilitation, spine health, stretching, sugarland, woodlands on July 6, 2014
spine health, core strengthening, spinal health, Houston, Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy
SPINE HEALTH CORE STRENGTHENING HOUSTON
Spine health maintenance is imperative for a healthy body. A number of factors are important for maintaining proper spine health. Proper posture, core strengthening, rest, nutrition, cessation of smoking, and proper shoes are a good foundation. The spine is integral to all of our routine movement. Even when we are standing still or simply sitting, the spine is still responsible for bearing much of the stresses placed on the body. Like other parts of the body, the spinal column is a collection of ligaments, muscle tissue, tendons, articulated vertebrae (the bones of our spine), and spinal discs (shock-absorbing pads that are between vertebrae and assist in load-bearing stress and movement). With so many components in constant use, it is easy to see why spine health is essential to a high quality of life.
The spinal column also protects the spinal cord, which in turn houses the central nervous system’s spinal nerves, which wind through the vertebrae and transmit sensation and signals for voluntary muscle control to the rest of the body. Protecting these sensitive spinal nerves from trauma is crucial for high function. This involves proper hydration and nutrition for the spinal disks, as well as core strengthening exercises to build the support network of ligaments, tendons, and muscles in the torso to assist the spinal discs in bearing the stresses of movement. Core strengthening will thusly decrease wear on the spinal disks, which significantly reduces the possibility of the vertebrae compressing spinal nerves and causing extreme pain. Core strengthening exercises can be done alone, or with the expert guidance of a physical therapist for physical therapy, or a chiropractor for chiropractic training. These experts will also guide patients in the proper use of good body mechanics for bending, lifting and twisting.
spine health, core strengthening, spinal health, Houston, Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy
Choosing comfortable, well-fitted shoes is another simple way of maintaining spine health. Shoes are so common they are often overlooked as a source of pain, but improperly fitted or worn shoes are much less effective at providing shock absorption for the body. Spinal joints and discs, as a consequence, receive more load-bearing stress in all daily movements. A healthy, varied diet, nutritional supplements, and proper weight management will all also aid the spinal column in managing the stress of everyday movement. Excessive weight can actually displace disks within the spinal column, causing them to rupture or compress nearby spinal nerves. Through weight management, a healthy diet, and a regimen of core strengthening exercises, patients can maximize spine health while minimizing pain levels and wear on the spinal column.
spine health, core strengthening, spinal health, Houston
Physician experts at the Kraus Back and Neck Institute (KBNI) in Houston TX have significant experience at taking care of patients with back problems, back injuries and other sources of back and neck pain. Many times, proper guidance from an expert as to body mechanics, posture, core strengthening and nutrition may improve spine health and reduce spine pain.
The Kraus Back and Neck Institute (KBNI) in Houston TX takes care of patients in Houston and the surrounding areas, including Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sealy, Baytown, Pearland, Beaumont, Galleria, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Port Arthur, Galveston, Memorial City, Texas Medical Center (TMC) and other Texas TX cities including Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin.
REFERENCE SITES
Patients suffering from neck pain or back pain, or who have been told they may require a spine surgery, can contact the Kraus Back and Neck Institute at
……. 281-713-6296
……. Or visit www.SpineHealth.com to schedule an appointment online
……. KBNI VIDEO on Back and Neck Pain Treatment : Don’t Live in Fear and Pain
spine health, core strengthening, spinal health, Houston
Keywords: spine health, core strengthening, spinal health, Houston, Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sealy, Baytown, Pearland, Beaumont, Galleria, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Port Arthur, Galveston, Memorial City, Texas Medical Center, TMC, Texas, TX, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin
Chiropractor Near Me and Sciatica Exercises with Chiropractor Houston, Sciatica Treatment discussion by KBNI Houston
Posted by admin in baytown, beaumont, cervical, chiropractic, chiropractor, chiropractor near me, disc degeneration, herniated disc, houston, injury, katy, low back pain, lumbar, neck pain, sciatica, sciatica exercises, sciatica treatment, sports injury, stretching, sugarland, whiplash, woodlands on June 11, 2014
chiropractor near me, chiropractor Houston, sciatica exercises, sciatica treatment, Houston, Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy
A chiropractor near me is often requested by many patients suffering from low back pain or neck pain. Chiropractic care is a branch of alternative medicine that specializes in the prevention and treatment of mechanical problems in the musculoskeletal system (particularly the spine). A chiropractor Houston may be well versed in sciatica treatment, and be able to prescribe the appropriate sciatica exercises to treat low back pain and radicular symptoms known as sciatica.
Radicular symptoms refers the condition where a herniated disc in the neck or low back is pressing upon a nerve in the spinal column. This causes the body to think that pain is coming from the extremity which is supplied by that nerve. For example, if a herniated disc is pressing upon a nerve which goes to the leg, in the lumbar spine, the patient will feel pain in that leg. This sensation of radiating pain, or radicular pain, is known as sciatica. A chiropractor Houston or a chiropractor near me may be able to help this with sciatica exercises. Patients may have suffered an injury such as a car accident (possible whiplash injury or other), or a sports injury, or no injury at all, and simply having awakened one morning with pain.
Chiropractors believe that a compromised musculoskeletal system adversely affects the nervous system and overall physical health. While some physicians may debate the efficacy of chiropractic care as a form of evidence-based medicine, our spines are most certainly involved in every kind of motion: sitting, standing, lifting, bending, twisting, walking, running, etc. Our spinal discs (shock-absorbing pads between our vertebrae) and facet joints (cartilage-covered joints that link our vertebrae) normally allow for pain-free articulation of the spinal column within a normal range of motion. However, both the spinal discs and facet joints naturally degenerate over time, becoming less capable of managing the body’s movements without producing back pain. Spinal discs become thinner, harder, and less pliable, while the cartilage on the end of facet joints degrades. Finding a chiropractor near me or a chiropractor Houston may help with improvement of some of the symptoms of spinal disc degeneration, and help with sciatica exercises and other forms of sciatica treatment in Houston.
chiropractor near me, chiropractor Houston, sciatica exercises, sciatica treatment, Houston, Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy
Compounding all of these natural processes is the risk for physical trauma and structural deformity. If the curve of the spine deviates too far from the norm, severe back pain may result and the patient will likely lose mobility. Chiropractic care can, over several sessions, help to re-align the spine if the patient is suffering from certain structural problems. Physicians will still likely order imaging tests to examine the musculoskeletal system more closely, given that a misdiagnosis can cause serious complications. X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will help to see the spinal discs and nerves in high detail. This information will help physicians determine if the patient may experience benefits from chiropractic care (or if, on the other hand, their long-term mobility may be threatened by it).
If a chiropractor near me for chiropractic care is being considered, many physicians recommend supplementing it with a core-strengthening physical therapy regimen. Keeping muscles along the spinal column and throughout the torso strong will allow them to assist the spinal discs and facet joints in bearing the body’s weight during routine movement. Many physical therapy exercises are able to be completed at home, giving patients a continual, long-term option to maximize mobility and mediate pain levels. Sciatica exercises can be performed throughout life, not only for sciatica treatment, but for prevention of sciatica. A chiropractor Houston may be able to provide excellent guidance.
Your physicians will most likely request frequent checkups during your course of treatment. Be sure to tell your doctors all relevant information regarding your mobility and strength, as well as any information regarding changes in your pain levels during physical activity. Honesty will help you minimize back pain and maximize long-term mobility by keeping a healthy spinal column as you age.
chiropractor near me, chiropractor Houston, sciatica exercises, sciatica treatment, Houston, Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy
The Kraus Back and Neck Institute (KBNI) in Houston TX, treats patients with lower back pain, neck pain, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal fractures, osteoporosis of the spine, and other spinal disorders. Experts at the KBNI believe that most patients experiencing these symptoms can be treated without the need of an operation, but when surgery is necessary, the KBNI can provide the most advanced spine surgery using minimally invasive techniques when appropriate. The KBNI philosophy is that a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of low back pain, neck pain, and other spinal disorders, is the best. Chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, pain management, epidural injections, SI joint injections, and other conservative measures play a very significant role in the treatment of spine pain, in addition to the role spine surgery plays.
The Kraus Back and Neck Institute (KBNI) in Houston TX takes care of patients in Houston and the surrounding areas, including Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sealy, Baytown, Pearland, Beaumont, Galleria, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Port Arthur, Galveston, Memorial City, Texas Medical Center (TMC) and other Texas TX cities including Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin.
If you have SUFFERED AN INJURY, you can contact the Kraus Back and Neck Institute at
……. 281-713-6296
……. Or visit www.SpineHealth.com to schedule an appointment online
……. KBNI VIDEO on Back and Neck Pain Treatment : Don’t Live in Fear and Pain
Keywords: chiropractor near me, chiropractor Houston, sciatica exercises, sciatica treatment, Houston, Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sealy, Baytown, Pearland, Beaumont, Galleria, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Port Arthur, Galveston, Memorial City, Texas Medical Center, TMC, Texas, TX, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin
Spine Injury Fracture review by KBNI serving Houston, Katy, Sugarland, Woodlands, Memorial City, Kingwood
Posted by admin in fracture, injury, review, spinal injury on June 4, 2014
spine, injury, fracture, Houston, Katy, Sugarland, Woodlands, Memorial City, Kingwood
A spine injury fracture is typically a serious injury that occurs when the integrity of the vertebrae (bones of the spine) is compromised, either by physical trauma or by a medical condition like osteoporosis (low bone density). Physicians use three main classifications for spine injury fractures in order to document the pattern of injury: 1) flexion fracture pattern (when one side of the vertebra loses height, usually from a fall from height), 2) extension fracture pattern (when the vertebra is pulled apart, such as in a car accident), and 3) rotation fracture pattern (severe rotation of the vertebra and surrounding soft tissues). A spinal injury fracture may also be further classified based on whether it ishas affected the integrity of the spinal cord.
If a spine injury fracture is suspected, immediate medical attention is advised. The spine serves as the seat of almost all everyday movement, and if its structure is compromised, the injury can have long-term effects on a patient’s mobility. The situation is particularly dangerous if the displacement of vertebral bone shards have compressed or otherwise injured the spinal cord, which is a structure that houses the central spinal nerves that run the length of the spinal column. These spinal nerves control sensation and voluntary muscle control for much of the body. If the spinal cord suffers sufficient physical trauma from a fracture pattern, the patient may be paralyzed in all the regions of the body that received information from the spinal nerves below the injury site.
spine, injury, fracture, Houston, Katy, Sugarland, Woodlands, Memorial City, Kingwood
Spine injury fracture may involve several types of fracture, described as compression fracture, osteoporotic compression fracture, burst fracture, vertebral compression fracture, pathologic fracture, spinous process fracture, or facet fracture. Some fractures may be stable, and will heal on their own, while other spine injury fractures will require surgery to stabilize them. Some fractures will create a kyphosis deformity of the spine, in which the patient leans forward.
Unfortunately, physical trauma need not be serious in order for a spine injury fracture to occur. Such an injury often occurs in the course of everyday movement, such as when a patient bends to pick something up or lifts a bag of groceries. Sudden sharp pain may even be accompanied by a loss in height, which can indicate the simultaneous collapse of multiple vertebrae. Compression and distortion of the spinal column can compress the stomach, causing stomach pain and digestive problems. Depending on the type and severity of the fracture pattern, patients may also need surgery. Most efforts to surgically repair spinal fractures also result in lengthy periods of post-operative care, supplemented by physical therapy, rest, and subsequent medical examinations to maximize the chances of a positive recovery.
At the Kraus Back and Neck Instiute (KBNI) in Houston TX, patients are treated for spine injury fractures, whether they are acute or chronic. Doctors at the KBNI will order the appropriate imaging studies, and guide patients to a path of fracture healing and pain improvement.
The KBNI serves patients throughout the Houston and surrounding areas, including Katy, Sugarland, the Woodlands, Memorial City and Kingwood.
To schedule a visit, patients can
…. Schedule an office visit online at www.SpineHealth.com
…. Call 281-713-6296 to arrange an appointment
Keywords: spine, injury, fracture, Houston, Katy, Sugarland, Woodlands, Memorial City, Kingwood
Whiplash review by KBNI Houston, Katy, Sugarland, Spring, Woodlands, Baytown, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Tomball
Posted by admin in cervical spine, cervical spine injury, facet joint, imaging, injury, neck, neck pain, pain, physical therapy, review, spine, Uncategorized, whiplash on May 23, 2011
Contact Us for Help
Whiplash / Houston
Each year more than two million Americans experience a whiplash injury (a.k.a. whiplash-associated disorder) to their neck. Numerous studies have shown that the most common cause of whiplash is a 6 to 12 mph rear-end automobile collision where the individual has a sudden, hyper-extension (backward movement) and flexion (forward movement) of the neck. The violent, unexpected motion forces the neuromuscular structure of the cervical region to exceed its normal movement parameters. Collisions at higher speeds have a commensurately higher incidence of severe damage to the cervical spine region.
Whiplash-associated disorder can also be caused by a front-end or side-impact automobile collision, contact sport-related accident, e.g., being struck from behind, diving/swimming pool accident, amusement park ride, or physical abuse (e.g., shaken baby syndrome). The pain the individual feels can be mild to severe and acute (short term) or chronic (long term). It is generally agreed that as many as 40% of patients with acute, whiplash-associated neck pain will develop chronic neck pain.
Soft Tissue Injury
In the majority of cases, the whiplash injury damages the soft tissue of the neck resulting in a sprain or strain of the neck muscles or ligaments. In the past, damage to the soft tissues was nearly impossible to visualize. Even with the aid of various advanced imaging technologies (MRI, CT-scan, standard x-ray with contrast, etc.) visualization remains difficult. There are times when patients will experience soft tissue injury, with pain, yet the imaging studies are completely normal. This means that the key factor in soft tissue diagnosis is the knowledge and experience of the spine specialist.
The symptoms of a soft tissue neck injury include neck pain, arm and hand pain, stiffness, back pain, shoulder pain, ringing in the ears, dizziness, neck-related (cervicogenic) headache, paresthesia (burning, tingling or prickling sensation), or injury to the discs, facet joints of the low back or sacroiliac joints. Some people may also experience cognitive deficits such as memory loss and impaired concentration as well as sleep disorders or psychological conditions, e.g., nervousness, depression or irritability. It is important to keep in mind that while the symptoms of a whiplash-associated disorder usually appear within 24 hours, in some cases the symptoms may not manifest themselves until days or even weeks after the accident.
If a soft-tissue injury is confirmed, there are a number of passive treatment alternatives that may be recommended including bed rest, hot and cold compresses, pain relieving medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants. The decision as to which medication(s) is prescribed will depend on the type and severity of pain being experienced, the individual’s pain tolerance, and their general medical condition. Spine specialists now prefer that the patient pursue their daily activities in as normal a manner as possible. In the past, whiplash patients were advised to wear a cervical collar to limit neck movement. This type of immobilization is no longer considered an effective therapy as prolonged collar wear can cause weakness in the neck muscles.
Most patients with mild to moderate whiplash will have pain relief within a few days to two weeks, with a prognosis of full recovery in 10 to 12 weeks. For those individual’s whose neck pain becomes chronic (more than 12 weeks) or worsens the spine specialist may recommend, in addition to pain medication, some form active intervention including physical medicine, e.g., physical therapy, traction, range of motion exercises, etc. In the rare case of prolonged, debilitating soft-tissue pain the patient may be prescribed anti-inflammatory cortisone injections, opioid analgesics and/or anti-depressants. Surgery is not considered to be a treatment option for a soft-tissue whiplash-associated disorder.
Cervical Spine Injury
The pain symptoms of a cervical spine injury due to whiplash-associated disorder are similar to that of a soft tissue injury. If the spine specialist’s examination and imaging studies reveals damage to the facet joints, intervertebral discs, nerve roots and/or vertebrae of the cervical spine a more aggressive treatment regimen is usually undertaken. This approach may include physical medicine, anti-inflammatory pain medications, injections of cortisone into facet joints, facet joint radiofrequency neurotomy, facet joint laser ablation, therapeutic nerve blocks (steroid plus analgesic), and/or anterior cervical discectomy or laminectomy with fusion.
End Note: Although whiplash injuries occur with ever-greater frequency, the diagnosis of a whiplash-associated disorder is a challenging undertaking. The success of whiplash treatment will be a function of the thoroughness and accuracy of the spine specialist’s diagnosis.
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Call Today: 281-446-3876 (281-44 NEURO)
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