AUTO / WORK / SPORTS INNURIES
Injuries occurring from auto accident, work, or sports often involve the musculoskeletal system, soft tissues, and nerve system. Trauma to these soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons and muscles, as well as nerve system, is generally the result of falls, blows, sprains/strains, collisions, compressions, crushing and disruptions of the healing processes. Prolonged traumas can lead to pain, inflammation, swelling, digestive disorders and emotional changes. Anxiety and stress further worsen inflammation and delay healing. Many patients suffer from post-accident anxiety, neck/back pain, headaches/migraines, sleep disorder, fatigue, weak muscles, and even dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, reduced appetite, or constipation.
WHIPLASH INJURY
Whiplash injury often occurs during an auto accident, resulting from neck hyperextension followed by flexion that occurs when an occupant of a motor vehicle is hit from behind by another vehicle. Females (especially 20- to 40-year age group) have persistent neck pain more often than males, by a ratio of 7:3. Women very often are hurt worse than men during an auto accident because they have less body mass and muscle strength. Numerous studies have demonstrated that during a low impact accident, the amount of damage to a car has no direct relationship to the amount of injury to the human body. The force transferred to the body from an average rear-end collision, in a normal, mid-sized car, may be as high as five times the force of the actual collision.
CHRONIC PAIN, LIMITED FUNCTION OR RANGE OF MOTION AFTER INJURY
Several post settlement studies have found that—up to 3 years after settlement—more than 51% of those studied complained of pain and suffering compared with their pre-accident stage. The reason people are in pain and suffer for a prolonged time after an auto accident is because they not only fail to get proper care to repair torn muscles, ligaments, and tissues, but they also prematurely terminate treatment prior to a full restoration of their normal function and/or range of motion, as well as further stabilizing their condition.
INJURY TRAUMA FROM A CHINESE MEDICINE PERSPECTIVE
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, during the strain and sprain, qi is first shocked, causing qi stagnation. People may express this stagnation as “upset,” “shocked,” “spaced out,” or “light headed.” When qi stagnates over a period of time, blood circulation will be impeded and stagnate which will compromise the healing, leading to prolong healing or impede recovery. Impaired Qi and blood circulation results in bodily fluids metabolism disordering and, therefore, gradually the body produces inflammation or “toxic phlegm”, which then further impede qi/blood circulation. At this stage, people often express this complaint as chronic pain of neck and back and numbness in extremities. In short, trauma disrupts homeostasis of the body and—if not timely treated—may lead to long term health problems.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR EFFECTIVE RECOVERY FROM INJURIES
Acupuncture is covered by your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance in a car accident case. Acupuncture also may be covered by workers’ compensation but you will need to first consult with your doctor and your workers’ comp insurance company. Acupuncture works to reduce and remove inflammation or stagnation, alleviate pain, promote qi/blood circulation for a speedy and sustainable recovery, and prevent chronic disorders. Acupuncture is a very essential component in restoring the body’s homeostasis because it helps qi and blood circulation, activates the body’s natural healing abilities, and promotes body’s internal balance to gain sustainable recovery.
Benefits of Acupuncture in treating accident trauma injuries include:
- decrease inflammation and alleviate pain
- reduce the post-trauma anxiety and promote relaxation
- benefit sleep and increase energy
- minimize pain medications intake
- prevent or reduce scar tissue
- improve range of motion and daily function
- reset the nervous system and bring back to its equilibrium
- expedite healing and stabilize condition for long-term health
ACUPUNCTURE APPOINTMENT
Acupuncture treatment starts with a thorough evaluation - discussing your accident, how accident affects you, symptoms and progression, and your overall health history. Next, provide examination and develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific condition.