CMC Choice Medical Centers FAQ

What are discs and what do they do?
Between your spinal bones (vertebrae) are flexible, gel-like pads called intervertebral discs ("discs") that give your spine its curves and flexibility (a curved, flexible spine is stronger than a straight, rigid one). Discs affect your height too. You are about 1/4" - 1/2" taller when you wake up than when you go to sleep. Why is that? Because gravity makes your discs thin a little when you walk and sit during the day and expand a little while you lie in bed (astronauts gain about 1" in height due to weightlessness). Research is revealing that spinal discs are involved in lower back pain.

What is a disc protrusion (also known as herniation)?
As you age, your discs may lose fluid and small cracks or lesions may form in the outer walls. This damage may also be caused or accelerated by the vertebral subluxation complex, a spinal distortion chiropractors correct. Your disc may bulge, irritate nerves and cause a lot of pain and discomfort. In severe cases disc damage may affect sitting, standing, walking or lifting and cause pain when urinating, defecating, sneezing and coughing. Numbness of the leg or foot or a loss of muscular control may also occur.

Is back Surgery effective?
According to Robert Mendelsohn, MD, “I have seen more than one case in which spinal surgery was avoided by individuals who decided, as a last resort before going under the knife, to see a chiropractor….” His remark has been underlined by many others who have been able to avoid back surgery. Back surgery for herniation should only be attempted as a last resort. That is because back surgery is a dangerous procedure with a high failure rate. In many people the disc is not causing pain; many people have disc degeneration with no symptoms.

What is whiplash?
Whiplash is not a disease but a description of how an injury occurred. The spine, usually the head and neck, was unexpectedly thrown very quickly in one direction and then rebounded in the opposite direction. The head was "whipped around" on the neck usually front to back, but it can also happen from a side-to-side motion of the neck as well.

Symptoms of whip lash may begin immediately after an accident. You may feel some neck soreness or stiffness, perhaps accompanied by a headache. Later, pain and/or numbness, tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling may develop between the shoulder blades, in the arm, hand and/or fingers. Depending on the nerves affected, you may have ear ringing, dizziness, hearing loss, eye pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, nasal problems, low back pain and even internal organ problems.

Is conservative care effective as a treatment?
Conservative care is the least invasive and often the first approach used in caring for many muscle, ligament, cartilage or joint conditions. It is general in nature and includes any or a combination of the following: Rest and avoiding any repetitive activity that may have strained the muscle or joint. Pain management. Aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can relieve most pain. More powerful drugs may be prescribed as necessary. Physical therapy can help increase your range of motion or strengthen muscles to increase stability on the joint/injured area. Chiropractic care-manipulation or adjusting by chiropractors is a precise and gentle therapy whose aim is to return motion to restricted joints and to improve overall body mechanics. Conservative care is very effective in many cases. However, due to the nature and extent of damage/injury more aggressive treatments may be necessary, including surgical procedures.

What are the common courses of treatment?
A course of treatment is determined after the doctor evaluates your history and his physical examination findings. Treatment begins conservatively and can include such therapies as ice packs, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, moist heat and massage. Rehabilitative exercises will also be prescribed to increase strength as well as flexibility of the injured areas. After a period of time, if conservative care fails the patient may be a candidate for more invasive procedures such as epidural steroid injections. Many patients benefit from these procedures. However, those that do not will be referred for a consultation with a surgeon to determine if surgical intervention will be beneficial in alleviating their symptoms.

What are common injuries that occur from a car accident?
The extent of injuries can be minimal to very severe. Following is a list of some of the possible symptoms/injuries that may develop after a car accident: Head injuries; concussion; dizziness; memory loss; blurred vision; difficulty swallowing; numbness and tingling; jaw pain; nausea; soft tissue injuries to the muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves; disc herniation; fractures; internal organ injuries; injuries to the shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, fingers, hands, hips, legs, knees, ankles, feet and heels. Abrasions and lacerations are possible as well. It is not uncommon to appear to have no injuries or symptoms for quite some time after an accident. If that is the case you should still seek an evaluation by a physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic injuries. Although you may feel okay after the accident your body may be in shock and you may not feel the extent of your injuries. Symptoms make take days or even longer to develop. The longer you wait, the longer it takes to recover from whatever damage occurred to your body in the accident.