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Head Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents

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Motor Vehicle Accidents As a chiropractor in Destin, Florida, I have treated many people who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents.  I recently was involved in a motor vehicle accident where  I sustained a head injury causing a concussion.  I have a new understanding what patients who are recovering from a motor vehicle accident go through. Due to the circumstances of my accident I contacted an auto accident lawyer for guidance.  Actually it is not always a vehicle accident, it can be due to domestic violence, or injury at a workplace, but the result is the same.

Sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head that is experienced in a motor vehicle accident, not necessarily a head impact, can cause a concussion.  Concussions range in significance from minor to major, but they all share one common factor — they temporarily interfere with the way your brain works. They can affect memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, balance and coordination.

The signs and symptoms of a concussion can be subtle and may not be immediately apparent. Symptoms can last for days, weeks or even longer.  Diagnosing a concussion is usually straightforward. If a blow to your head has knocked you out or left you dazed, you may have had a concussion.  It’s more difficult, however, to determine whether the blow has caused potentially serious bleeding or swelling in your skull.  Alabama personal injury lawyer warns: signs and symptoms of these injuries may not appear until hours or days after the injury. Contact Babcock Partners LLC today as soon as you notice such signs. Check out https://macgillivraylaw.com/ for appropriate legal advice in such cases.

Signs and symptoms of a concussion may include:

  • Confusion
  • Amnesia
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Slurred speech
  • Fatigue

Some symptoms of concussions are not apparent until hours or days later. They include:

  • Memory or concentration problems
  • Sensitivity to light and noise
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Irritability
  • Depression

Rest is the best recovery technique. Healing takes time. For headaches, use acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Don’t take aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as these medications can increase the risk of bleeding.

Dr. Whidden is a former U.S. Navy pilot turned chiropractor in Destin, Florida. Emerald Coast Chiropractic, finding solutions to today’s health care issues, Who’s YOUR Chiropractor?

Ken Whidden, DC
Emerald Coast Chiropractic

Extra reference: Click Here If You’ve Been In An Auto Accident.

Wellness Tip: Dealing with Osteoarthritis

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Article courtesy of American Chiropractic Association

For decades, osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, has been considered a part of aging. Recent research points out, however, that older people don’t have to suffer from osteoarthritic pain. And, surprisingly, people much younger than 65 can develop osteoarthritis.

What Is Osteoarthritis?
• Osteoarthritis affects the cartilage—slippery tissue on the ends of bones that meet in a joint. Normally, cartilage helps bones glide over one another. In a patient with osteoarthritis, however, the cartilage is broken down and eventually wears away. As a result, instead of gliding, bones rub against each other, causing pain, swelling and loss of motion.
• Although the majority of patients with osteoarthritis are 65 and older, recent research shows that osteoarthritis is not a by-product of aging. Family history of osteoarthritis, being overweight, lack of exercise and prior joint injuries are suggested risk factors.
• Osteoarthritis is diagnosed through a combination of clinical history, patient examination and X-rays. Other tests, such as drawing fluid from the joint, are sometimes used.

What Are Signs of Osteoarthritis?
• Steady or intermittent joint pain
• Joint stiffness after sitting, sleeping or otherwise not moving for a long time
• Swelling or tenderness in the joints
• A crunching feeling or the sound of bones rubbing against each other

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Should Osteoarthritis Patients Exercise?
• Exercise is one of the best forms of osteoarthritis treatment and prevention. It strengthens the muscular support around the joints and improves and maintains joint mobility and function.
• Exercise helps control weight and improve the patient’s mood and outlook.
• Low-impact or non-weight-bearing activities, such as walking, stationary training, and light weight training, work best for patients with osteoarthritis.
• Strengthening exercises help tone the key muscle groups that relate to the function of the joints that may be weakened by the degeneration.
• If you are overweight, start exercising carefully, so as not to put too much stress on the knee and ankle joints.
• Stair climbing, water aerobics, Theraband workouts and similar exercises will help to keep the joints mobile without straining them.
• When exercising, learn to read the body’s signals and know when to stop, slow down or rest.

How Can Your Doctor of Chiropractic Help?
• Doctors of chiropractic, by the nature of their work, can detect the earliest degenerative changes in the joints. They see the impact of degenerative changes in the spine, as well as in the hips, knees and other weight-bearing joints.
• Doctors of chiropractic are also trained to relieve the pain and improve joint function through natural therapies, such as chiropractic manipulation, trigger-point therapy or some massage techniques.
• Doctors of chiropractic can provide exercise counseling, helping you choose exercises that are best for you. If a sore or swollen joint prevents you from exercising, talk to your doctor of chiropractic about other drug-free pain-relief options, such as applying heat or cold to the affected area.
• Your doctor of chiropractic can help you choose proper supplements that play important roles in osteoarthritis prevention and treatment.

What Supplements May Be Helpful?
• Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are the two most popular and most researched supplements. When taken over a period of time, they tend to reduce pain and increase function, especially with knee osteoarthritis, and may also slow progression of the disease.
• To choose the proper supplement, consult your doctor of chiropractic. Studies used 1,500 mg per day of glucosamine and 1,200 mg per day of chondroitin sulfate. If you use a different dosage, the effect will be different.
• Unlike the quick effect of medications, it usually takes several weeks before you feel pain relief or improvement in function when taking a supplement.
• Supplements may not be for everyone. Chondroitin sulfate may interfere with anticoagulant medications. In addition, the supplements haven’t been studied in pregnant women, so these women should not take glucosamine and chondroitin.

Dr. Whidden is a former U.S. Navy pilot turned chiropractor in Destin, Florida. Emerald Coast Chiropractic, finding solutions to today’s health care issues, Who’s YOUR Chiropractor?

Ken Whidden, DC
Emerald Coast Chiropractic

Turning a Breech Baby Using Chiropractic

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If you are an expecting mother and are facing a possible breech presentation at delivery, there is a safe, effective way to allow the baby to turn in the “head down” position for childbirth.  The Webster Technique, discovered by Dr. Larry Webster, is a specific chiropractic adjustment for pregnant mothers.  Formerly known as Webster’s “In-Utero Constraint Technique” or “Webster’s Breech Turning Technique,” the Webster Technique was developed by Dr. Webster in 1978.  It is a chiropractic technique designed to relieve intrauterine constraint and help to convert breech presentations to cephalic presentation.

Intrauterine constraint is defined as any forces external to the developing fetus that obstructs the normal movement of the fetus. Intrauterine constraint can prevent the developing fetus from attaining a head down vertex position and achieving a vaginal birth, resulting in cesarean section delivery. Today, nearly 13% of all cesarean deliveries performed are due to breech presentation.

The Webster Technique is a chiropractic means of decreasing the number of caesareans for breech presentation.  The Webster Technique is defined as a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nerve system and facilitates biomechanical balance in pelvic structures, muscles and ligaments. This has been shown to reduce the effects of intrauterine constraint, allowing the baby to get into the best possible position for birth.

The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported in the July/August 2002 issue an 82% success rate of babies turning head down when doctors of chiropractic used the Webster Technique.  Further, the results from the study suggest that it may be beneficial to perform the Webster Technique as early as the 8th month of pregnancy when a woman has a breech presentation.

To summarize, if you have a breech baby and are concerned about the possibility of a cesarean, the Webster Technique is a safe and effective treatment.

Dr. Whidden is a former U.S. Navy pilot turned chiropractor in Destin, Florida. Emerald Coast Chiropractic, finding solutions to today’s health care issues, Who’s YOUR Chiropractor?

Ken Whidden, DC
Emerald Coast Chiropractic

Crude Oil Getting Closer to Destin

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Crude Oil and Your Health

 

The oil has gotten closer to the beautiful beaches of Destin, Florida, so it is important to understand the potential toxic effects and take appropriate steps to reduce exposure and harm.  While it is not here yet, and we are still hoping for a miracle cleanup effort, we should be prepared to preserve our health as much as possible.

Crude oil is a complex mixture of chemicals that have varying abilities to be absorbed into the body through the skin, lungs, and during digestion of food and water. Most components of crude oil enter the bloodstream rapidly when they are inhaled or swallowed.

Chemicals in crude oil and dispersants can cause a wide range of health effects in people and wildlife, depending on the level of exposure and susceptibility.  Crude oil has many highly toxic chemical ingredients that can damage every system in the body.  Dispersant chemicals can affect many of the same organs.

The US EPA website that lists dispersant ingredients provides the following advice to workers:

“People working with dispersants are strongly advised to use a half face filter mask to protect their noses, throats & lungs,  they should wear nitrile or PVC gloves, coveralls, boots, and chemical splash goggles to keep dispersants off skin and out of their eyes. Reaching out to a vendor having a good stock of kn95 mask for sale isn’t hard.”

Crude oil contains many chemicals that can irritate the skin and mucous membranes on contact.  Irritant effects can range from slight reddening to burning, swelling (edema), pain, and permanent skin damage.   Commonly reported effects of acute exposure to crude oil through inhalation or ingestion include difficulty breathing, headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and other central nervous system effects.

Some people especially susceptible to harm are:

– those with pre-existing serious health conditions

– infants, children, and unborn babies

– pregnant women, especially those carrying multiple babies

– people working or living in conditions that impose health stresses, including exposures to other toxic chemicals

The best way to help preserve your health is to avoid contact with crude oil and dispersants as much as possible.  If you have contact with tar balls, wash the area of contact thoroughly with soap and water.

Dr. Whidden is a former U.S. Navy pilot turned chiropractor in Destin, Florida. Emerald Coast Chiropractic, finding solutions to today’s health care issues, Who’s YOUR Chiropractor?

Ken Whidden, DC
Emerald Coast Chiropractic

School sports physicals in Destin

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Destin chiropractor Ken Whidden
Dr Ken Whidden, Destin chiropractor, Emerald Coast Chiropractic

 

 

One service our practice provides but many people are unaware of are the performance of pre-participation sports physicals.  A student must have a physical evaluation each year and be certified as being physically fit to participate in interscholastic athletic programs.  Not everyone considers bringing their child in for a sports physical, but we are a great choice for this function.    The annual physical evaluation must be administered either by a licensed physician, a licensed osteopathic physician, a licensed chiropractic physician, a licensed physician assistant, or a certified advanced registered nurse practitioner.

Dr. Whidden has completed training and certification through the American Chiropractic Board of  Sports Physicians (ACBSP), so we do have advanced training in  interscholastic sports examination and injury treatment.  We routinely perform physical evaluations as required by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) prior to participation in interscholastic sports activities.

Please bring your pre-participation physical forms filled out prior to your appointment.  Download FHSAA Pre-participation physical forms here or go to our Patient Forms page on our website.

Dr. Whidden is a former U.S. Navy pilot turned chiropractor in Destin, Florida. Emerald Coast Chiropractic, finding solutions to today’s health care issues, Who’s YOUR Chiropractor?

Ken Whidden, DC
Emerald Coast Chiropractic