Auto Accidents and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injuries)
Have you ever been in an auto accident? Even a minor fender bender can leave you feeling rattled, sore, and dealing with “jangley” nerves. It can also make it difficult to get behind the wheel again.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are a whole other level of injury that should not be ignored. In our most recent blog about sports related concussions we reported that 5 to 8 percent of high school football players will suffer from a concussion this year. That is a really high statistic.
An even more alarming statistic is that over half of all reported traumatic brain injuries are the result of an automobile accident. Yikes! Please don’t discount the possibility that you or a loved one may have experienced a head injury. Keep an eye for the signs.
Keep in mind that any type of head injury could be a traumatic brain injury. It doesn’t take a major car accident or hard tackle to cause one. Falling off a bike, slipping on a wet floor, or hitting your head on something like a table or coat hook stuck in the wall.
Traumatic Brain Injuries Don’t Always Present Right Away
A client of ours reported that her father-in-law was in a car accident earlier this year. He got an x-ray and treatment immediately even though he didn’t remember hitting his head. The doctors didn’t see any indication of trauma, his head didn’t hurt, and he was feeling alright. A couple of weeks later he started to experience slight balance issues and mild headaches. An MRI showed severe bleeding on the brain and he was admitted to surgery that day. We are happy to report he has made a full recovery even though they gave him a pretty bad haircut 🙂 But joking aside, this is a good example of symptoms showing up later, even to the doctors.
It is really important to be vigilant about symptoms, even several weeks after an accident.
5 Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
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Concussion. The most common type of brain injury but often overlooked. A concussion occurs when your brain strikes the inside of your skull as a result of a sudden change in movement or momentum, such as during a car crash (or colliding in sports).
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Contusion. A bruise on the brain that typically results from direct impact to the head. Contusions can occur if the driver hits his or her head on something like the steering wheel or window. Contusions can also occur if you are is struck by an object flying through the car.
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Penetration. A penetrating head wound is exactly what is sounds like. An object, usually with some force, penetrates your skull. We aware that objects inside a vehicle can become dangerous projectiles in an accident.
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Diffuse axonal. This commonly occurs in high speed accidents where the head injury is caused by severe rotation or shaking. Such as when the vehicle stops abruptly upon impact and the brain is not moving as fast as the skull.
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Coup-contrecoup. A coup-contrecoup injury occurs when the brain jerks suddenly within the skull. This is more common in common in extremely violent or forceful accidents , such as a rollover. The impact causes the brain to suddenly strike both inner sides of the skull, damaging both sides of the brain.
Post-Accident Chiropractic Care Aides in the Healing Process
Chiropractic Care can be invaluable after car accidents. Even minor ones where you were “merely” jostled about and a bit sore. If you are not hospitalized for severe injuries we recommend visiting a chiropractor within a day or two of your accident.
The transformation you can experience could be quite unexpected. Your “trick knee” that acts up from time to time may not even hurt after an adjustment. Your sore neck maybe stop bothering you. The low grade tension headache you’ve had since the accident could easily vanish. . Accidents happen very quickly and your mind not be able to process all the things that your body goes through. Your chiropractor can help adjust everything and get you back to feeling better sooner.
If you are in a more serious accident and need time to recover from surgeries and therapy, we encourage you to include chiropractic care into your recovery plan as soon it makes sense and your primary care doctor clears you for it.
How Does Chiropractic Care Help with Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Your brain and nervous system are the pilot and co-pilot of your entire body. They tell the rest of the body what to do. The delivery method of this communication is the proper flow of cerebro-spinal fluid which is regulated by the joints in your spine and neck. If your neck or spine is mis-aligned or pinched than the fluid can’t reach back to the brain properly and communication breaks down. This can affect brain function.
By restoring proper spinal function, your nerves and spinal fluids can flow properly. If the brain is receiving it’s messages properly it can heal more effectively.
Your body also won’t have to work as hard to hear if it is properly aligned.
If you have been in an accident and suffered a head injury, contact Moore Health and Healing. Our chiropractic team has helped people of all ages recover from accidents and enjoy life again.
Align your body. Balance your brain. Heal your life.