“Following a car accident, the bones of the spine
may shift out of their original position or lose their normal motion, in what’s
called vertebral subluxation complex,” says Colorado Springs’ chiropractor Thomas
Gehrmann. This condition is characterized by a set of signs and symptoms
that affect the spinal column. Histopathology is one of its five major
interrelated components, and it occurs when a person’s body temperature rises
due to an increase in lymph and blood supplies. As a result, inflammation and
swelling occur, causing discs to rip, project, herniate or depreciate.
According to Colorado Springs chiropractor Thomas Gehrmann, the individual may experience the following symptoms after a car accident:
● Pain and discomfort
● Loss of mobility
● Degradation of the spine
● Scar tissue
How Does the Lymphatic System Work?
The lymphatic
system is a subdivision of the circulatory system, and it consists of lymph
vessels, lymph nodes and lymph (translucent fluid containing white blood
cells). The lymph vessels transport lymph throughout the body, allowing the
white blood cells it contains to fight off foreign substances and rid the body
of toxins and waste.
Lymph flows in
one direction — up toward the neck — and within its own system. It travels into
the venous blood stream via the subclavian veins (located on the sides of the
neck). Plasma, the yellow liquid component of the blood, distributes nutrients
and removes waste, before leaving the blood cells and going back to the venous
circulation system where it will continue on as venous blood. That which does
not leave becomes lymph. It too makes its departure, leaving the tissue and
entering the lymphatic system throughout lymphatic capillaries.
Histopathology and the Lymphatic System / Venous System
Thomas Gehrmann notes that after
a car accident or other trauma, if the spinal bones lose their natural motion
and position (spinal kinesiopathology):
● The muscles of the spine can weaken, atrophy or stiffen, causing them
to spasm. Over time, scar tissue can develop, changing the individual’s muscle
tone. This is known as myopathology.
● Delicate nerve tissue can become chocked, stretched or irritated,
leading to nerve system dysfunction (neuropathophysiology).
● Bony growths may attempt to fuse defective spinal joints, which can
cause the spine to decay, scar tissue to form and nerve malfunction
(pathophysiology).
“In these
instances, the body may react to these traumas by increasing its blood and
lymph supplies,” says Thomas Gehrmann. “This is how the body reacts to the
perceived threat. However, this excess in blood and lymph supplies can have
adverse effects. Beyond causing the body temperature to rise, the discs of the
spine can become inflamed and swell. As a consequence, they may protrude, tear,
herniate or deteriorate.”
How Chiropractic Treatment Can Help After Car Accident
According to Thomas Gehrmann, your chiropractor may first choose to
perform spinal adjustments after car
accident to get the spine back into alignment and free trapped nerves. This
may not only reduce pain and restore mobility, but could allow the lymph and
venous system to reduce its supplies since the trauma is no longer considered a
threat that needs to be corrected.
Some spinal
adjustment techniques may include, but are not limited to:
● Toggle drop. With hands crossed, the chiropractor gives a firm press to
the spine, and then adds a rapid thrust.
● Release work. Using the fingertips, gentle pressure is applied to help
separate vertebrae that have become connected or fused.
● Lumbar roll. With the patient on their side, the chiropractor applies a
swift thrust to the area of misalignment, with the goal being to place the
vertebrae in their rightful position.
● Table adjustments. The patient lies on a table that has sections that
drop down. A rapid thrust is employed by the chiropractor, causing parts of the
table to release and drop. When the patient’s body drops down with the table,
the table comes to a stop but the patient’s body remains in motion temporarily.
The combination of the thrust, drop and continued motion are designed to help
the spine align.
“Once the spine
has been realigned, your chiropractor may then implement soft tissue work to
loosen the muscles around the spine and push fluid out of inflamed and swollen
areas due to car accident,” says Thomas Gehrmann.
If you are
suffering from vertebral subluxation complex, talk to your chiropractor about what he or she can do to help treat your
condition and relieve your symptoms.
ABOUT THOMAS GEHRMANN
Thomas Gehrmann has also been a licensed
chiropractor in Colorado Springs, Colorado since the fall of 1999. For more
information visit his website at https://tomgehrmann.com
Originally Posted: https://thomasgehrmann-chiropractor.com/recovery-after-car-accident/
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