R Tyler Johnson Chiropractic

at Peak Recovery-San Clemente

83 Via Pico Plaza
San Clemente, CA 97672
Appointments: (949) 436-6440

10 Things To Do If You Get In An Auto Accident

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1. Make sure you and the other driver are safe before getting out of the car. If you are in a busy intersection move out of harm’s way (if possible). Make sure you pull as far as you can to the side of the road.

2. Check for injuries. Most people don’t feel injured immediately after an auto accident because of the adrenaline rush. Be cautious. With every auto accident you are going to have an injury; the forces involved are just too great not to. If an ambulance comes, the EMT’s will check things out. They usually recommend you come with them. If you feel like you can drive home then tell them. If not, go. Better safe than sorry. It will be a pain to deal with the ambulance bill when it comes and your claim hasn’t been paid, but your health is worth the hassle

3. Exchange information. At minimum, you should get their name, telephone numbers, license plate and card numbers, and their insurance information. One of the more innovative things I would recommend besides writing down the above information is to take lots of pictures. Most cell phones these days have cameras. Take pictures of the accident but also take pictures of their driver’s license and insurance card.

4. Call the police. Do this just in case. Truth is, most of the time they just tell you to exchange information. It may not feel necessary to call but you never know. If you call and they can’t help you in time then call back later and file a police report. This will help protect you.

5. Inform your and the other driver’s insurance company. The quicker you get the ball rolling the easier it will be for you. There are two sides to an auto accident claim, the property damage and the bodily injury. The car they should fix quickly. Taking the time to see a doctor about the bodily injury before any decisions are made is important (will discuss next). If the accident was not your fault, you should still let your insurance company know. They can back you up if the other person is either under insured or just a pain to work with. You may also have Med-pay which is an extra writer that covers injuries regardless of who may be at fault.

6. See your chiropractor! Chances are you have some pain or discomfort. Even if you don’t have pain, get an exam. In every auto accident you are dealing with forces that cause tissue damage. Sometimes you don’t feel the problems until months later when weak scar tissue tears and starts the inflammation again. In addition, it is tough to argue with insurance companies unless you get checked out soon after the accident.

7. Ice. The protocol for icing should be 20 minutes maximum on the affected area. You want to feel the cold then burn then ache before it goes numb so only use a paper towel or thin t-shirt between your skin and the ice pack. NEVER USE HEAT after an auto accident. This will feel good while it is on but bring a lot more blood to the area and make the inflammation worse. Increased inflammation will slow down the healing process.

8. How should you pay for your care? This could be its own blog post but I will keep it short. If the accident was not your fault you shouldn’t have to pay anything out of pocket. I am happy to treat people on a lien until is settles. If it is your fault you either have to pay for it yourself or have Med-pay on your auto insurance policy.

9. Journal. The more information you have the better. Take note of your aches and pains, when you have to take pain meds, times when you get headaches, days/hours missed from work. One of the most important things you can document is what you cannot do anymore as a result of your injuries from the auto accident. Detail will help convince the insurance adjuster that your injuries are legitimate.

10. Get better. Healing takes time. It is a roller coaster ride that can be frustrating. Don’t stop treatment too early or it could come back and become chronic. Remember, a positive attitude goes a long way to healing.

Schedule and Appointment Today

Dr. Tyler Johnson is are available 6 days a week to help you with your spinal health and wellness needs. Very often they can get you an appointment the same day you book, so call today.

R Tyler Johnson Chiropractic

83 Via Pico Plaza

San Clemente CA 92672

(949) 436-6440

Sports and Chiropractic

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People often ask, “what can Chiropractic offer when it comes to sports injuries?”  It is a common misconception that all chiropractors do is “pop bones” and “fix back pain”. But chiropractic is so much more.

Doctors of Chiropractic spend more time in school focused on the Neuro-Musculo-Skeletal aspect of the body (the part that integrates the connection between the muscles, joints, and nerves) than any other health profession. This makes them highly qualified to help prevent, diagnose, and care for many of the injuries that occur during athletic competition.  Nowadays it is not uncommon to find a chiropractor on the sidelines of a major sporting event, or working behind the scenes at all levels of competition. But the benefits of chiropractic care do not end when ones athletic career is finished.

For most of us a career in professional athletics is not a reality. That however does not keep us from participating in the sports that we love. In many cases these are the people who benefit the most from chiropractic care as they do not have the kind of around the clock care and attention given to a professional athlete. The valiant “Weekend Warrior” who goes out every day or week can cause tremendous damage to the body as they continue to ignore the bodies subtle and not so subtle warning signs “playing through the pain” and may end up in much worse shape than if they had rectified the problem before engaging in activity.

The Doctors at San Clemente’s Chiropractic Center are happy to assist you in reaching your full athletic potential, whether you be an amateur,professional, or just a faithful weekend warrior. You can feel comfortable seeking their care and advice on a wide array of questions like:

-Proper pre-participation warm-up and stretching

-Proper conditioning and physical preparation

-How to avoid injury or re-injury during participation

-Choosing proper equipment for your chosen sport (including the right shoes and apparel)

-Specific problems that should be addressed before return to play and up-to-date return to play guidelines for competition athletes

-Proper nutrition and supplementation specific to your chosen activity

-Tips to help speed recovery following  participation

-Proper pre-participation and post-season screenings to insure safe participation as well as off season rehabilitation and training (Did you know? Doctors of Chiropractic are qualified to perform your Preseason Physical Exam for athletic participation.)

-And any other questions you may have with regards to staying active and healthy

Wellness and Chiropractic

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Wellness

To visit the doctor when you’re feeling great is something new. Yet, a growing number of people who want to be and do their best are visiting chiropractors on just such a basis.

Fever.


The First Symptom

Remember staying home from school when we were sick and returning when we were feeling better? We learned to think of being sick as having obvious symptoms. This belief is now killing us. These days, most of us die from lifestyle-induced diseases whose first symptom is… death!

Healthy Response

The reverse is true as well. If you eat improperly prepared food and find yourself vomiting to expel it, you probably won’t feel good, but you’re having a healthy response.

Turns out that true health is how well our bodies work, not how we feel.

Central Control

How well our body functions is based upon the integrity of our nervous system. That’s why so many health-conscious people are seeing a chiropractor. They want to make sure that every organ and tissue has a 100% uninterrupted nerve supply. It just makes sense to detect little problems before they become serious problems.

The Key to Health

True health is optimum physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Drinking more water, eating nutritious foods, regular exercise and virtually every other healthy habit produces even bigger dividends when you have a properly working nervous system.

Although everyone wants to feel good, your chiropractic care should not be based on whether you have pain or other symptoms. Subluxations may exist without obvious symptoms. Just like dental cavities, high blood pressure or heart disease.

Whiplash and Chiropractic

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Whiplash

You’re waiting at a stoplight. The sound of screeching tires is followed by the harsh sound of metal hitting metal. Your car is suddenly being pushed forward!

You’re being rear-ended!

In a split second, your body is pushed against your seat. Your head, isolated by your neck, delays its reaction.

Unhappy woman in cervical collar

Then, your body changes directions, moving forward to the limits of your seat belt. (You are wearing your seat belt aren’t you!?!) Then your head is snapped backwards. But you can’t stop it.

Even a minor fender bender can produce a whiplash injury. It may take a day or two, or sometimes months for symptoms to appear. Now what?

Get to a chiropractic office for a thorough examination! Pain pills won’t heal inflamed tendons and ligaments. Muscle relaxers won’t heal torn muscles. A cervical collar won’t restore a graceful forward spinal curve.

Specific chiropractic spinal adjustments, because they can help restore proper motion and position of individual spinal bones, can better assure proper healing.

The longer you wait the more unseen damage there is and the longer it may take to recover. Drugs may temporarily reduce the pain, but they simply delay more effective chiropractic care.

Stress and Chiropractic

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Stress

Stress.Instead of fainting or going unconscious, think of a subluxation as your body’s attempt at managing stress.

Not all stress is bad. A 20-minute workout at the gym for a fit 25-year old is good stress. The same workout for your 75-year old grandmother would likely be bad stress!

Physical Stress

Repetitive motions (painting the ceiling), postural distortions (falling asleep with your neck twisted) and whiplash injuries from a car accident are physical stresses. So are slips and falls. Even being born!

Mental Stress

Ever faced an impossible deadline at work? Or grieved the loss of a loved one? Notice the posture of someone who is depressed. Frustration, or a sense of powerlessness at work are common forms of emotional stress.

Chemical Stress

Today’s environment constantly assaults us with chemicals. Drugs, preservatives, tobacco, alcohol, pollen and a host of other substances can affect our nervous system and muscle tone.

When your body reacts by “tripping a circuit breaker” and causing subluxation, chiropractic care can help.

Stress can’t be eliminated, but regular chiropractic care can help you better accommodate and adapt to it.

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