At the moment of impact in a typical rear-end collision, your head remains momentarily still while your body is forced forward. This instantaneous separation of the movement of your torso and head causes the neck shape to be deformed injuring muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, joint surfaces, nerves and even your brain.
This all occurs before you are even conscious of the collision. By the time you realized you were hit, your spine as already been damaged!
The degree of spine damage depends on many factors including your age, gender, body type, vehicle type, seat and head restraint type, your position at impact, previous accidents, and more. Interestingly, vehicle damage has been repeatedly shown NOT to be a good predictor of bodily injury.
One of the most reliable factors of injury are your symptoms and how soon after the collision they show up and your x-ray findings. Much research has gone into determining the long-term outlook of crash victims and how to predict whether you will recover from your injuries or not.
The presence of an abnormal neck curve on x-rays after a collision is a key factor in your prognosis. Medical researchers have found that if your neck is damaged it will change it’s shape which is readily measurable on x-ray examination. How far from normal your neck curve has deviated determines how badly you are injured and how difficult it may be to return your neck to normal.
Consider the pictures below…on the left is a normal curve that resembles a backwards “C.” On the right is an “S” shaped curve due to whiplash.
A normal “C” shaped neck curve measures between 30 and 40 degrees. There is some debate about whether or not the higher number, 40 is a steadfast norm. I believe, if you are between those numbers that is a good place to be.
Let’s compare a normal neck, Figure 1 and an abnormal neck in Figure 2:
You may have noticed that the patient is facing to the left instead of to the right as in the pictures previously, but you should also note that Fig. 1 has a nice deep curve, while Fig. 2 is very straight. This is a classic example of what is called a “hypolordosis” or decreased curve of the neck.
What you need to understand is that after your initial treatment that is designed to reduce pain by quelling inflammation and spasm, it is highly probable that your neck will still be misshaped like this. Unfortunately, doctors who do not know about or do not understand the importance of fully rehabilitating a neck after an accident, treat many crash victims. So once your pain is reduced, these doctors will unceremoniously release you from care without taking a second set of x-rays to measure your curve. You will be released with less pain, but your neck is still damaged inside and will eventually become painful again. Worse, is that later you will suffer deterioration of your neck joints and have early osteoarthritis. Medical research indicates a 600% increase in risk for early arthritis in victims with persistently reduced neck curve after a crash.As you can see, it is very important for your long-term health to correct your neck as much as possible.
In the next post, we will cover the specific neck exercises you MUST do if you have suffered an auto accident.
For more information on car accident injuries including a Free Report
and a Free Online Video
Car Accident Orange County
Dr Barry Marks, DC Orange, CA
Public Service Announcements on Teen Drinking and Texting While Driving Part 1 of 3
I came across these videos recently in my search for Driver’s Ed. material for my 15 year old soon-to-be-behind-the-wheel son. I recall way back in my Driver’s Ed class watching films such as “Red Asphalt” and others that were made in the 50’s and 60’s and were quite gruesome. Today’s Teen Driving PSA’s are more polished and contemporary, but I believe the sheer shock and emotion they punch at you make them very effective.
As a doctor who has specialized in car crash injuries for over 20 years, I have seen how simple car crashes can permanently alter lives. As an expert I also know that over 80% of all crashes are caused by driver negligence. That’s why I do not call them “accidents.” They are not. They are acts of negligence.
There is nothing more negligent than driving while texting, intoxicated or just fooling around. It puts teh driver, their passengers and many others on the road in jeopardy.
Cars are lethal weapons. Cars driving down the road have a tremendous amount of potential energy stored in them. Even a small car traveling at slow neighborhood speeds pack enough punch to hurt others. Cars driving at higher speeds can result in horrific carnage as evidenced by the following videos.
The videos are graphic and disturbing, but they should be. Parents, don’t shirk away from them because they are too upsetting. Your teen drivers need to see this. Teens, Don’t dismiss these videos as propaganda or attempts to scare you. These videos depict very real events. Events that take the lives of teenagers every day. While you may not drive and text or drive drunk or reckless, your friends might. It’s up to you to stop them.
My intention is that ALL drivers, of ALL ages view these videos and discuss them with others. How many more stories about horrible car, bus, train and plane crashes caused by drinking or texting must we endure?
Orange County Car Accident Information
Dr Barry L Marks, Chiropractor Orange, CA
Auto Accident Injury Treatment Expert
Scientific and medical studies have shown that upwards of 40% of car accident victims suffer long-term pain and impairment. Therefore, contrary to what insurance companies may want you to believe, whiplash is not a self limited problem that will just go away. Car accident injuries are serious.
Researchers point to 3 distinct structures that become injured in a car accident that account for the vast majority of chronic whiplash sufferers.
Facet joint injury
because the damage. Namely, neck damage is The number one cause of chronic neck pain form am motor vehicle collision is a damaged facet joint. The facet joints technically known as zygapohyseal joints, are the joints on the back of the spine that connect two spinal bones or vertebrae together. These joints are designed to allow your spine to move. When the neck is subjected to the extreme forces of a motor vehicle collision, the joints become damaged. These injuries are nearly impossible to detect since symptoms of a damaged facet joint are the same as a whiplash strain type injury without facet joint damage. Pain and stiffness that radiates into the shoulder blade on certain head and neck movements is the hallmark of this injury. Facet joint injury is suspected in cases of whiplash that fail to respond fully in a reasonable amount of time and a pain pattern that is reproducible. When the head is angled backward and to the side at the same time and then slightly compressed, the characteristic shoulder blade pain will appear.
Intervertebral disc injury
contact nerves The next most common cause of chronic whiplash pain is a damaged disc. The larger part of the spinal bones are separated by a disc. The disc is a shock absorber and a spacer to allow room for nerves to exit between the vertebrae. Car accidents cause shearing forces across the disc and cause the fibers to tear. Small tears in the outer disc fibers will cause pain in the centerline of the spine . Tears may eventually worsen until the disc begins to bulge outward which causes radiating pain into the arms, hands or fingers. Often times the disc bulge or herniation occurs weeks, months even years after the initial injury.
Upper cervical ligament damage
The third most common cause of chronic whiplash pain, particularly headaches is damage to the ligaments that hold your head and upper neck in alignment. These “accessory” ligaments as they are commonly called, are damaged by teh spine being forced into an “S” configuration milliseconds after impact. The result is looseness in the joints between the skull and the top 2 spinal bones the “atlas” and “axis.” The looseness is often hidden early on by muscle spasm, but once spasm abates a noticeable “clunk” or “crack” will be heard and felt by the victim on turning or tilting the head. The looseness leads to misalignment of the upper cervical vertebrae which cause head pain.
You may now realize that whiplash injuries from car accidents are in fact serious. Up to 40% of car accident victims will suffer chronic pain and impairment because they have suffered injury to their facet joints, disc or accessory ligaments.
Learn more about injuries and treatment after a car accident by attending a Free Car Accident Injury Webinar. This is an in depth 10 part video series that explains in easy to understand language what whiplash is, what effects it has on your health and what can be done about it. There is even a session on how to avoid whiplash injuries. The information is suitable for the public but is also fully referenced with leading scientific references so that doctors and lawyers handling these cases can better help their patients and clients.
Car Accident in Orange County, CA
Dr Barry L Marks, Chiropractor, Orange, CA 92868
Car Accident Recently?
If you’ve suffered an auto accident recently you probably have many questions. Who will fix my car? Am I really injured? How will I pay for medical treatment? Do I have to sue someone?
Assuming you have already obtained the personal and auto insurance information from the person that hit you, your next step is quite logical.
You need to determine whether or not you are injured.
A personal injury case is predicated on medical damages. If you have not suffered any medically verified injuries, there is nothing to discuss other than a simple transaction of repairing your vehicle.
But how do you know if you are truly injured?
If you’ve been to the emergency room or have already visited your family or HMO doctor, you may have had a cursory exam and been told you have a neck or back strain. Often you will not have had x-rays and often even if you do, you will be told they are “essentially normal.” The first thing to know about car accident injuries or whiplash is that they are often underestimated by most medical physicians.
What you need is to be evaluated by a true car accident injury specialist. Your spine may be injured more than you realize and you may not even feel that much pain nor have suffered much vehicle damage. A true expert will uncover any hidden or subtle injuries that exist.
Once you have been found to be injured, these injuries must be properly documented. By proper, I mean the precise diagnosis codes must be used. The correct number and very specific codes and time frames must be used. Most generalist doctors and even many “experts” do not know how to do this correctly. That could cost you later.
Next you need to begin care and follow your expert doctor’s advice. Proper healing will only occur if you follow his or her treatment protocol. That brings up another point. Your doctor must know the proper treatment to provide. He or she should provide, in a certain sequence, the correct therapies that have been proven to heal whiplash injuries and are acceptable to insurance companies. An auto accident case is no place for a “guru” doctor to provide unusual or controversial care. It must be scientifically sound and legally defensible.
Depending on the scope of your injuries, you may be advised to seek legal counsel right away and/or to possibly see another medical specialist for additional evaluation and/or treatment. This will be apparent within the first weeks of care with your car accident medical expert.
Dr Barry Marks is a chiropractor, author and lecturer in Orange, CA. He is a former Associate Clinical Professor at a leading Chiropractic College and has specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of auto accident injuries since 1986. As an Advanced Graduate of the Spine Research Institutes’s Whiplash Traumatology and Brain Injury Program he is one of Orange County’s most experienced whiplash experts. Visit Dr Marks at http://www.orange-car-accident.com
Car Accident injury information by whiplash expert Dr Barry Marks, DC Orange, CA
Auto accidents are a common occurrence in Orange County. Each year thousands of Orange residents are injured in collisions between vehicles in the county’s over stuffed freeways.
Here are some of the most commonly known factors or “injury intensifiers,” that can increase your risk for injury in an accident.
Rear impact: rear impact collisions cause more damage to the human spine than any other type of collision.
Head restraint position: a head restraint that is positioned incorrectly greatly increases your chance for injury
Head position: if you are looking to the side, down to your stereo or into your rear view mirror on impact, your injury potential is raised
Surprised: being surprised and therefore unable to brace for impact makes it 15x more likely that you will be injured
Female gender: females suffer injury more easily than males due to neck size and other anatomic factors
Pre-existing arthritis or disc disease: an already compromised neck even if it was asymptomatic previously, makes the neck less resilient to injury
To learm more about these risk factors and others and what you can do to minimize your chance of injury in an auto accident, join the Free online seminar at www.TruthAboutWhiplash.com. This free web based audio seminar with downloadable .pdf fact sheets will teach every accident victim what they need to know about their whiplash injury. Physicians and lawyers will also benefit from this free auto accident seminar by learning key facts about the truth behind motor vechicle collisions and their treatment.
Auto Accident and Car Accident facts by Orange County Car Accident Specialist, Dr Barry L Marks, DC, Orange, CA
Here are some interesting auto accident facts gleaned from our friends at Spine Research Institute of San Diego…with commentary
Approx 3 million whiplash injuries occur each year in US That’s a lot of injuries and when you consider other facts revealed below, you’ll realize just how common it is to become injured and suffer permanent pain and disability, despite the fact that insurance companies attempt to tell victims they are not injured or that auto accidents are not serious.
45% of chronic neck pain sufferers blame past MVC as the cause of their pain
Wow, almost half of all chronic neck pain sufferers attribute a car accident as their source of pain…does that sound like auto accidents are simple, uncomplicated injuries?
Females are twice as likely to suffer whiplash injury than males
The most commonly cited reason for this is neck size. Females, in general, have thinner, weaker necks than their male counterparts and therefore are not as resilient to whiplash forces.
Males and females are equally likely to suffer long term residual pain and/or impairment after a whiplash injury
Interestingly, even though females are more easily injured, once someone is injured it does not matter what their gender, they are just as likely to suffer long term impairment and pain from their car accident.
Approximately 35% of all victims of rear impact motor vehicle collisions become chronically painful
Here’s a powerful statistic that flies in the face of insurance adjusters who often claim whiplash injuries go away with our without treatment in a matter of weeks. Sourced from numerous top flight medical and scientific papers, this fact is very troublesome. When you consider that 3,000,000 injuries occur every year and 35% of them will suffer chronic pain, that means every single year there are 1,050,000 new chronic pain sufferers in the U.S.
These facts clearly point to the fact that whplash injuires are very common, are serious and often lead to long-term pain and impairment. For these reasons it is imperative to get checked by a auto accident medical specialist who understands these facts and can properly manage these complex injuires.
Car Accident Injury Information Orange County
By Auto Accident Treatment Specialist Dr Barry L Marks, DC, Orange, CA
The most common reason people continue to suffer from neck pain and headaches long after the accident is due to abnormal alignment and biomechanics of the cervical spine (neck). Proper management of whiplash-type injuries involves rehabilitating the spine as much as possible to maximize motion, alignment and strength.
If you have suffered an auto accident and still suffer from chronic pain after treatment has concluded, here is what needs to be done to evaluate your neck to see what can be done to improve it:
A review of your x-rays is required. You should have had a set of x-rays taken on day one of your treatment and then again on a re-exam to see what improvements have been made and whether or not your neck has recovered from the injury. The angle or curve of your neck needs to be measured and compared to normal. This is best seen on a “side view” or “lateral projection.” Also, an analysis of the motion between each spinal bone must be made. This is done on bending films also known as “flexion and extension” views.
An analysis of your neck and upper back musculature for symmetry and spasm as well as compare the muscles in the back of your neck to those in the front. An imbalance often creates abnormal mechanics and chronic pain. An assessment of your neck muscle strength. Weakness of the muscles in the back of the neck causes abnormal motion.
An examination of your spinal nerves in the neck area to see if they are functioning properly must be done.
A competent chiropractor specializing in the area of auto accident injuries should be able to easily perform these checks for you and determine the underlying cause of the pain so that an effective treatment program can be initiated. But beware the “generalist” chiropractor or medical doctor who may treat whiplash, but does not specialize in whiplash. There is a big difference.
Many chronic whiplash pain cases are caused by ineffective treatment that was ended prematurely because the doctor did not understand the need to fully rehabilitate the neck for maximum recovery or just didn’t know how. I trust this information will help.
Orange County, CA
Car Accident Injury Treatment Info
Car Accident Injuries (whiplash) must be treated. But not all treatments work. Hard medical evidence suggests that certain types of treatment are far superior at treating this problem.
Untreated and poorly treated cases of whiplash result in life long problems and suffering.
It is estimated that 1% of the entire US population suffers from chronic headaches as the result of auto accident injuries otherwise known as whiplash. That means millions of headache sufferers are directly caused by auto accidents.
Improperly treated auto accident injury victims are more prone to long-term health problems such as premature osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. One study indicated a 600% chance of early osteoarthritis following car accident injuries if just one key finding was present on x-ray.
Unfortunately, HMO doctors, your family medical physician and even your general chiropractor are likely unaware of all the complexities involved in this type of injury. The result is improper treatment that does not address the important structural and functional damage that has occurred as a result of the car accident induced injury.
Dr Barry L Marks, DC
Orange County, CA
Car Accident Injury Treatment Specialist
Car accident injuries are a common and serious problem. Auto accident injuries require prompt medical evaluation and treatment.
But not all treatments are the same. Evidence from around the globe suggests one form of care is vastly superior for the care of car accident injuries or whiplash. Other studies suggest an ominous outcome for those not receiving proper or adequate care.
Conditions such as osteoarthritis and disc disease are chief among permanent residuals if auto accident injuries are not adequately cared for.
But how do you know if the treatment you are receiving is proper? How do you know if your doctor has the requisite training and qualifications to provide not only appropriate treatment, but also car accident treatment that minimizes chronic and disabling problems like headaches, arthritis and disc disease?
To learn the answers to these questions and more go to:
At the site you will also be able to download a Free Car Accident Treatment E-book and order a Free Auto Accident Guide in the mail. There’s even an online seminar, “The Truth About Whiplash”
The information is provided by noted Orange County Car Accident Treatment specialist, Dr. Barry L Marks, DC the medical director of Orange Spine & Disc Rehabilitation Center in Orange, CA.
Orange County Car Accident Solution
Dr Barry L Marks Chiropractic Auto Accident Injury Specialist
Orange County, CA
Symptoms from an auto accident may be delayed.
Medical experts and researchers from around the globe have found evidence that many cases of “whiplash” type injuries from car accidents can remain hidden for weeks, months and sometimes even years before tell-tale symptoms emerge.1,2,3,4,5,6
The symptoms of auto accident related injuries can include:
headaches
neck pain
neck stiffness
numbness in hands
dizziness
fatigue
nausea
irritability
visual disturbances (double vision, blurred vision, loss of sharpness, floaters)
A delay in symptoms is common
Auto accident injuries are much more prevalent and more serious than many people realize. And contrary to what many insurance adjusters would have you believe, it is quite common for injuries to slowly evolve over a period of days to even months. This is particularly true of lower speed car accident collisions with milder forms of neck sprains.
In these low impact cases, the soft tissue damage is subtle and can be totally silent immediately after the accident. Over a period of time, inflammation sets in and causes swelling of tissues and the release of chemicals that cause irritation to the nervous system and eventually muscle spasm. It is not until these factors reach a certain critical mass that the actual injury is felt as stiffness, soreness, numbness, irritability, headache, etc.
That is why many car accident victims will initially report to the police or paramedics that they are uninjured, yet days, weeks or longer afterwards, the true injury emerges. If you have suffered an auto accident and your symptoms were delayed, it is because your injury was slowly evolving, but does not mean it isn’t serious. Even milder neck injuries have been shown to result in premature arthritis and neurologic problems if left untreated.
Immediate symptoms may mean a worse condition
If you’ve suffered an accident and feel these symptoms immediately or the day following an accident, it is a sign of more than just a mild injury and you should be evaluated by an auto accident injury specialist immediately. Symptoms that come on more quickly and/or are more severe generally point to a more severe ligament, disc or nerve injury and treatment will have the best outcome if not delayed.
Whichever scenario is yours, slowly evolving or immediate symptoms, you need to be evaluated by a specialist right away to accurately diagnose your injuries, begin a specific treatment program designed to fix your problem, prevent future damage and to document your injuries for possible legal action if necessary.
Dr. Barry L. Marks, DC Auto Accident Specialist
Dr. Marks is a Doctor of Chiropractic, and a former Associate Clinical Professor at a leading Chiropractic College. He has specialized in auto accident injury and spinal trauma for over 22 years. His specialized office, Orange Spine & Disc Rehabilitation Center in Orange, CA is dedicated to locating, documenting and relieving pain and disability associated with traumatic spinal injuries. His expert opinion is often sought by insurance companies, other doctors and attorneys on difficult car accident cases.
Free Auto Accident Severity Consultation with noted Expert, Dr. Barry L. Marks, DC
Dr. Marks sets aside a limited number of free evaluations each month. Space is limited so call (714) 938-0575 now for a Free Auto Accident Severity Evaluation with Dr. Marks or go online to complete an Auto Accident Severity Questionnaire to have Dr. Marks personally review your accident and offer advice with no obligation. Complete the form here:
References:
Croft AC: Whiplash. In Steigerwald DP, Croft AC (eds): Whiplash and Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction: a Interdisciplinary Approach to Case Management. Encinitas, Keiser Publishing, 1992 (in press).
Goldberg AC, Rothfus WE, Deeb ZL, Frankel DG, Wilberger JE Jr, Daffner RH: Hyperextension injuries of the cervical spine. Skeletal Radiol 18: 283-288, 1989.
Deans GT, Magalliard JN, Kerr M, Rutherford WH: Neck sprain — a major cause of disability following care accidents. Injury 18: 10-12, 1987.
Green JD, Harle TS, Harris JH Jr: Anterior subluxation of the cervical spine: hyperflexion sprain. AJNR 2: 243-250, 1981.
Hildingson C, Toolanen G: Outcome after soft-tissue injury of the cervical spine. Acta Orthop Scand 61(4): 357-359, 1990.
Schneider K, Zernicke RF, Clark G: Modeling of jaw-head-neck dynamics during whiplash. J Dent Res 68(9): 1360-1365, 1989.
Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Dove Canyon, Foothill Ranch, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, La Palma, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, South Santa Ana, Stanton, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda, Rancho Santa Margarita, California, University of California Irvine, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton College, John Wayne Airport, Near Main Place Mall, Near the Block of Orange, South Coast Plaza
We also provide Car Accident solutions for residents of Los Angeles County in Whittier, Norwalk, La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, Long Beach, Bellflower, Downey. And to Corona, Chino, and Chino Hills residents.
Posted by Dr Barry L. Marks, DC 
Posted by Dr Barry L. Marks, DC 
Scientific and medical studies have shown that upwards of 40% of car accident victims suffer long-term pain and impairment. Therefore, contrary to what insurance companies may want you to believe, whiplash is not a self limited problem that will just go away. Car accident injuries are serious.
Posted by Dr Barry L. Marks, DC 
Dr Barry Marks is a chiropractor, author and lecturer in Orange, CA. He is a former Associate Clinical Professor at a leading Chiropractic College and has specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of auto accident injuries since 1986. As an Advanced Graduate of the Spine Research Institutes’s Whiplash Traumatology and Brain Injury Program he is one of Orange County’s most experienced whiplash experts. Visit Dr Marks at 
Here are some interesting auto accident facts gleaned from our friends at Spine Research Institute of San Diego…with commentary
The most common reason people continue to suffer from neck pain and headaches long after the accident is due to abnormal alignment and biomechanics of the cervical spine (neck). Proper management of whiplash-type injuries involves rehabilitating the spine as much as possible to maximize motion, alignment and strength.
Subscribe Here
