Car Accident Doctors, Orange County, CA
Dr Barry L Marks, Chiropractor Orange, CA 92868
Recently Injured in a Car Accident in Orange County, CA?
What you do in the first 72 hours after an auto accident can make or break your case and be the difference between lingering pain and an uncomplicated recovery.
First, you must get a medical exam immediately after the accident. If you are not examined in the first 72 hours, the insurance company will greatly discount your case. Of course this makes no logical sense and has nothing to do with medical science. Research tells us that a delay in symptoms of days, weeks, even months is the norm, not the exception. It is strictly a ploy by insurance computer systems to minimize your case. But, we don’t make the rules, we just observe them. So get checked immediately.
Important note about Car Accident doctors:MOST medical doctors, chiropractors, ER physicians and your HMO PCP have no idea how to properly evaluate let alone treat, car accident injuries. Therefore, you must take it upon yourself to find a “specialist” in auto accident and whiplash injury treatment. Choosing the wrong doc can lead to inadequate or erroneous documentation that kills your case. Worse, it could lead to improper treatment, which could be devastating, leaving you with chronic disabling headaches, neck pain or arthritis.
Next, you must follow your car accident doctor’s treatment advice. Nothing kills a case more than inconsistent treatment. Insurance companies look at your visits and dates. They count them. They analyze the frequency. They look for gaps in treatment of 1 week or more. Why? Because they know what a “real” or “legitimate” case looks like. They also know what a fake case looks like. So you need to be consistent. And again, what’s most important is that from a medical standpoint, you cannot expect to get better and avoid chronic pain or arthritis if you do not follow proper auto accident treatment guidelines as planned for you by your car accident specialist doctor. Treat it wrong up front and you will have years of suffering later.
Need a doctor in Orange County specializing in car accident treatment?
To contact Dr Barry Marks, Chiropractor, car accident treatment specialist of Orange, CA call (714) 938-0575 or go to http://orange-car-accident.com. Dr. Marks offers a limited number of Free Car Accident Severity Evaluations each month. Dr. Marks will personally sit down with you and talk about your accident. Then he will perform a space-age computerized spinal analysis to locate areas of injury. This totally painless cutting edge computer technology can even find hidden problems not easily detected from the outside. You will then be presented with a written Recommended Action Plan detailing what your next steps should be. This is all free of charge, but an appointment is required. Call (714) 938-0575 or go to the website http://orange-car-accident.com now to get your Free Car Accident Severity Evaluation.
Orange County, CA Car Accident Treatment Information
Dr Barry L Marks, Chiropractor, Orange, CA 92868
Car accidents are a common problem. You probably pass by one each day on the streets or freeways of Orange County, California. If you’ve never been involved in one, consider yourself lucky. Most drivers in Southern California will experience more than one accident in their driving career.
While accidents are common, treatment rendered by acupuncturists, chiropractors, medical physicians, and physical therapists varies greatly. The effectiveness of these treatments also varies. The reason behind this is the fact that there is one very important physical problem that is at the root of all whiplash-type injuries. If your treatment is designed to correct this problem, then you stand the best possible chance for recovery. If not, then you are doomed to suffer chronic pain.
So what is this “most important physical sign?”
Hypolordosis
“Hypo” means less or reduced.
“Lordosis” is the natural curve found in the neck and lower back.
So hypo-lordosis means a reduction in a spinal curve, in the case of whiplash, the neck curve.
Here’s a picture of a neck curve that is straightened due to an auto collision. The yellow line indicates the approxiamte curve of a normal neck.
Generally, the more straightened the neck is, the worse the injury. In some cases the neck will actually be so injured it will curve the opposite direction. This is called a “kyphosis.”
X-rays are Vital After a Car Crash
Therefore, after a car crash, your doctor must see whether or not you have a normal neck curve. He or she cannot do that without taking an x-ray. So when you show up at your family doctor’s office or ER after an accident, even a minor one, and they do not take an x-ray, you know they are not the best place to be managing your condition. This sign must be looked for on x-ray to determine the extent of your injuries and give you an estimate on your long term recovery.
Identifying the Abnormal Curve is a Start…
but it is not the end all. Your doctor or therapist must also provide you with treatment that is aimed at improving your curve and getting it back to normal. A doctor or therapist who does not provide you with treatment capable of accomplishing this is not treating your problem correctly.
How do you suppose you will know if your neck curve is getting better?
Taking a comparison x-ray after a period of treatment is the only way to tell if your curve is improved. So, any doctor or therapist who does not take comparative films of your neck is doing you a disservice.
This is important.
Research tells us that people with uncorrected neck curves after an accident suffer with chronic neck pain, headaches and stiffness. You also have a 600% higher risk of developing early osteoarthritis with an uncorrected neck after an accident.
Here’s an example of a person who suffered a strain that caused Hypolordosis after a car crash and later on re-exam was found to be improved after rehabilitative care in my office.
For more information on car accident injury treatment, including a free e-book and audio and a free online video seminar series, go to http://orange-car-accident.com
The third and final video of this 3 part series is the most important exercise to restore a normal curve to a neck that has been damaged by a car crash.
It is an exercise that has not only been proven over many years to restore normal curvature, but many patients enjoy the relief they feel after doing this home therapy.
Auto accident neck injuries and neck exercises
Dr Barry L Marks, Chiropractor Orange County, CA
This is the second of three videos for neck stabilization and correction following a car accident whiplash injury. If you’ve been in an accident and have suffered a reduced neck curve as a result, then you must do these exercises to correct your neck curvature to prevent serious problems years down the road.
Video number 2 depicts Neck Extensions which are vital for restoring neck muscle strength and stamina.
For more information on car accident injury treatment, including a free online video seminar and free report, go to: http://www.orange-car-accident.com
Whiplash injuries caused by car crashes often results in damage to the neck characterized by a loss of normal curve. Medical researchers have found that a persistently reduced cervical curve increases the victims risk for early onset osteoarthritis by 600%. Therefore it is important to re-establish a normal curve as part of the rehabilitation process after an auto accident.
Previous posts gave examples of exercises to restore strength and stability and reshape the neck curve. We now present videos showing the exercises for more clarity.
Video number 1 of 3 depicts an exercise known as Head Translation. Head translation exercises are important to restore proper mechanics and function of the upper neck region, which is particularly prone to whiplash trauma.
1. Roll up a bath towel into a 4” roll, or you may use a hard foam roll, and place it on the end of your bed.
2. Lie on your back with your neck over the roll while your head hangs down over the edge of the bed.
3. Hold for 5 min/day for week one, then 10 min/day in week two, increasing to 20 min each day.
For more information on car accident injuries including a Shocking Free Report and an Online Video Whiplash Seminar, go to http://www.orange-car-accident.com
1. Lie face down on your bed or the floor.
2. Keeping your chest and shoulders down, lift your head up and attempt to look at the ceiling.
3. Hold position for 10-20 seconds depending on your strength.
4. Lower your head, then repeat 10 times.
For more information on car accident injuries including a Shocking Free Report and an Online Video Whiplash Seminar, go to http://www.orange-car-accident.com
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?
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
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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.
What you do in the first 72 hours after an auto accident can make or break your case and be the difference between lingering pain and an uncomplicated recovery.
Posted by Dr Barry L. Marks, DC 
Car accidents are a common problem. You probably pass by one each day on the streets or freeways of Orange County, California. If you’ve never been involved in one, consider yourself lucky. Most drivers in Southern California will experience more than one accident in their driving career.
Posted by Dr Barry L. Marks, DC 
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 
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