Written by Dr. James Mayne, DC ~ Vernon Chiropractor

One of the most common things mentioned by patients when I meet them is “it was only a small car accident, I wasn’t really hurt.” Many times when people come in to see us they have been in pain for a long time, yet don’t have a major accident to explain why they were hurt in the first place. Often, it is not one trauma that causes problems with the neck or back, but many small strains or sprains.

Cars today are designed to have bumpers fly off, airbags to cushion the steering wheel, and engines to slide under the car rather than into our legs. Smaller car accidents may not allow these safety measures to deploy, leaving our bodies to absorb the shock. This can leave us with minor muscle strains or joint sprains to deal with after the accident.

A sprained neck, for example, can occur from a minor fender bender and leave us only feeling stiff for a few days to a few weeks. If the soft tissues heal in a way that leaves us without the proper curve in our neck, the next minor slip or fall can strain the neck even further. Over time, and with a few more of these strains (which can be caused by something as simple as sitting incorrectly in front of a computer), inflammation can build up over the months and years until we have headaches or neck and back pain that just don’t seem to go away. This is often the stage when a person seeks out chiropractic care. Chiropractors in Vernon address the pain by improving the structure and function of the spine—undoing the damage that had occurred many years earlier. Essentially, we help improve your spine’s health.

Overall, many people who seek our care for relief of chronic pain have a history that includes minor car accidents. They would have been helped in a more efficient manner had they been treated shortly after their accident. Minor car accidents have a cumulative effect on the body, and the sooner they are looked into, the better chance we have of helping with them. No fender bender is too small, so if there is any stiffness or discomfort afterward, please come in. This is what we help with.