Tips to Avoid Permanent impairment from a Car Accident Injury

1. Seek treatment immediately to reduce the likelihood of healing wrong permanently
2. Treat the inflammation immediately
3. Do not take medications for more than a few days they inhibit collagen the healing tissue from forming.
4. Start physical medicine as soon as possible to allow for proper healing within the joints
5. Be aware there are three types of motion to be restored after an injury: active-like exercise, passive-like a therapist, joint motion-chiropractic adjustment
6. Be aware there are 3 phases to healing: inflammation-takes 72 hours, repair phase-takes 6 to 12 weeks, remodel phase-3 to 12 months.
7. Healing does not start until after the inflammation phase is reduced why it is critical to control the inflammation
8. The repair phase is when the healing begins and starts with 72 hours of the injury and last up to 12 weeks thereafter.
9. The repair phase of healing is a short window of time after an injury where the healing tissue is laid down to repair the damaged tissue. That tissue is called collagen.
10. If during the repair phase of healing the healing tissue called collagen is not properly treated with physical medicine the chances of a permanent injury are significantly increased.
11. One factor during the healing phase after an injury is collagen formation. If the collagen is not treated properly it will heal only 70% as strong as the original tissue leading to the likelihood of future injury.
12. One factor during the healing phase after an injury is collagen formation. If the collagen is not properly treated with it will heal with less elasticity and mobility than the original tissue, this leads to stiffness and restriction in that area in the future.
13. One factor during the healing phase after an injury is collagen formation. If the collagen is not properly treated with physical medicine there will be an increase number of peripheral nerves leading to permanent pain in that area.
14. One factor during the healing phase after an injury is collagen formation. If the collagen is not properly treated with physical medicine the nerves heal more sensitive. This leads to pain in the injured area in the future.
15. During the repair phase of healing which last from 3 days to 12 weeks after an injury be sure to have physical medicine applied to the affected area.
16. During the healing phase do not just take medications for the treatment of the injury. Medications such as anti-inflammatory and cortisones based medications will inhibit the healing tissue collagen from forming leading to weak and stiff tissue.