Reason to Seek Care

Personal Injuries

2010-12-13T09:29:50Z

Personal injury claims can arise out of many different situations, but by far the most common are motor vehicle accidents. The Ireland Clinic of Chiropractic, LLC. offers same day appointments and has a team of chiropractors who are skilled at diagnosing and treating injuries sustained during an accident including whiplash. Dr. Adams holds an Advanced Certification in Whiplash Traumatology from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. Our goal is to relieve the cause of your pain and start the healing process.

Our administrative office is experienced in personal injury billing and welcomes the opportunity to assist you. Because there are no specific laws regarding the billing of personal injury claims as there are for work injuries, each situation can be different. Each insurance company, as well as, each adjuster within the company approach personal injury claims differently. A strong and positive working relationship between your healthcare provider and the insurance industry helps your claim go smoothly.

In Alaska, when you are hurt in an accident that is the fault of another driver, the insurance of the at-fault party does not pay medical bills at the time of treatment, but waits until you settle your accident claim. Your insurance can be billed if you have Medical Payment coverage (MedPay). MedPay is available from all insurances to cover healthcare bills that arise from injuries involving a motor vehicle, including being struck as a pedestrian. In some cases, MedPay can also provide payment for lost wages as a result of your injuries. Medical Payment coverage is a separate add-on to your regular automobile coverage. A person may carry “full coverage insurance” and not have MedPay, or carry “liability only” but choose to add MedPay . A quick call to your agent or insurance company can let you know if you have Medical Payment coverage. It is also wise to verify the amount of your MedPay coverage especially if you’ve had the same policy for a number of years.

If a person injured in a motor vehicle accident does not carry Medical Payment coverage, then commercial health insurance, such as Blue Cross, can be billed under a subrogation agreement. This typically requires a letter or written notice from the auto insurance carrier stating there is no MedPay available.

Work Related Injuries

2010-11-30T08:43:57Z

The Ireland Clinic welcomes patients with work related injuries. A referral from another healthcare provider is not necessary unless the injured party has previously made a physician change. Chiropractors are primary healthcare providers and are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries which make up 60 to 70 percent of workplace injuries. Our goal is to get the injured worker out of pain and back to work.

Most work related injuries involve low-back and neck pain as well as headaches, tendinitis and shoulder problems, leg pain, arm numbness and carpal tunnel. Studies have shown that chiropractic care is cost effective and has long-term benefits as it treats the source of the pain as opposed to masking the pain with medications.

Alaska Worker’s Compensation

According to the Alaska Department of Workers Compensation, only injuries that “arise out of and occur during the course and scope of your employment” are covered. In order for an injury to be covered, the employee must establish a causal link between his job and the injury or impairment.

To file a worker’s compensation claim, you must provide written notice of you injury using Form 6101 within 30 days after the accident occurs or the illness becomes apparent. Form 6101 (Report of Occupational Injury) should be given to your employer, who will then fill out the required employer information. You must include relevant details including your employer’s name and address, the insurer’s name and address, your supervisors contact information, the names of witnesses, and details about the injury. You should receive your copy of this report as soon as your employer completes their section. This form does not have to be completed prior to seeking care.

You may obtain treatment from a licensed physician of your choice (which includes Doctors of Chiropractic), and the doctor must file a report with both the insurer and the state workers compensation board within fourteen days of treating you. You are allowed to change physicians one time by providing written notice to your adjuster. You treating physician can, however, refer you for any necessary care in addition to or to replace their treatment.

The insurer must begin paying benefits or issue a notice of denial within 21 days of receiving the Report in Injury submitted to your employer. If your benefits are denied, you are sent a letter notifying you of the denial and explaining how to file an appeal.

Whiplash

2010-10-25T08:12:05Z

Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck that occurs from a sudden jerking or “whipping” of the head. This type of motion strains the muscles and the ligaments of the neck beyond their normal range of motion. Whiplash often occurs when a vehicle stops suddenly in a car crash or is struck from behind. Either of these two actions causes things in the vehicle to be thrown forward – including passengers. A seat belt will keep a person’s body from being thrown forward, but the head may snap forward, then backward, or sideways causing a whiplash injury. In addition to car accidents, whiplash can be caused by roller coasters and other amusement park rides, sports or work injuries, or being punched or shaken.

Many injuries of this nature are not immediately felt by the injured person. Authorities estimate that the injuries may not be felt for several hours, days and in rare cases even months or years following the incident.

Many victims of neck injuries attempt to self-treat their injuries increasing the possibility of further injury. It is essential to have an examination by a doctor who is trained to examine the spine and related structures, and who understands the dynamics of the “whiplash” injury in order to prevent, or diminish future problems.

Typical Signs and Symptoms

Stiffness/general achiness
Should/neck/arm pain
Vertigo/dizziness
Visual disturbances
Nausea/vomiting
Chest pain
Blood pressure irregularities
Emotional complaints

The immediate damage to the muscles and ligaments will heal with scar formation if not treated properly. The healing process, if left untreated, will result in tissues that do not have the same elastic property or ability to stretch, such as scar tissue, and the pain associated with the injury may continue. Tearing of the spinal ligaments/muscles and the potential trauma to the neck vertebrae can result in significant spinal derangements and dysfunction. If left undetected, this trauma can result in degenerative changes to the neck vertebrae, and more specifically the spinal discs. Doctors of chiropractic are particularly concerned with the structural balance of the spine. Careful attention is paid to proper alignment and mobility of the spine. Should you become involved in any accident or fall and you may have received a strain/sprain injury, consult your doctor for an examination.

Sciatica

2010-10-25T08:09:52Z

Although sciatica is a relatively common form of low-back and leg pain, the true meaning of the term is often misunderstood. Sciatica is actually a set of symptoms – not a diagnosis for what is irritating the nerve root and causing the pain.

Sciatica occurs most frequently in people between the ages of 30 and 50 years old. Most often, it tends to develop as a result of general wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine, not as a result of injury.

The most common symptom associated with sciatica is pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, from the lower back and down one leg; however, symptoms can vary widely depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected. Some may experience a mild tingling, a dull ache, or even a burning sensation, typically on one side of the body.

Some patients also report:

A pins-and-needles sensation, most often in the toes or foot
Numbness or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot

Pain from sciatica often begins slowly, gradually intensifying over time. In addition, the pan can worsen after prolonged sitting, sneezing, coughing, bending, or other sudden movements.

For most people sciatica responds very well to chiropractic care. Keeping in mind that sciatica is a symptom and not a stand-alone medical condition, treatment plans will often vary depending on the underlying cause of the problem.

Chiropractic offers a non-invasive (non-surgical), drug-free treatment option. The goal of chiropractic care is to restore spinal movement, thereby improving function while decreasing pain and inflammation.

While it is not always possible to prevent sciatica, consider these suggestions to help protect your back and improve your spinal health.

Maintain a healthy diet and weight
Exercise regularly
Maintain proper posture
Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest
Use good body mechanics when lifting

Headaches

2010-10-25T08:05:20Z

A frequent and overlooked cause of headaches is the malfunction of spinal bones in the neck and upper back.

When the bones of the spine lose their normal position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels to the head can be affected. When spinal nerves and related tissues are stretched or irritated they can produce throbbing headaches. Aspirin and medications may cover up these warning signs, but do not correct the underlying structural cause.

Many people find relief from headaches with chiropractic care. A report released in 2001 by researchers at Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.

Another study in 1995 which was published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulation therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches and that those who ceased chiropractic treatment after four weeks experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in contrast with those patients who received a commonly prescribed medication.

Chiropractic is successful because it treats the cause of the pain. For some patients relief is immediate while others may find that correction of their problem takes longer because their spinal problem has existed for many years.

Today the prevalence of headaches is often attributed to the sedentary work environment of many office staff who spend hours in a fixed position in front of computer screens or leaning over a desk. These positions increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck and upper back causing your head to ache.

Helpful hints to avoid tension headaches:

If you spend large amount of time in a fixed position, such as in front of a computer, sewing machine, typing or reading, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. The stretches should take your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.
Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise. Engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.
Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing. This results in stress at the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) – the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull – leading to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headaches.
Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.

Shoulder Pain

2010-06-16T06:15:03Z

One of the most mobile joints in the human body, the shoulder is also one of the most complex, so it’s no wonder that this part of the body can cause us so much grief. If you are experiencing shoulder pain, whether chronic or sudden, you should seek medical attention from a qualified specialist before the problem gets worse.

At Ireland Clinic of Chiropractic , we are very familiar with the various problems that can occur in the shoulder, shoulder blade, back and arm areas. And more than treating the pain, we focus on treating the underlying cause.

Shoulder pain can be caused by overexertion, pinched nerves, dislocation, fractures, and various other problems, and symptoms include:

Difficulty Carrying Objects
Difficulty Raising Arm
Frozen Shoulder
Numbness
Pain
Swelling
Tingling

If you have had any of these symptoms for an extended period of time, we urge you to come in for a consultation. After a thorough examination of your physical health and medical history, we will diagnose the problem and create a unique treatment plan that will work best for you. Treatment options include massage therapy, medication, stretching and strength exercises, and several other options depending on the cause of your shoulder pain.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us today.

Neck Pain

2010-06-16T06:13:39Z

During our lives, many of us will have neck pain, and most of us won’t know exactly what caused it. In fact, neck pain can start from a whole range of causes. Maybe you “slept funny” and woke with a crick in your neck or you might have been rear-ended in your car and now you have a whiplash. Perhaps you just twisted your neck wrong one day.

Even though most of us will experience neck pain, we won’t all feel it in the same way. Sometimes, the discomfort is just on one side of your neck; sometimes, pain shoots down your arms. A problem in your neck may even cause terrible headaches or dizziness. Symptom may be gone in a few days, or you may have long-term pain that limits what you can do every day.

Recurring aches, pains and stiffness of the neck, or discomfort that lasts more than 24 hours, should have a professional evaluation. Repeated episodes of neck stiffness may indicate early stages of joint or disc degeneration.

Anatomy of Neck Pain

Incredibly your neck, also called the cervical spine, supports the full weight of your head, which is on average about 12 pounds. While the cervical spine can more your head in nearly every direction, this flexibility makes the neck very susceptible to pain and injury.

There are 7 cervical vertebrae in the neck (C1-C7). In between each vertebra are tough fibrous shock-absorbing pads called the intervertebral discs. Each disc is made up of a tire-like outer band (annulus fibrosus) and a gel-like inner substance (nucleous pulposus).

Besides the bones and the discs, your neck has joints, muscles, and ligaments. They are what make your neck so moveable. They also stabilize your neck.

Your neck houses the upper part of your spinal cord, nerve roots, and an elaborate system of arteries and veins. The nerves in your neck help the brain communicate with your shoulders, arms, and chest. The arteries and veins circulate blood between the brain and the heart. Considering the freedom of movement and the intricacies of the neck, it is no wonder that your neck is at risk for pain and injury.

All in all, your neck is amazing and intricate. However, because it has such freedom of movement, it is at a high risk for pain or injury.

Typical Causes of Neck Pain

Injury and Accidents: A sudden forced movement of the head or neck in any direction and the resulting rebound in the opposite direction is known as whiplash. The sudden “whipping” motion injures the surrounding and supporting tissues of the neck and head. Muscles react by tightening and contracting, creating muscle fatigue, which can result in pain and stiffness. Severe whiplash can also be associated with injury to the intevertebral joints, discs, ligaments, muscles, and nerve roots. Car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash, but amusement park rides, contact sports, or any trauma where the head is whipped back and forth can cause whiplash. Oftentimes the injured party does not experience whiplash pain for 12 to 24 hours or longer after the injury. Although the pain from a whiplash will often disappear, the injured muscles and ligaments may form scar tissue leaving the disc with no blood supply which can result in degenerative changes to the neck region over time.

Aging: Degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease directly affect the spine.

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder causing progressive deterioration of the cartilage. The body reacts by forming bone spurs that affect joint motion.
Spinal stenosis causes the small nerve passageways in the vertebrae to narrow, compressing and trapping nerve roots. Stenosis may cause neck, shoulder, and arm pain, as well as numbness, when these nerves are unable to function normally.
Degenerative disc disease can cause reduction in the elasticity and height of intervertebral discs. Over time, a disc may bulge or herniate, causing tingling, numbness, and pain that runs into the arm.

Daily Life: Poor posture, obesity, and weak abdominal muscles often disrupt spinal balance, causing the neck to bend forward to compensate. Stress and emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and contract, resulting in pain and stiffness. Postural stress can contribute to chronic neck pain with symptoms extending into the upper back and the arms.

The type of discomfort or pattern of pain sometimes serves as a clue to what is wrong. For example:

A neck that is relatively pain-free in the morning and worsens as the day goes on frequently indicates strain, fatigue or muscular weakness.
A neck that is stiff and painful in the morning and feels better as the day goes on may indicate some underlying condition such as arthritis.
Neck pain that is aggravated by coughing or sneezing may indicate a disc herniation.
Dizziness, light-headedness, or pain that develops when the head is turned or elevated, is evidence of a possible vascular problem. However, symptoms of light-headedness, vertigo, unsteadiness, weakness, difficulty with balance also can be caused by an imbalance in the cervical (neck) spine. These symptoms when properly evaluated will determine the need for additional testing, referral, or the appropriateness of chiropractic conservative intervention.

Neck Adjustments

A neck adjustment is a precise procedure applied to the joints of the neck, usually by hand. A neck adjustment works to improve the mobility of the spine and to restore range of motion; it can also increase movement of the adjoining muscles. Patients typically notice an improved ability to turn and tilt the head, and a reduction of pain, soreness, and stiffness.

Low Back Pain

2010-06-16T06:13:08Z

Chiropractic care is recognized as the leading treatment of low back pain.

Nearly everyone suffers from low back pain at some point in their life. Most low back pain follows an injury or trauma to the back. Pain may occur when someone lifts something too heavy, overuses, or overstretches, causing a sprain, strain, or spasm in one of the muscles or ligaments in the back. Low back pain may also reflect nerve or muscle irritation or bone lesions.

With age, bone strength and muscle elasticity and tone tend to decrease. The discs begin to lose fluid and flexibility, which decreases their ability to cushion the vertebrae. Low back pain often occurs between the ages of 30 and 50, due in part to the aging process, but also as a result of a sedentary life style with too little (punctuated by too much) exercise.

Symptoms of low back problems may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and/or range of motion, or an inability to stand straight. Occasionally, pain felt in one part of the body may “radiate” from a disorder or injury elsewhere in the body. Some acute pain syndromes can become more serious if left untreated.

Low back pain may also be caused by degenerative conditions such as arthritis or disc disease, osteoporosis or other bone diseases, viral infections, irritation to joints and discs or congenital abnormalities in the spine. Obesity, smoking, weight gain during pregnancy, stress, poor physical condition, posture inappropriate for the activity being performed, and poor sleeping position also may contribute to low back pain. Additionally, scar tissue created, when an injured back heals itself does not have the strength or flexibility of normal tissue. Buildup of scar tissue from repeated injuries eventually weakens the back and can lead to more serious injury.

Pain accompanied by fever or loss of bowel or bladder control, pain when coughing, and progressive weakness in the legs may indicate a pinched nerve or other serious condition. People with diabetes my have severe back pain or pain radiating down the leg related to neuropathy. People with these symptoms should contact a doctor to help prevent permanent damage.

Self – Help

To ward off injury, strengthen and stretch your back and the abdominal muscles on your sides (the obliques) which provide back stability. Train yourself to keep your core muscles engaged – a simple way to do that is to pull your navel toward your spine and the sides of your abs inward. Doing this throughout the day, and especially when lifting or bending, strengthens and supports your back.
Get up and move every 20 minutes unless you are driving.
Practice Safe Lifting
- Bend your knees and keep your back straight. Don’t bend at your waist.
- Keep the object close to you. The farther away you hold an object from your body, the more it stresses your back.
- Never hold an item higher than your armpit or lower than your knees.
- Don’t move something that weighs more than 20% of your body weight.
- Don’t pivot, twist, or turn while lifting. Point your feet at the item you are lifting and face it as you pick it up.
- Change direction with your feet, not your waist.