Life After an Auto Accident

When I was in my auto accident - I thought my neck was my only severe injury. 

When my head hit the door frame because my seat belt didn't engage and the airbags were deactivated - I seriously injured the soft muscle tissue in  my neck. 

Of course, I didn't know that at the time of the accident.  At the time- I thought I was lucky to be alive. 

My knees were bleeding - and my head was sore - but my neck wasn't stiff and I could definitely move it freely.  I didn't ask for pain medication because quite honestly - I didn't think I'd need it.

Nothing could have been FURTHER from the truth. 

The next morning after the accident - I awoke unable to move my neck.  It was frozen stiff and I was in constant pain. 

Not only was I in pain - I was afraid.  Something HAD to be seriously wrong for me to be hurting this badly.  They hadn't taken any x-rays at the hospital.  What if my neck was broken and the slightest movement would paralyze me from the waist down?

Fear just intensified the pain.  By the time I got to my doctor on Monday morning - I was in a full fledge panic.  She gave me pain medication and told me I didn't need physical therapy. 

SHE WAS WRONG!

However, at this point in time - I trusted doctors in general, so I took her advice and didn't ask to be referred to a physical therapist.

After taking the entire prescription for pain medication - my neck was still frozen stiff. I was STILL in pain and since my doctor had not been too interested in treating me - I went to see a chiropractor.

My first mistake in this whole process was NOT going to see the chiropractor FIRST!!!

I knew this chiropractor personally because I'd created a website for his chiropractic practice. He's a good guy with a good heart and best of all, he knew me BEFORE the accident.

First, he scolded me for NOT coming to see him first. By waiting - I'd reduced the effectiveness of what he could do.

I'll never forget the first time he pressed down on the back of my neck where my head and neck meet. He placed his thumbs on those pressure points and I almost jumped off the table.

At the time, I just thought that he was trying to hurt me... but he wasn't. After many, many treatments, he again pressed on those two pressure points and surprisingly - they were just tender - not excruciatingly painful.

Dr. Shepard also performed several "new age" type healing techniques such as acupuncture and this therapy where he used a device in my ear.

THAT was a turning point. When he showed me the device - and told me what he was going to do - I was skeptical. Let's be real - I was more than skeptical - I was ready to run for the door!!!

However, I didn't want to hurt his feelings, so I humored him by allowing him to press this little light thingy on various points on my ear.

Now this is where is gets weird - after I left his office - for the first time since the auto accident - I COULD TURN MY HEAD TO THE LEFT!!!

I don't remember what the therapy was called but I do remember that it worked like MAGIC! The thing is, I didn't think that it would

It took more than a YEAR of treatment before I could actually begin living a somewhat normal life.

However, I was still plagued by neck pain - especially when the weather would change dramatically. 

At the time, we were living in the Midwest and I remember one January we had an unusual warm spell.  Temperatures climbed into the 60's when they'd been in the 20's the week before. 

While everyone else was out enjoying the warm weather, I was home in bed - wracked with pain.

It was then that my chiropractor suggested we move to a warmer climate.  He suggested we move to a region of the country where the weather changes weren't QUITE so dramatic. 

My husband had an opportunity to transfer to southern Florida with his job - so we jumped at the chance.  My chiropractor was right - the stable weather has really helped.

I still get neck pain - even now - 8 years later.  When the barometer swings - my neck ACHES.   However, the temperatures don't swing nearly as often down here as they did back home.