Osteopathy and car accident

Neuralgia, sciatica, back pain, headaches, insomnia… are perhaps the late sequelae of an old car accident. Even if no lesions are apparent on radiological examinations, even if qualified trauma “whiplash” was moderate, the shock wave remains “registered” in the body and causes disorders and pain.

What is happening in an accident?

The driver and passengers are held by their seat belt that crosses the chest at the sternum and sets two side hip bone on the seat.

Upon impact, pressure will be exerted on these areas. Hand head violently forward, resulting in its movement throughout the spine and sacrum (bone of the middle of the basin). The body is thus subject to significant inertia force exceeding its absorption capacity. Some structures are then in conflict with each other, causing pain and symptoms (sometimes delayed). Skull and pelvis are related anatomically. The dura, meningeal membrane lining the cranium, continues as a tube in the spine and attaches firmly to the sacrum at the bottom. It is because of this particular anatomical relationship that a shock to the sacrum can result in remote brain problems. Similarly, a blow to the head can cause back pain. This dural link is specifically worked by the osteopath.

When to seek an osteopath?

• After any type of accident
• Even in the absence of radiological signs “objectives”, fear, emotion have been enough to block breathing, interfere with the thoracic diaphragm and cause painful compensations. The osteopath, by the fine palpation found “the cause of the cause”
• In all cases where there has been head trauma with or without loss of consciousness (after consultation in specialized service)
• In cases of back pain, cervical, dorsal or lumbar
• In case of memory loss, impaired vision, hearing, olfaction, insomnia, dizziness
• If bruises or fractures sequelae

And in all cases where the pressure of the belt or wheel could cause:

• discomfort and respiratory pain (the person can not breathe “thoroughly”)
• feelings of anxiety, oppression
• pain in the sternum
• fatigability, decreased “tone” or depression