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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. What happens in a car accident?

    In most cases, your body sustains a rapid acceleration or deceleration in an auto accident. These rapid motions are too much for the body's stabilizers (muscles, tendons and ligaments) to handle. There is a rapid overstretching or injury to these stabilizers. This type of injury also puts an enormous amount of stress on the joints of the spine. These stresses lead to inflammation, decreased range-of motion and pain.

  2. What is a sprain/strain?

    A sprain/strain is a term that describes what happens to the joint and the surrounding tissues. In a rear-end accident, the neck is thrown into an extension and then a hyperflexion type motion. These motions stretch the muscles, ligaments and joints of the neck. Sprain refers to overstretching of the ligaments that hold and protect the joint. Strain refers to the overstretching of the muscle. When you have a sprain/strain, you will have decreased range-of-motion, pain and swelling.

  3. What do medications do to help my back pain?

    You can use many different types of medications to help back pain. The 3 most commonly used are muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories and analgesics (pain-relievers):

  4. What is better , ice or heat?

    Immediately following an injury, ice is best. The general rule is icing for the first 24-48 hours after an injury. After 48 hours, heat is most often suggested. It is very important that you have a layer of towel between your skin and the ice/heat to prevent burning the skin.

  5. What is an adjustment?

    The chiropractor adjusts the subluxation or misalignment when he mobilizes or manipulates the bones of the back into their proper place.

  6. Does it hurt when you get adjusted or manipulated? Does it hurt afterward?

    When the chiropractor applies an adjustment it generally does not cause discomfort. Some patients feel some general soreness the first few treatments, similar to the feeling an athlete gets when he first begins training. After the first few treatments the adjustment relieves pain.

  7. What is the cracking noise?

    The cracking noise is not bones cracking but the release of nitrogen bubbles from the space in-between joints.
    • Muscle relaxants help calm down muscles that are spasming in the back.
    • Anti-inflammatories decrease inflammation in the injured area.
    • Analgesics relieve pain.
Calmwood Medical
250 S Craycroft Rd., Suite 400, Tucson, AZ 85711
Phone: (520) 319-1919, Fax (520) 917-2040