Auto Injuries
It is nearly impossible to prepare for the unexpected.
Imagine this – you’re driving home from work and before you know it you’ve been rear ended while at a stop light. These events can happen at anytime and anyplace.
If you or a loved one has been in a motor vehicle accident, it is important to seek medical advice as soon as possible to reduce the risk of long-term complications. Too often people don’t seek treatment following a car accident because they don’t feel hurt, but new symptoms can arise in days after the accident.
By far, the most common injury to during an auto accident is a whiplash injury to the neck or back. Whiplash is caused by a sudden movement of the head, backward, forward, or sideways, that results in the damage to the supporting muscles, ligaments and other connective tissues in the neck, upper back and low back.
Types of pain after an accident
If you have suffered any of the following types of pain after an accident, even if it’s delayed, please contact our office for an appointment.
- Muscle Injury (Soft Tissue Injuries) – Most common injury from motor vehicle accident is muscle injury. This occurs when the muscles and tendons become stretched due to sudden movements.
- Neck and shoulder pain – Whiplash related injuries can cause neck / upper back stiffness and pain.
- Back Pain – Especially in the lower back, may indicate a whiplash-related injury. It also could signal a sprain, herniated disc, or other soft-tissue injuries (such as muscle damage).
- Headaches – Pay attention to the location and severity of the pain. It could be stress-related or a sign of concussion, brain injury, whiplash or neck injury
- Numbness, Tingling and Weakness – These types of sensations often indicate a bulged disc that pinches or presses up against nerves in the spine. This pinching can cause pain, tingling, numbness, and other sensations throughout the body.
- Abdominal Pain – If you experience abdominal pain after an accident (which may surface days after the incident), get immediate medical attention. Internal bleeding also may cause headaches, dizziness, and deep bruising.
Steps to Take After the Car Accident
- You will most likely visit the ER or an Instacare after your accident. If not, you will want to make an appointment with our office or with your Primary Care Provider to document your injures.
- Write down the Date of Injury and keep this with you. All medical documentation will need to reference the exact date of the accident.
- If this is a “no-fault” accident, ask your auto insurance company for your PIP (Personal Injury Payout) letter. Doctor’s offices will require this letter in order to bill your auto insurance.
- Our offices will need your auto insurance address, ID number and claim number
- We DO NOT bill 3rd party insurance. Your auto insurance will be billed until exhausted, and then billing will be transferred to your private health insurance.
- Keep a detailed list of the location of your pain, the severity, what triggers the pain and when they symptoms occur.
Motor Vehicle accidents are dreadful experiences — even when the damage is not severe. Dr. Corey Anden is familiar with the auto accident process and will ensure you get the best course of treatment. There are a variety of treatments to help you get back to your life including interventional pain management, physical therapy, and, when necessary, surgery. Dr. Anden and her staff will be able to guide you through the process and help get you back on track.
Sports Injuries
Dr. Corey Anden has been specializing in sports medicine for the past 30 years. She is an active person herself and has had multiple sports injuries. This makes her more relatable to your diagnosis and more passionate to get you back to the sports that you love. Regenerative Injection Therapy is a new area of medicine that is gaining popularity in the sports world. Regenerative Medicine is used to promote your bodies’ natural healing process to regenerate and heal the affected area. Keep this treatment option in mind while reading as this can be used as treatment for all of the below injuries.
Sports injuries arise when engaging in sports or exercise. Sports injuries can occur due to overtraining, lack of conditioning, and improper form or technique. Failing to warm up increases the risk of sports injuries. Bruises, sprains, strains and broke bones can result from sports injuries. Soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, fascia, and tendons may also be affected.
The most common sports injuries are:
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Knee injuries (runners knee, Torn ACL or MCL)
- Tennis Elbow
- Lower back pain
- Shoulder strain and rotator cuff tearing
- Achilles Tendonitis
Muscle Sprains and Strains
Muscle strain is another name for a pulled muscle. It occurs when a muscle is overstretched and tears. Symptoms of a pulled muscle may include pain, swelling, weakness, and difficulty or inability to use the muscle. Muscles in the quadriceps, the calves, hamstrings, groin, low back, and shoulder are the most common sites for pulled muscles. Minor muscle strains resolve with Rest, ice and NSAIDS may help manage pain and swelling. Dr. Anden can offer Trigger Point Injections to help with taught and overused muscles.
Knee Injuries
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) helps hold the knee joint together and provides stability. A torn ACL or MCL may occur when landing wrong, changing direction, or from a direct blow to the knee. Pain, swelling, and loss of range of motion are symptoms of a torn ACL or MCL. Significant rehabilitation is necessary to restore the strength and function of the knee joint after injury.
Surgical treatment is usually advised in dealing with combined injuries (ACL tears in combination with other injuries in the knee). However, deciding against surgery is reasonable for select patients. Dr. Anden can offer you a wide variety of treatment options for knee pain such as: physical therapy, at-home exercises, Regenerative Injection therapy and ultrasound-guided cortisone injections.
Runners / Skier’s Knee
Runner’s knee or Skier’s knee, as we call it in Utah, is a painful condition that occurs when tendons, joint lining and/or other soft tissues of the knee become irritated. In addition to pain, runner’s knee may lead to popping and cracking. Switching to activities that do not stress knee joints may minimize problems.
Dr. Anden can refer you to physical therapy and educate you in at home stretching and exercises. Dr. Anden offers Regenerative Injection Therapy and ultrasound guided cortisone injections if required. Rarely, surgery may be an option for severe cases.
Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries are most common in any sport that involves a lot of overhead movement (tennis, swimming, weightlifting, baseball). These problems are generally due to repition and overuse. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, and weakness. Sports can also cause tightness and tenderness in the muscles around the shoulder, shoulder blade, upper and mid back area.
Ice, stretching and NSAIDS are a good place to start. Dr. Anden can refer you to physical therapy and educate you in at home stretching and exercises. Dr. Anden offers Regenerative Injection Therapy and ultrasound guided cortisone injections if required.
Tennis and Golfers Elbow
Tennis elbow is an overuse injury that may be associated with playing tennis or golf. Tennis Elbow causes pain on the outside of the elbow. Golfers elbow usually affects the inside of the elbow. Elbow pain involves inflammation of the tendons of the elbow caused by small tears. Rest and NSAIDS can help alleviate tennis elbow symptoms. Dr. Anden can refer you to physical therapy and educate you in at home stretching and exercises. Dr. Anden offers Regenerative Injection Therapy and ultrasound guided cortisone injections if required.
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles Tendonitis is an overuse injury causing pain, inflammation and or degeneration of the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle. The tendon may become thickened and, in some cases, bone spurs may develop in the area. Achilles tendonitis may be treated with rest, ice, stretching, and NSAIDS. In some cases an injection to reduce inflammation around the tendon may be required. Dr. Anden offers Regenerative Injection Therapy and ultrasound guided cortisone injections if required.
Back Pain
Back pain may be due to overuse, such as playing one too many rounds of golf or lifting heavy weights. This kind of back strain usually resolves on its own without treatment. Rest and anti-NSAIDS can provide relief. Using proper form when exercising and increasing the duration of workouts slowly can help protect the back. In some cases, it may be necessary to modify exercise technique or perform daily activities in a different way in order to reduce the risk of back injury. Please review our page on Back pain for additional information.
Sports Injury Prevention
Physical activity is an important part of maintaining overall health. However, certain precautions should be taken to minimize the risk of sports injuries. Starting activity slowly and gradually increasing strength, flexibility, and endurance gives muscles and other tissues the opportunity to adapt, minimizing the risk of injury. Finally, listening to the body and backing off at the first signs of pain will help reduce the risk of sports injuries.
If you have sustained a work-related injury, your employer may be responsible for helping you with lost wages or other accommodations. It is important to take the right steps when seeking medical treatment. First thing to do after being injured on the job is to NOTIFY your supervisor of the injury IMMEDIATELY. An injured employee, who fails to inform their employer within 30 days, may lose the right to workers’ compensation benefits.
Dr. Corey Anden has specialized in Work-Related Injuries for the past 30 years. You can be confident in her expertise to diagnosis and treat your problem. Our goal is to get you back to work!
Although there may be rare exceptions to this list, following it will leave you reasonably secure that your rights are protected:
- Report the injury. You should report the injury to your supervisor making clear your injury was caused by work. Under Utah law, you need to make the report within 30 days of the injury.
- Make sure your Supervisor prepares a company accident report. If your Supervisor won’t prepare the report, then you should write a letter stating the facts of your injury and give a copy of the letter to the Supervisor.
- Get a copy of the accident report and keep it in a safe place. If you prepare a letter, keep a copy of it.
- Keep notes of all significant contacts you have with anyone (including but not limited to supervisors, insurance company representatives and doctors) concerning your work injury.
- Under Utah law you should get medical care through the doctor selected by your employer. Don’t get frustrated if you are denied care. Keep demanding proper care through the insurance company.
- When seen, tell the doctor clearly and in great detail how your work caused your injury.
- At the doctors office, you will
- Follow all medical directions. If you don’t, your employer may argue that you chose not to get proper care and purposely stayed sick so you did not have to go back to work.
- If the doctor recommends you not do certain things at work, get the doctor to write that down and get at least 2 copies, one for the Supervisor and one for you to carry at work.
- Make sure that the doctor sends all bills to your employer for payment.
- If your employer and/or insurance company denies your medical care or the Company Doctor does not provide effective care, you have a right to seek effective medical care.
Back Pain during Pregnancy
As your body changes during pregnancy, your back must work in new ways. Like swollen ankles, a never-ending need to pee and the impossibility of finding a comfortable way to fall asleep, a sore back just seems to go with the territory for many pregnant women. It can be hard to tell whether it’s just standard pregnancy aches and pains or a sign of something else.
Physical changes to your body can strain your back and its supporting muscles. More baby in the uterus means your center of gravity is shifting, which can make your spine curve more, resulting in more strain on your back. The extra weight makes your muscles work harder, so your back is may become more fatigued as the pregnancy continues. Also, certain hormone levels increase during pregnancy. This can affect how the muscles and joints work together. All of these changes can lead to pain.
When should I go to the doctor with my back pain?
If it’s mild, let your OB know at your next visit, they may have some good ways to ease the pain. If it’s severe and came on all of the sudden it may be Sciatica. This is severe pain in your lower back and down your leg. You will probably want to seek the help of a specialist if you are experiencing Sciatica. Sometimes stomach cramps or contractions can feel like back pain, so pay attention to your pain and inform your OB.
What should I do to treat my back pain during pregnancy?
To help your back stay healthy, practice safe mechanics even early on in your pregnancy: squat to pick up the stray sock rather than bending forward from the waist. Once you start to get bigger, keep pain at a minimum by exercising regularly ( stretching, yoga, swimming or walking are gentle ways to exercise your body). At night, try sleeping on your side (a pillow between your knees can take pressure off your back).
The good news is, most of the time, back pain disappears almost immediately once pregnancy is over. If your pain is severe and intolerable, please contact our office to see if Dr. Anden can help you.
