What Are 5 Signs You Should See A Chiropractor?

It can be hard to admit when we’re in pain and need help. We often tell ourselves that the pain we feel in our back or neck is because we were working too hard at work or we slept badly. We’ll brush the pain off and tell ourselves that it will improve in a day or two. Next thing you know, it’s been a week or more, and we’re still in the same amount of pain or worse. Most people don’t like going to the doctor unless they feel like they need to. Additionally, we associate seeing the chiropractor with specific injuries or medical conditions. However, we’ll explore five surprising signs that may indicate you need to see a chiropractor.

1. Do You Keep Getting Frequent Headaches? 

You may need to see a chiropractor if you find yourself getting frequent headaches or migraines. You may have pressure on your neck or spine, creating these frequent headaches. A misaligned spine can restrict blood flow, meaning your brain receives less of it, triggering headaches. By realigning your body, a chiropractor can improve your oxygen levels.

2. Do You Rely Too Much On Painkillers? 

It’s normal for adults to wake up, feel some pain like a headache, and take a couple of aspirin or ibuprofen. These painkillers are so common place you can buy them over the counter, including inside gas stations. However, while painkillers are good in a pinch, if you find yourself taking some every couple of days or more, you may have a problem that painkillers will only delay and not resolve.

3. Do You Have Decreased Mobility and Flexibility? 

As we age, we naturally start having less mobility and flexibility. Even if you try to stay active, you’ll quickly find that you’re not as agile as you once were. While this is a natural part of aging, that doesn’t mean treatment isn’t available. Unfortunately, there are no time machines or a fountain of youth. However, regular chiropractic sessions can help restore some loss of flexibility.

4. Do You Have Bad Posture?

We associate needing to see a chiropractor with the elderly and athletes that push themselves too hard in a big game. However, office workers can actually be very susceptible to issues like neck, back, and shoulder pain. Not only are they bound to be less physically active, but they often practice poor posture. It’s too easy to find yourself starting to slouch more as you spend eight hours a day typing away on your laptop. A chiropractor can help realign your body and advise you on practicing better posture going forward.

5. Do You Want To Make Lifestyle Changes?

Lastly, it might be time to visit a chiropractor if you want to make lifestyle changes such as improving your diet, becoming more active, relieving stress, sleeping better, etc. A chiropractor does more than realign your spine after you fall down. A chiropractor can help you lead a better lifestyle. Spinal manipulation itself increases blood flow and oxygen levels, leading to better digestion, less stress, and greater sleep. Regardless of your reasons, when you need a chiropractor in Catonsville, MD, our team can help. Call us today at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic!

Most of us drive every day without getting a second thought about how dangerous it can be. Nine times out of ten, you’ll never experience any real dangers as long as you’re smart about driving. However, tragedy can still strike; unfortunately, people sometimes die from a crash. In late November 2022, police responded to an incident on the 1900 block of W. Northern Parkway near Greenhaven Drive.

Around 3:30 p.m., a 2008 Nissan was heading to W. Northern Parkway. As they were driving, another car lost control, crashing into the road’s median strip and flipping over. Unfortunately, two people died—a 23-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man. While the exact cause as to why the vehicle lost control is unknown, many residents attest to how Northern Parkway is a “speedway.” So one person interviewed, Jill Yesko, wasn’t surprised a fatal accident occurred.

Other people in the area believe that rainy weather could have also played a role. Even when driving slowly and exercising extreme caution, weather conditions like rain can make navigating difficult. Unfortunately, two of the people involved could not survive the car crash.

Even when surviving a car crash, long-lasting injuries can occur. These injuries can range from minor bruises and scrapes to traumatic brain injuries. Likewise, medical treatments can also vary. Sometimes victims may just need to stay in the hospital overnight and pick up a prescription for pain medicine. Other times, however, victims may need a long road to recovery, including invasive surgeries.

Unfortunately, surgery can only do so much, and while it can save a victim’s life, it may not always restore their range of motion or flexibility. For these reasons, people often need physical therapy. Sometimes physical therapy is highly recommended by your primary care provider, and other times might be a supplement or alternative to current treatments.

Car crashes can also lead to strokes or stroke-like symptoms. Physical therapy can help keep a patient’s muscles active and toned, maintain circulation, and prevent overall stiffness. By returning functionality to these areas, a patient will be more likely to recover. While physical therapy can’t always completely restore a patient’s functionality before a crash, it can greatly help. Physical therapy can prevent you from needing invasive surgeries and can mean the difference between whether or not a person can walk again.

There’s a misconception that physical therapy is only for major injuries or following surgery. However, even people with minor injuries or minor conditions can benefit from physical therapy. Additionally, you don’t necessarily seek physical therapy after invasive surgery. Instead, it’s often recommended to undergo physical therapy to avoid surgery. Of course, surgery is sometimes necessary, but physical therapy can sometimes be the better alternative.

While it’s not always possible to avoid car crashes or strokes, help is available should these events happen. When you require Baltimore, MD, physical therapy, our Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic office can help by prescribing you or your loved ones with the right treatment plans!

Every time we step inside our vehicles, we assume some risk. Although today’s vehicles have plenty of new safety features, accidents can still happen. Many of these features are to minimize safety risks, but they can’t completely prevent them. Unfortunately, sometimes these accidents can be out of our hands with common safety risks, including the following:

Weather Conditions 

Certain weather conditions make it harder to drive. In particular, winter storms can be extremely nasty. While it’s good practice to avoid the roads during an intense blizzard, some drivers still are forced to drive during lots of snow and ice to get to work or other locations. Besides the initial winter storm, snow and ice can make roads hard to navigate several days or weeks later—especially during freezing temperatures. However, even rainstorms can make it challenging to drive.

Road Conditions 

Road conditions themselves can make it hard to drive. Crumbling infrastructure is a significant problem in the United States and can be cumbersome in rural areas.

Actions of Other Drivers 

Actions that specific drivers take can also trigger accidents. Issues like distracted driving, driving while under the influence, reckless driving, etc., can all cause accidents.

Bowie, MD, Accident 

Earlier in Bowie, MD, in May 2022, two people died after a fiery car crash. The current reasons for what caused the impact are still unknown. However, authorities do know that a car drove off the road, hit a pole, and caught on fire.

Recovering After a Car Crash 

Sometimes, a car crash can claim the lives of victims. Many times, however, victims can survive, but their road to recovery can vastly differ. Even minor fender-benders can cause injuries that victims will need to deal with. Following a car crash, it’s instrumental in calling the authorities and seeking medical attention. You may have internal injuries even if you don’t see any injuries at first glance. Having EMTs check you or visiting your primary care provider should always be your first step.

Afterward, you can seek treatment, including chiropractic care. While you should never substitute chiropractic care for primary care, there are plenty of benefits. In some cases, chiropractic care can even help you avoid surgeries. While surgeries are sometimes necessary, other times, alternative care can be an option. Surgery can be highly invasive, disrupt your life, and extend your recovery time. Chiropractic care can also help mitigate reduced flexibility, pain, or discomfort that surgery can’t help with. Another way chiropractic care can help following a car crash is by reducing a victim’s reliance on pain medication.

While pain medication serves a purpose, many people agree that sometimes we rely too heavily on medication. Sometimes, people become addicted to certain types of pain medication. Also, medication is often a temporary solution that helps treat symptoms but may not target the problem. Again, you should never substitute chiropractic therapy for your primary care, but sometimes you can use it to complement existing treatments. Our Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic can help pair you with a chiropractor Bowie, MD, when you call us today!

Around 12:45 a.m., on November 19th, 2022—a Saturday—police from Glen Burnie Barrack received a report about a five-car collision that occurred on Interstate 97, Route 32, southbound. Occurring in Anne Arundel County, this crash first began when Asia Lashae Bryant-Pelloni, 30, a resident of Bowie, Maryland, crashed her 2009 Honda Accord into a 2012 Ford Fiesta.

This preliminary crash prompted a 2017 Honda CRV driver to try to avoid the collision by swerving. By swerving, however, they then crashed into a 2019 Nissan Sentra. A fifth vehicle, a 2013 Cadillac SRX, crashed into debris from collisions. Unfortunately, this crash took the life of Brian Mahaney, 68, of Annapolis, a passenger in the 2012 Ford Fiesta.

Asia Lashae Bryant-Pelloni was arrested and reported to be impaired while driving. Alongside being charged with impaired driving, Bryant-Pelloni was also charged for:

• Vehicular homicide while impaired
• Negligent vehicular manslaughter
• Negligent vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol

Unfortunately, events like these happen more than they should. Even as vehicles become safer, factors like impaired driving can quickly throw safety features out of the window. Currently, there’s not much information regarding what happened to the other drivers and passengers. For Brian Mahaney, unfortunately, the crash resulted in taking his life.

The other drivers and passengers may require physical therapy or chiropractic care. Even smaller collisions, such as the one driver colliding with wreckage, can result in serious physical injuries. While chiropractic care is never a substitute for receiving help from a primary care provider, it can help to complement treatment.

Many car crash victims find themselves with lingering effects from a crash. Even if they don’t need to receive surgeries or extensive physical therapy, they can still have tense muscles, neck, back, and shoulder pain.

The proper treatment plan can help victims recover after a car crash. Chiropractic care brings many benefits, whether they have extreme injuries that require surgery or minor discomfort. Some of these benefits are:

• Helps a victim’s body release anti-inflammatory chemicals. These chemicals reduce their internal swelling and promote greater healing.
• Chiropractic care can help ease their pain if a person suffers from whiplash.
• Many victims suffered from reduced flexibility after a car crash due to misaligned spine joints. Chiropractic care can restore flexibility by realigning a person’s spine and joints.
• Chiropractic care can also reduce scar tissue. Following a car crash, it’s normal for tendons and muscles to get damaged. Your body will naturally try to heal them by forming scar tissue. Unfortunately, this can cause discomfort and stiffness. Chiropractic care can speed up scar tissue healing effects.
• Sometimes it’s necessary to undergo surgery following a traumatic event like a car crash. However, chiropractic care can also prevent victims from needing surgery.

Car crashes happen daily and can be deadly when a driver is impaired. While visiting an Annapolis, MD chiropractor should never be a substitute for a primary care provider, it can help aid your recovery process. Reach out to our Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic team today to see if treatment is right for you!

Visiting a theme park like Six Flags, Universal Orlando Resort, or Disney World is a magical experience for most people. Whether you enjoy the rides, the unusual foods not found anywhere else, or just the overall atmosphere, there’s plenty of fun. While these destinations are most well-known for their rides, plenty of other entertainment options exist.

Scott Nelson, known as Murrugun The Mystic, is a busker, actor, and overall entertainer. One incredible feat he does is sword swallowing. While entertaining at Six Flags in Bowie, MD, Murrugun suffered from nearly devastating injuries, slashing his abdomen during one of his sword-swallowing shows. Thankfully, first responders were already on the scene due to a different incident.

Eventually, Scott Nelson made it to a D.C. hospital, where he’s been unable to eat solid foods for over a month. He also noted that the incident pierced one of his liver’s lobes. Despite this incident, Scott was able to look at the positives, saying he’s now stopped smoking and has lost around 50 pounds. Unfortunately, some reports suggest that the physicians had to remove major parts of one of his lungs.

It’s unclear if or when Scott will return to work and if he does, if he will still participate in sword-swallowing activities. Despite the damage caused, the accident could have been much more fatal, and Murrugun The Mystic is likely to have a long road toward total recovery.

Scott Nelson’s situation is unique, and most Americans don’t have to worry about getting their abdomen slashed by swallowing swords. However, even without the threat of swallowing swords, many Americans do experience physical injuries. These can stem from a singular event—like a car crash—or can be a culmination of events such as repetitive motions from their daily work.

Many of these situations can call for the help of physical therapy. Although we think of physical therapy as only helping athletes, the elderly, or car crash victims, physical therapy can treat various conditions and general pain. Some situations where physical therapy can help include the following:

• Recovery after a major surgery
• Reducing your chronic pain
• Improving your overall health, wellness, and lifestyle
• Healing from a specific injury

For many, physical therapy is also much more than helping you recover after a specific incident. Like doctors, many physical therapists emphasize long-term care and solutions versus short-term solutions. This emphasis means giving you the tools and knowledge to lead a healthier and happier lifestyle. For example, your physical therapist may teach you different exercise routines that you can take home with you. Of course, physical therapy also includes on-site sessions.

During these sessions, your physical therapist may use various tools and equipment like weights and exercise bands. These tools are designed to help you strengthen your body. When working with a physical therapist, they should prescribe a treatment plan designed for your specific needs. Whether you need help recovering from a specific injury or want to lead a healthier lifestyle, Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic can help. Call today to schedule a Bowie, MD physical therapy session.

On Dec. 6, a two-vehicle accident occurred in Fairfax County, leaving one person dead. A commercial truck was making a left-hand turn onto Prosperity Avenue when 19-year-old David Mendez-Hernandez was speeding and lost control of his vehicle. He hit the truck and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

Common Myths About Chiropractic Care

If you were recently hurt in a car accident, you may benefit from chiropractic care. However, you might have heard some misinformation about this type of care that is making you reluctant to get it. Here are a few common myths about chiropractic care that you should not believe.

• Chiropractic treatment hurts. Nobody likes to experience pain, which is one of the most common reasons why people may avoid chiropractic treatment. They may assume the cracking and popping sounds mean the treatment is painful. Luckily, this is not true. Chiropractic treatment is designed to relieve pain, not cause it. While the chiropractic adjustments may be slightly uncomfortable at first, they are not painful.

• If you take pain medicine, you do not need chiropractic care. After a car accident, your doctor may prescribe you pain medication to help alleviate pain. While prescription painkillers are effective, the effects are only temporary. Eventually your body will get used to the medication and you will have to keep taking more to get the same results. That is why it may be beneficial to get chiropractic care. A chiropractor will treat the root cause of the pain, which will make a bigger difference.

• Chiropractic care is too expensive. Some car accident victims opt out of chiropractic treatment because they assume they can’t afford it. However, chiropractic care is more affordable than people think. It is certainly less costly than undergoing surgery. Many insurance companies also recognize that chiropractic treatment is effective and include it in their plans.

• You will need chiropractic care forever. This is another common myth about chiropractic care. The number of chiropractic sessions you need will depend on the type and severity of your injury. After giving you a proper evaluation, a chiropractor can estimate how many sessions you will require for your condition.

• Chiropractic care can only treat back pain. Back pain is certainly one one of the most common ailments chiropractic care treats, but it is not the only one. Chiropractic care is effective at treating many other conditions, like neck pain, shoulder pain and muscle aches.

• Chiropractic care is not safe. Some people shy away from chiropractic care because they assume adjustments are not safe. While it might look that way at first, chiropractic adjustments are completely safe, as long as they are performed by a trained chiropractor. Chiropractic care actually has fewer side effects than surgery and prescription pain medication.

If you are thinking about getting chiropractic treatment after a car accident, you should schedule an appointment with a Bowie, MD chiropractor from Mid Atlantic Spinal & Rehab & Chiropractic as soon as possible.

If you have been dealing with chronic pain, whether from a health condition or accident,  you may want to think about going to physical therapy. A physical therapist may perform various non-invasive treatments to help reduce your pain and restore your range of motion. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about physical therapy.

What Will Happen During My First Physical Therapy Appointment?

If you have your first physical therapy appointment coming, you are probably curious about what will happen. The initial session is typically more involved because your physical therapist will ask you questions about your medical history and perform tests to determine your strength, balance, mobility, range of motion and palpation. 

Once the examination is over, your physical therapist will have a better idea about your condition and can come up with the proper treatment plan. He or she may use several therapies to treat your condition, like massage, electrical stimulation and ultrasound. Your physical therapist may also have you perform some exercises.

How Many Sessions Will I Require?

Everyone is different. Some people may need just a few physical therapy sessions while others may need to attend physical therapy much longer. Generally, the more severe your condition is, the more sessions you will need. During your initial visit, your physical therapist can estimate how many sessions you will need.

Do I Have to Do Home Exercises?

In order to get the most out of physical therapy sessions, you have to play an active role in your treatment. Your physical therapist will most likely assign you exercises to do outside of your sessions. While these exercises might make you feel sore at first and be tedious, it’s necessary to do them. They can help you recover faster. If you have trouble performing certain exercises, let your physical therapist know.

What Should I Wear to My Physical Therapy Appointments?

During your physical therapy, your therapist may have you move around quite a bit. As such, you will want to wear loose and comfortable clothes, like sweatpants and a t-shirt. Then, you can move around freely and feel constricted.

If I Recently Had Orthopedic Surgery, Will Physical Therapy Help Me Heal Faster?

Yes. In fact, your doctor will likely advise you to go to physical therapy after your surgery. Although surgery is sometimes necessary, it can put your body through a lot of stress. Physical therapy can improve your strength, reduce swelling and increase your range of motion. You may start feeling better after just a few sessions.

Is Physical Therapy Painful?

Some people are reluctant to go to physical therapy because they assume it will be painful. However, as long as you go to a licensed physical therapist, it should never be painful. You may experience some soreness after your session, which is perfectly normal.

If you have been dealing with pain, you may want to consider attending Baltimore, MD physical therapy at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic.

A car went down an embankment and landed in a creek southeast of Hagerstown on Oct. 31, leaving the driver dead. The two passengers in the vehicle made it safely out of the car and were transported to a hospital to receive treatment for their injuries. They are in stable condition. According to police, the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed. Witnesses said that the driver lost control of the vehicle on the wet road.

Tips for Attending Physical Therapy After a Car Accident

If you were injured in a car accident, you may want to give physical therapy a chance. The therapy focuses on non-invasive treatments and can help restore your range of motion. Here are some tips for attending physical therapy after a car accident.

• Set realistic goals. Before you go in for physical therapy, it is important to have a realistic mindset. Do not set goals that are impossible to achieve because you will just be disappointed. For example, if you suffered severe leg injuries in a car accident, you might not be able to run that 5k next month. However, you may be able to go on short walks after several physical therapy sessions.

• Be honest. Your physical therapist can’t fully help you if you are not completely truthful. Always be honest no matter what. If you have not been doing your exercises at home, let your physical therapist know. If you feel a lot of pain after performing your exercises, inform your therapist.

• Attend all of your appointments. After giving you an evaluation, your physical therapist will estimate how many sessions you will need. It is important to commit to your physical therapy schedule. Do not stop going to your appointments if you start to feel better sooner than expected. Likewise, don’t give up on physical therapy if you don’t see improvement after a couple of sessions. Be patient and trust the process.

• Don’t be afraid to speak up. It is important to be an active participant in your physical therapy sessions. If you have any questions or concerns, you should let your physical therapist know. For instance, if your therapist is using too much pressure during a massage, do not be afraid to speak up.

• Wear comfortable clothes. When you come in for your physical therapy sessions, you need to keep your comfort in mind. You will be moving around a lot, so choose loose and comfortable clothes, like a t-shirt and sweatpants.

• Perform your exercises. In addition to in-office treatments, your physical therapist will likely assign you exercises to do at home. While these exercises may get tedious after a while, it’s essential to perform them regularly. They will help you get stronger and recover faster.

If you have sustained injuries in a car accident, you should schedule an appointment with a Bowie, MD physical therapist, like one from Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, as soon as possible.

One person died and two people were left critically injured in a car accident in Davidsonville on Nov. 8. A pickup truck was traveling eastbound on Central Avenue and crossed into the westbound lane, got out of the roadway and hit a tree. Then, the truck caught fire. The front-seat passenger got stuck in the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and backseat passenger were transported to the hospital for critical injuries.

Why Chiropractic Care Is Beneficial After a Car Accident

Car accidents can cause some pretty serious injuries. While many people know to seek emergency medical care after a vehicle crash, not everyone considers the benefits of chiropractic care. If you were recently in a car accident, you may want to see a chiropractor. Here’s why:

• Alleviate pain. Whether you suffered a back, neck or shoulder injury during a car accident, you may experience chronic pain. The pain can make it difficult to perform everyday activities. That is one good reason to see a chiropractor. He or she can perform a spinal adjustment, which may help you release pain-relieving hormones.

• Reduce scar tissue. After you sustain an injury in a car accident, your body may form scar tissue to try and heal them. However, too much scar tissue can cause chronic pain and stiffness. You may live in discomfort and have trouble moving around freely. A chiropractor can break up the scar tissue through non-invasive therapies.

• Offer a non-invasive approach. Many people turn to prescription medication and surgery to treat car accident injuries. While these treatments are sometimes necessary, they can come with serious side effects. Chiropractic care, on the other hand, is non-invasive, so it has minimal side effects.

• Identify unknown injuries. Not all car accident injuries are immediately obvious. Whiplash, for example, can take a while to present symptoms. That’s another good reason to make an appointment with a chiropractor. This healthcare professional can identify injuries that you may have missed and treat them accordingly.

• Restore range of motion. After getting injured in a car accident, you may have trouble moving around like you did before. For instance, if you injured your neck, you may have difficulty moving your neck fully. A chiropractor can perform adjustments to help restore your range of motion.

• Enhance your personal injury claim. If you were hurt in a car accident caused by another driver, you may have decided to pursue a personal injury claim. After all, you deserve proper compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other losses. Seeing a chiropractor may actually help strengthen your claim. He or she can provide you with documentation to make sure that your medical expenses are paid for.

If you were injured in a car accident, you should schedule an appointment with a Annapolis, MD chiropractor, like one from Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, today.

Visiting the chiropractor is very beneficial for more people, and a chiropractor Catonsville, MD patients trust can also provide preventive care. Taking advantage of chiropractic preventative care could help you to avoid the typical pains and ailments that people experience later in life. No matter what your lifestyle, you may benefit from chiropractic care. There is no need to wait to start preventive treatment that will work to keep your body in good health and avoid issues that could occur later otherwise. Contact us today at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic to schedule your initial appointment where you can ask questions, learn more about the chiropractic method, voice any concerns you may have, get a physical evaluation, and more.

1. Exercise Regularly
   A regular exercise routine can help to keep your body moving and active. Regular moving is beneficial to the body to keep it functioning properly and help to keep your mobility. Your chiropractor can recommend specific exercises that will assist your body with increased muscle, joint movement, heart health and circulation, and more.

2. Visit the Chiropractor Regularly
   Regular adjustments performed by your qualified and experienced chiropractor can help to keep your spine and body in proper alignment so that it continues to function as it should. Your chiropractor will work with you to keep your body running and functioning at its prime. Chiropractic care is a more natural method of treatment and avoids the use of medications and surgeries, assisting you with natural healing and recovery.

3. Maintain a Healthy Weight
   It is hard on the body to carry extra weight, especially on your joints and spine. Losing some weight or maintaining a healthy weight can help you stay healthy, relieve pain, and reduce stress on your joints. Many people also feel more energy and a renewed confidence after losing weight, which could be an added benefit you experience too after losing weight.

4. Stretch
   Keeping your muscles loose and stretched can help to keep your mobility up and your body feeling good. Your chiropractor can recommend stretches that will be good for your body specifically and be a helpful addition to your preventive chiropractic care. We recommend that you stretch your muscles regularly to stay loose and active.

Contact Us Today

You don’t have to wait to start working on your health. During your initial consultation, our chiropractor can perform a physical evaluation, answer all of your questions, explain the chiropractic method to you, listen and respond to your concerns, and more. There’s no need to wait to start preventative chiropractic care, because waiting could worsen an existing condition or allow something to pop up that could be avoided or prevented. We would be happy to discuss your preventive treatment options and get you the information you need about chiropractic care. Contact us today to get started on your treatment, have a physical evaluation done. And more. We look forward to hearing from you!