Whiplash and Auto Accidents.

Neck injuries caused by a rapid movement of the head backward, forward, or side to side, is referred to as "Whiplash." Whether a result of a car accident, sport, or work injury, whiplash or other neck injuries warrant a thorough chiropractic check-up. The biggest danger is that the symptoms can take years to develop. Too often people don't seek treatment until more serious complications develop. Even after whiplash victims settle their insurance claims, between 39%-56% report they still suffer with symptoms two years later. But they don't report it because they are not feeling any symptoms at the time.

In the past, a typical whiplash injury where no bones were broken, was hard to document. Soft tissue injuries do not show up on x-ray and insurance companies would deny coverage. Literally adding insult to injury, the patient suffering all too real pain was considered to be a fraud, a liar, or at best a hypochondriac. New imaging devices (CAT Scans, Magnetic Imaging, and Ultra-Sound) may now show soft tissue injury and now insurance companies cover most whiplash injuries.

When no bones are broken  and the head doesn't strike the windshield, typical symptoms are as follows: 92% complain of neck pain, which typically starts two hours up to two days after the accident/injury. This is often the result of tightened muscles that react to either muscle tears or excessive movement of joints from ligament damage. The muscles tighten in an effort to splint and support the head, limiting the excessive movement.

About 57% of those suffering from whiplash complain of headaches. The pain may be on one side or both, on again off again or constant, in one spot or more generalized. These types of headaches, like the neck pain, are often the result of tightened, tensed muscles trying to keep the head stable and, like tension headaches, they are often felt behind the eyes.

Shoulder pain often described as pain radiating down the back of the neck into the shoulder blade area, may also be the result of tensed muscles, accounting for 49% of injuries caused by whiplash.

Muscle tears are often described as burning pain, prickling or tingling. More severe disc damage may cause sharp pain with certain movements, with or without radiation into the arms, hand and fingers, which are relieved by holding your hand over your head.

Why Chiropractic?

Chiropractic treatment is one of the only proven effective forms of care in the treatment chronic whiplash related injuries.  Through the use of carefully controlled pressures directed at the spine and various physical therapy modalities, combined with that of exercise and nutrition, whiplash sufferers have a better outcome. This is also known as chiropractic rehabilitation, and is the unique domain of the chiropractic physician.

Studies have demonstrated that without proper movement within the fixated spinal joints, osteoarthritis of the spine and nerve root complications may be accelerated.  If you have suffered any type of whiplash injury please Dr. Craig French of Chiropractic Wellness at Brier Creek a call at 919-596-2900.

REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY (RSI)


Repetitive Strain Injury is a condition caused by performing a repetitive task over a prolonged period of time. RSI is more commonly associated with shoulder, arm and hand pain resulting from working for extended periods of time whilst typing at a computer. However, RSI can also be associated with other joints in other areas of the body e.g. Back Pain.

RSI is commonly associated with performing repetitive manual tasks such as computer work, housework, typing and work of a laborious nature e.g. gardening, digging and construction. RSI may also result from pregnancy, stress and trauma.
Common symptoms of RSI can include:

• Upper part of the body: numbness, tingling, pain in the arm, thumb, index and also the middle finger and neck.
• Lower part of the body: back pain, numbness and tingling in the legs.

A commonly overlooked cause of RSI, is nerve problems originating from the spine. Spinal misalignments reduce normal vertebrae movement and will interfere with the nerves supplying different areas of the body. 


Chiropractic and Dr. Craig French look at how to successfully identify and treat the cause of this condition with early mobilisation of the wrist and or spine and if necessary referral to orthopaedic physician or other specialist depending on the case in question.


Office ergonomics plays a very important role in posture and its affects on spinal and joint conditions.

The Pregnant Patient!

During pregnancy, a number of body changes occur to the expectant mother, some physiological (changes in body chemistry and loosening of the ligaments) and endocrinological (hormonal). These changes occur for the purpose of creating an optimal environment for developing the baby and well being for the mother. During pregnancy, most women experience a number of biomechanical and neuromuscular problems which respond favorably to gentle safe chiropractic treatment, along with massage and exercise instruction.

Approximately 90% of pregnant women experience back pain. Although the majority experience back pain in their last trimester, studies have showed that symptoms often begin by the twelfth week.

Risk factors for low back pain during pregnancy include previous back problems, increased weight gain, age, and multiparty (having had more than one child). Neck and back pain primarily occur as a result of increased weight gain, change in the distribution of weight thereby causing an increased demand on the spinal and pelvic muscles. These stresses also alter the normal spinal curves and related biomechanics. The result is increased physical stress to the body leading to pain and discomfort. 

 Chiropractic is a primary health care profession that deals with a wide variety of these types of musculoskeletal disorders. All functions of the body are controlled by the nervous system. This system consists of the brain, spinal cord, nerve roots and all nerves in your body. These delicate structures are protected by the spinal column and pelvis. Any of these bones can lose their normal alignment and may contribute to the above symptoms. Additional symptoms include headaches, nausea or insomnia.

There is a large amount of research supporting the efficacy of chiropractic during pregnancy. The results of some of these studies are summarised below:

• Women who receive chiropractic adjustments in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy were able to carry and deliver children with more comfort. (1)
• The need for pain killers during delivery is reduced by up to a half. (2)
• Approximately 91% of pregnant women with sacroiliac joint pain achieved relief with manipulation. (3)
• Almost 3 times less back pain was experienced during labor when 
  manipulation was administered during pregnancy. (4)
• Women had a positive response to chiropractic treatment for pre and post partum symphysis pubis dysfunction. (5)

(1) American Medicine Association records released in 1987 during the trial in US District Court Northern Illinois Eastern Division, NO. 76C3777.

(2) Freitag, Per: - Expert testimony of Pertag M.D., Ph.D. Comparing the results of two neighbouring hospitals, U.S District Court Northern Illinois Eastern Division, No.76C3777, May 1987.

(3) Daley et al, (1991) Sacroiliac Subluxation: a common treatable cause of low back pain in pregnancy. Fam Prac ResJ, 11 (2) 149-159.

(4) Diakow, PR. Et al (1991) Back Pain during pregnancy and labour. JMPT 14 (2): 116-8

(5) Andrew & Pedersen (2003) A study into the effectiveness of Chiropractic treatment for pre and postpartum women with symphysis pubis dysfunction, Eur J of Chiropractic 48, 77-95.

If you are pregnant and live in Durham or the surrounding areas of Raleigh, Morrisville, Brier Creek, RTP,  NC, contact Chiropractic Wellness at Brier Creek to get on the road to recovery as soon as possible.

Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica: Durham, North Carolina

Being a Chiropractor in Durham, NC,  I see patients from most of Wake County and other parts of the state that suffer with sciatica.  After treatments with medications, rest, and physical therapy the problem persists because these treatments do not get to the cause of the sciatica the majority of the time.

 If you have pain that shoots down your leg, experience numbness or tingling in your leg or foot, have weakness in your legs or even soreness and pain by your butt, you could be experiencing sciatica. 

Medication at best will just cover up the pain of sciatica, but it will not correct it.  Taking medication is like if you went to the dentist for a toothache or painful cavity and the doctor said for you to take some pain medication and anti-inflammatories but not treat the cavity.  You know that the cavity would continue to decay and get worse, eventually needing drastic procedures to fix what could’ve been prevented in the first place.  Yet, this is the way most doctors treat patients and you follow their lead.

Physical therapy has a slightly higher success in treating the sciatica as many times the PT will first do some therapies like electric stimulation or ultrasound to ease the pain and decrease the swelling, then do some stretching to loosen the muscles and probably finish with some strengthening exercises to try to stabilize the area.  Short term this gives relief but this in long term can cause problems as the underlying cause is still not being corrected and doing these exercises will just splint the area in the imbalanced position.  The problem will further degenerate years down the road.

Chiropractors look for the cause of the problem.  Many look for misalignments called subluxations, where the vertebra move out of place/alignment, putting pressure on the nerve, therefor causing the symptoms of pain, numbness and tingling, and leg weakness.  These bones moving out of place/alignment can cause a herniated disc, swelling and degeneration in the long run. By performing chiropractic adjustments, chiropractors reposition the bones of the spine to remove the pressure on the nerve, thereby getting to the cause of the problem.

Would you like your health professional to find the cause of your back pain and sciatica so you can enjoy your normal daily activities and time with friends and family?  Would you like to finally live without the pain and prevent future problems?

If you answer yes to these questions, live in Durham or the surrounding areas of Raleigh, Morrisville, Brier Creek, RTP,  NC, contact Chiropractic Wellness at Brier Creek to get on the road to recovery as soon as possible.