How CrashMD Stands Out in Post-Accident Pain Management

Check out this go-to guide that explains the CrashMD pain management approach after a car accident.

Written by CrashMD staff

Just like no car accident injury report is alike, healthcare professionals aren’t alike. In addition to there being varying degrees of bedside manner, beliefs and treatment approaches, there are a wide range of treatments and experiences a person can expect to receive based on the provider with which they choose to partner. 

When evaluating the provider who can provide the best post-accident pain care, it’s important to consider the best provider for you and your individual pain care needs. If you prefer a minimally-invasive approach, that is a big factor in treatment planning. Also, if you would like to avoid pain medications and surgical options at all costs, that could play a big part in how you are cared for. Additionally, you would want to receive care from a provider who is up to date on the most technologically-advanced as well as holistic methods as possible, depending on your needs and preferences. 

If you have recently been involved in a car accident and would like to partner with the best team of professionals who is dedicated to your overall health and well-being, the CrashMD pain management team is here for you. We pride ourselves on working together with our patients to learn their goals, accurately diagnose their symptoms, and craft a customized and comprehensive approach to help them experience the most immediate and long-term pain relief as possible, regardless of the complexity of the case. 

Conditions the CrashMD Team Treats

The goal of all pain relief treatment is to find the best approach for each patient. This could vary from only holistic-based approaches to alternative therapies to minimally-invasive techniques. The CrashMD team partners with each patient to provide the best and most customized treatment possible, which could include a variety of treatment options. 

The most common car accident conditions we treat include:

• Whiplash
• Migraines
• Back pain
• Hip plan
• Knee pain
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Nerve pain
• Scar tissue pain
• Inflammation

In addition to treating the pain symptoms, the CrashMD team works to address the root cause of pain. This approach helps the patient to not only experience immediate pain relief, but also to fix the injury so that any possible future complications are avoided. This helps patients to experience improved quality of life because they are able to enjoy their daily tasks and ideal lifestyle. 

Regardless if you are experiencing acute pain immediately after a car accident, or believe you are suffering from chronic pain due to not addressing the injury right after the accident, the CrashMD team can help. While early diagnosis and treatment is best, it is never too late to seek care and find the relief you need. 

Treatments the CrashMD Team Offers

The goal of all treatment is to comfortably and effectively alleviate pain and discomfort, and aid in the patient’s recovery. By utilizing state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and advanced treatment techniques, our team is expertly equipped to properly diagnose and treat all pain symptoms. Our patient-centered approach to pain care affords us the ability to truly partner with our patients and provide them with personalized pain relief to help them get back on their feet after their car accident. 

While treatment options range based on the severity of the injury, the most common treatment options include: 

• RICE: many acute pain symptoms can be alleviated by at-home methods, such as rest, ice, compression and elevation. However, if the pain symptoms get worse or more intense, it’s time for additional treatment. 
• Pain medication: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and pain relievers are helpful for reducing pain and can be especially helpful for allowing a person to more comfortably utilize other treatment methods, such as physical therapy. It’s important to note that long-term pain medication is not an ideal situation for patients as it can lead to drug dependency and possible side effects. 
• Physical therapy: a trained physical therapist can recommend specific exercises that help to strengthen the body, improve mobility and function, and relieve pain
• Occupational therapy: this therapy option helps patients to regain independence and cope with the effects of a car accident on their daily lives by helping to regain fine motor skills and focus on mental health, as well as other factors
• Stress management: by learning how to cope with stress through biofeedback, meditation and breathing techniques, a person can successfully learn how to manage their chronic pain and the stress associated with it (which in turn creates a heightened sensitivity to pain)
• Alternative treatments: acupuncture, chiropractic care and massages can all help to stimulate the body, reduce stress and pressure, and help the person to relax, which can lead to a reduction in pain symptoms
• Holistic approach: by treating the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of pain, and not just the symptoms, a person can both experience pain relief now as well as learn helpful tools in regard to how best care for their body and their mind, with benefits that could last for a lifetime 
• Joint injections: steroidal medication that is injected into the affected joint with the goal to reduce inflammation and pain, as well as increase mobility and function
• Trigger point injections: the direct injection of a corticosteroid and anesthetic into the trigger point, or knot, in the muscle with the goal to prevent the muscle from spasming and contracting, which helps the patient to find pain relief
• Epidural steroid injections: the injection of steroids into the epidural space around the spinal cord that helps to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain
• Nerve blocks: this procedure helps to relieve pain by injecting a corticosteroid and anesthetic near a nerve or the spinal cord, with the goal to stop the nerves from sending incorrect pain signals to the brain, which helps to treat chronic pain 
• Neuromodulation: using mild electrical current or targeted medication has proven helpful for preventing pain sensations from being sent to and received by the brain, thereby reducing a person’s perception of pain. This could include spinal cord stimulation (SCS) or an intrathecal pain pump. 
• Radiofrequency nerve ablation (RFA): by applying heat created from radiofrequency energy, RFA damages or destroys the nerves responsible for transmitting pain, which helps to provide long-lasting relief for chronic pain conditions. It’s often used after other treatment options have been tried but have failed to provide the patient with needed relief. 

The best way to determine which treatment option could be most effective for treating your acute or chronic pain symptoms is to partner with a highly-skilled pain management specialist who can assess your specific situation and take advantage of all available treatment tools to get you out of pain. The CrashMD team uses state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, such as X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and more, to be able to accurately diagnose the root cause of your pain. Then, after performing a physical exam, learning about any traumatic event you recently endured, what your pain symptoms feel like, reviewing your medical history, and learning about your health and lifestyle goals, the team will partner with you to create a customized treatment plan. We have found that it’s incredibly important for the patient to understand the “why” behind recommended treatment, and to recommend treatment that the patient is on board with. After all, we are working together to ensure optimal quality of life for the present, as well as for the future. 

Often, the best treatments include a comprehensive approach, which means treating the entire person, not just the symptoms. The best way to achieve this goal is to utilize a few or several options that all work together to help the patient experience the greatest result possible. This means that a patient could benefit from pain medication, physical therapy and alternative therapies, while another patient could benefit from a more holistic approach. 

Years of Experience

The last thing you want to do when experiencing an injury and subsequent pain is to place your care in a healthcare provider who either isn’t trained in pain management or who doesn’t have experience with your injury or symptoms. Not only does the CrashMD team have all necessary certifications, but they have years of experience with handling all aspects of pain management to provide each patient with the best post-accident pain care. In addition to our team being incredibly capable of diagnosing and treating all acute and chronic pain symptoms, we also have a network of other specialized providers who we can recommend to help you get the most comprehensive care, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, acupuncturists, and more. This means that you are never left wondering who to contact for your needs. We can make the best recommendations for the best providers who we have worked with for years and know they will provide our same standard of care. 

The goal is to always work together with each patient to ensure that not only their pain needs are being met, but that also their mental and overall well-being needs are being met. This requires more than just a diagnosis and a referral. It requires a long-term partnership, and one that we’re happy to provide.  

We always recommend the most minimally-invasive options first so that patients can avoid any unnecessary risks or side effects. If additional treatments are needed, such as injection therapy or neuromodulation, we make sure that previous methods have been exhausted before opting for this treatment. There are patients who need more long-term care options, which is okay! The goal is to help each patient by providing one-on-one care that helps to take the very best care of them. Please schedule an appointment today!