The Connection Between Your Auto Accident And Thyroid Problems

In the immediate and distant aftermath of an auto accident, you might find your quality of life compromised by a series of physical ailments whose symptoms are intense and somewhat debilitating but whose precise underlying causes are mysterious.

Getting at the heart of your ailments seems the more impossible, since your recurring discomfort occurs throughout your body, especially in your neck/head region. Also, your moments of acute pain come and go randomly or remain with you constantly, a muted unease that flares intermittently. Occasionally, you find yourself inexplicably bedridden and/or lethargic, irritable and throbbing.

You can't quite put your finger on the source of your problem and, unfortunately, neither can your doctor. Results from your most recent battery of tests say nothing is wrong with you. But you know better.

You might be among a percentage of an estimated 50+ million Americans with undiagnosed thyroid conditions caused by musculoskeletal trauma. More common a condition than is widely believed, an underperforming or incorrectly performing thyroid can adversely affect your metabolism, energy levels, mood, immune system, brain functions and can further exacerbate your overall physical aches and pains. General musculoskeletal pain and neck pain in particular are both symptoms and causes of thyroid issues. Here's how.

Essentially, trauma to your neck can affect your thyroid and subsequently open you up to a wider assortment of physical ailments. Your affected thyroid then becomes the source of more physical pain. In short, musculoskeletal trauma begets bodily pain and disrupts the thyroid--which causes more musculoskeletal pain. Thus the debilitating cycle ensues.

One unusual case study was reported of a patient with a hyperactive thyroid was plagued by developing a thryoid storm post-accident.[1] Thyroid storm is a life-threatening health condition that is associated with untreated or undertreated hyperthyroidism. During thyroid storm, an individual’s heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature can soar to dangerously high levels. Without prompt, aggressive treatment, thyroid storm is often fatal. Thyroid injury during a motor vehicle accident (MVA) can occur without direct neck trauma [2]

Research conducted some years back uncovered connections between trauma from auto accidents and thyroid lesions and hypothyroidism.[3] Drivers who survived auto accidents realized years later the accidents had injured their thyroid glands, in turn creating problems that persisted long after bones healed. In the interim, subjects experienced visceral pain that seemed to emanate from nowhere. Even worse, when their doctors ran thyroid tests, results came back normal. Doctor and patient were at a loss.

Consequently, the doctor merely prescribed pain meds to the patient. The meds only masked the pain, never getting at the core issue. This is because treating trauma from injuries without assessing adverse affects of trauma upon the thyroid will not necessarily cancel out the pain. Patients who have endured years of pain meds and various therapies targeting their physical trauma alone can potentially find themselves riddled with pain indefinitely, since the underlying cause is a subtle, undiagnosed thyroid issue precipitated by the initial trauma.

Luckily, these scenarios do not have to be the case. Relying on pain meds and other prescriptions that merely blanket symptoms and never address the underlying problem is not the only option. A first step toward discovering and addressing what is really wrong might entail discovering and undergoing a new set of tests and evaluations.

Of greater value is the necessity for approaching the issues of chronic pain in a way that capitalizes upon prevailing medical knowledge without limiting individuals to a simple diagnosis=prescription drugs paradigm. In my practice and throughout my career, I have devoted myself to assisting chronic pain sufferers with rooting out the causes of chronic pain in hopes of arming them with a means to take preventative action.

I do this by asking lots of questions and getting to know you and your medical history. I use questionnaire that look at your hormones, immune system, digestive system and overall metabolic system. Bearing in mind what I learn about you, I employ a series of diagnostic tests to get at the heart of what's causing your pain.

All of my therapies address the delicate balance of neurological and metabolic protocols. Because thyroid problems are often the cause of/caused by metabolic/neurological ratios that are slightly out of proportion in any given patient, I target these specifically and holistically. This is what sets my approach to addressing musculoskeletal pain apart from that of other specialists.

I do not use drugs of any kind nor conduct surgery. The key is isolating the unique balance between the thyroid and the whole body, finding out what's off and correcting it. Easier said than done but not impossible. The main benefit is you remain fully in charge of your capacities and won't have to bother with the perpetual fogginess pain meds often induce.

Some standout therapies that are useful for alleviating overall musculoskeletal pain include:

Chiropractic structural adjustment that focuses on the nervous system and the relationship the spine and nervous system have with each other AND the relationship between the nervous system and ALL other body functions.
WAVE—Whole Body Advanced Vibration Exercise: Based upon techniques used with cosmonauts to prevent bone mineral loss after performing space exploration, Whole Body Vibration (WBV) is the equivalent of safely performing thousands of muscle contractions per minute. Benefits include increased metabolism (thyroid), improved flexibility and bone density, and a decrease in chronic pain.
Cold LASER Therapy (Low Level Laser Therapy or LLLT): LLLT therapy is an FDA-cleared treatment that has been shown to decrease pain and inflammation, speed healing, and more. By directing specific frequencies of LASER and near infrared light to the body, this painless treatment can accelerate the healing process and increase circulation. LLLT has been clinically shown to help with carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, RSDS, fibromyalgia, and other painful conditions. I received specialized training for the cold laser from Dr. Jeff Spencer, who was the team doctor for eight consecutive Team U.S.A. Tour De France wins.

We feature these and a host of other unique therapies at Johnson Chiropractic Neurology & Nutrition. I'm always happy to elaborate on any of our therapies. Be encouraged and know you have options and hope. Your victory over your health challenge is at hand. Take the first step toward improved health today. Also check out my YouTube page to view patient testimonials.

For more details about the natural approach I take with my patients, take a look a the book I wrote entitled: Reclaim Your Life; Your Guide To Revealing Your Body's Life-Changing Secrets For Renewed Health. It is available in my office or at Amazon and many other book outlets.

If you found value in this article, please use the social sharing icons at the top of this post and please share with those you know who are still suffering with low thyroid symptoms or other chronic health challenges, despite receiving medical managment. Help me reach more people so they may regain their zest for living! Thank you!