Question
In Dec. of 2006 I was at a complete stop and was hit from behind, driver going between 35 - 45 MPH. My seatbelt popped off and I was pushed into oncoming traffic approx. 75 - 100 feet ahead. Luckily I was able to steer back into the proper lane before any traffic came, car was totaled. I went to the ER with pain in my wrist and soreness all over. I was given Motrin and Muscle Relaxers. A month later both wrist and back still hurting and I was sent to doctor #1. He examined me and gave me more Motrin. In March I still had some wrist pain but my back was worse, mostly from my waist up to my shoulder blades. Went back to doctor and he said it was not related to accident, I needed to exercise, and gave me more Motrin (he did x-ray wrist, no issues). I felt bad because this was a worker's comp case as I was driving for work, so I waited until the pain was much worse, 24/7 and went back in May. Had I not broken down in tears about the pain he probably would have done nothing, but he ended up referring me to a pain management doctor. At my 1st appt. w/doctor # 2 the workers comp got messed up and I wasn't seen. The next night, I was hit again from behind - only a bump, 26$ damage to rub out black bumper mark. Pain intensified from me anticipating and tensing up. Went to ER 2 days later, got more meds - Tylenol w/codeine. Finally was seen by doc #2 in early Sept. Diagnosed me w/thoracic spine out of alignment, sent me to PT, gave more meds (Motrin, muscle relaxers). Had PT for several months and had trigger point injections. Continued PT through Dec. of 2007 and several times my SI joint was out. Stopped PT for a month then saw doc # 2 again. Still in pain, better than when I started PT but still present varying on a scale of 1-10. Doc # ordered MRI's, but that got messed up and didn't have all areas done. Employee Health fed up and sent me to doc #3. Had x-rays - nothing showed on MRI or x-ray and doc #3 diagnosed me with rib dysfunction and sent me back to PT. Again it helped a little but pain still present. Stopped PT after a few months, and from March 2008 until now on Mobic, Lidoderm Patches and Pamelor and sometimes Motrin. I rarely take the Mobic, but regularly take Pamelor. Use Lidoderm patches as needed and was also given a TENS unit which I use 1 to 4 times a week. Pain still ranges on a scale of 1-10. See doc #3 every 6 months or as needed in the last year. In lawsuit against driver, scheduled to go back to doc #3 Nov. 5th, with settlement hearing Nov. 11th, if no settlement then court the following week. Lawyer called to say doc #1 and #3 not being helpful and case is falling apart. I am 38 years old and have never had any pain at all and am very healthy and active. The pain is worse when I lift things, do daily chores or am stressed. I am physically and emotionally drained from all of this. Am I crazy to think that the first accident has caused all these issues and that the second just irritated an already existing problem? That the meds I was taking, mostly the Motrin the first 3-4 months after accident, masked the pain and that because I was not diagnosed properly, as doc #3 told me, that things didn't heal properly and that made it worse? I cannot imagine that all of this pain I have is normal and not at all related to the first accident. I am trying to get referred to a chiropractor but time is running out. Please help!

Answer
Holly;

Not sure what state you are in, but here in Washington, you go see whoever you think will help you.  Any chiropractor worth their salt can help you, and miraculously so.  It's not a lack of pain meds and muscle relaxants that you are suffering from!  

I really wish you were here... I'm due for another miraculous case! (kidding)

My recommendation is to go to the SRISD.COM, it's a basic certification for DC's.   Everyone SAYS they specialize in whiplash cases like yours, it's another to actually have learned something about it.  If you DON'T find someone, come out to Seattle.  We'll take care of you, and if you don't get better, we won't charge you.  How's that for confidence?

GO.  Get better.

Dr. Peter Carr
Seattle, Washington