Woman with neck and back pain. Woman rubbing his painful back close up. Pain relief concept

Whiplash:
A Common Injury Treated With Medical Massage

Receiving medical massage therapy after an auto injury is recognized as one of the most effective treatments for relieving pain & recovering from your soft tissue injury (muscles, tendons, ligaments).

What do I need before my first appointment?

1. Car Insurance

Car Insurance is what will cover the cost of your massage visits. If you have PIP (Personal Injury Protection) your medical massage appointments are covered 100%. Our administrative staff can help you determine if you have the proper coverage, or you can complete the online intake form here. Find out more about PIP below.

2. Open Claim

Step-by-Step guide to open your claim:

Call your insurance company to report the accident.
Ask your insurance company to confirm you have PIP and amount of coverage.
Get your claim number and the number to the claims office.
Call the claims office and speak to the claims adjuster assigned to your claim.
Ask the adjuster to mail your PIP application if they require it.
Provide your claim number, claim adjusters name & number when you call our office. 360-527-9566.

3. Prescription/Referral

You will need a prescription from a referring provider. A referring provider can be a DO, MD, ND, ARNP, PA-C or DC. The prescription determines what areas of the body need treatment and for how long to treat. Healing can take several months & in some cases well over a year. If you don't have a provider or you need an appointment sooner, that's okay - check out a list of amazing walk-in clinics here.

Click here if you were in a Motor Vehicle Collison to complete the Initial Intake form - Insurance & claim info. Note: This is not the new patient paperwork.

What the heck is PIP & how does it help me?

Personal Injury Protection or PIP is a crucial component to your car insurance coverage. PIP is what covers medical expenses for the driver and passengers for injuries sustained from a car accident. It is no cost to use, even if you are found to be at fault. Unfortunately, many people don't have PIP and we hate for people to miss out on receiving the massage (and other treatments) their bodies desperately need to recover, so check your coverage today!

Find out more about PIP here:

PIP is no-fault, so it does not matter who caused the collision, your covered!
By law, your insurance company cannot raise your rates for using PIP.
Use your PIP benefits, that is why you paid premiums to your insurance company!
By law, your insurance company cannot cancel your policy for using PIP.
PIP coverage costs so little to add to your plan (around $5/month) and at minimum will cover $10,000 per claim. Since the cost is so nominal, most people opt for the the next step up - $35,000 PIP coverage - since we all know how fast medical expenses can add up fast. Seriously, get hip to the PIP 🙂 You won't regret it.
Below is similar to what PIP option will look like on your policy:

Click to play

Once we determine your car insurance coverage and receive your prescription you are all set to schedule your massage appointments and start feeling better!

How can I make my first appointment?

We have appointments Monday - Saturday with our first appointment starting at 8:15am and the last at 7:00pm. You can complete our online intake form above or contact us online, text us at 360-220-4619 or simply give our office a call at 360-527-9566 to complete the initial intake process or schedule additional appointments. Our friendly admin staff can help you find the right day, time and therapist that suits your needs and gives them chance to a talk to you about any other details or answer your questions.

Motor Vehicle Accident FAQ

What are some common whiplash symptoms?

Neck pain & stiffness
Swelling, bruising, redness
Fatigue
Dizziness
Difficulty concentrating
Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
Tenderness or pain in shoulder, upper back or arms
Sleep disturbances
Memory problems
Irritability

What will my massage treatment entail?

During your 1st massage appointment, your massage therapist will complete a thorough intake with you, including reviewing with your paperwork. They will be taking notes so subsequent therapists can review and so you don't have to explain the details over and over. Once you're on the table, they will work slowly to address have trauma stored in your nervous system, so the body can relax to get ready for healing. They will be evaluating your injuries assessing the best course of treatment for you based on what stage of inflammation your body is at. Each massage treatment is designed to meet your individual needs.

Why is Medical Massage good for my Injury?

Accident related injuries cause micro-tearing of muscle and other supportive tissues requiring repair and protection by scar tissue. You may only start to experience pain once the muscle has begun to heal and scar tissue starts to form. Scar tissue lays down in haphazard formations similar to fiberglass and may cause the underlying bone, tissue and muscle fibers to get “stuck” together. You experience this as a pulling or tightness that results in a loss of flexibility or range of motion. Massage is the most effective treatment for breaking up and realigning scar tissue and increasing mobility. Source: https://dreamclinic.com/massage-therapy/massage-for-whiplash

What to do if you don't feel symptoms immediately?

What to do if I don’t feel whiplash right away?

Because of the rush of adrenaline after an accident, you may believe you haven’t been injured even though you have been. Adrenaline supercharges your body and blocks the sensation of pain. You may also think you haven’t been injured just because an accident seems to be minor.

Whenever you’re in a car accident, it’s important to have your doctor or an urgent care doctor examine you for any possible injuries. Doctors are specially trained to identify signs of injury after an accident even if you aren’t experiencing pain.

You may be surprised if signs of whiplash suddenly ensue weeks after a car accident. Symptoms of accident injuries are sometimes delayed, which why it’s a good idea you should not sign any kind of form from the car insurance stating that you are not injured.

https://megeredchianlaw.com/blog/dont-feel-whiplash-injury-right-away/amp/

What are some lesser known facts about whiplash?

What are some lesser know facts about whiplash?

Whiplash can affect the entire body, not just the neck.
During the first 24 hours after an accident, use ice on an injury site. This helps to keep pain in check and swelling under control.
Symptoms may hit you right after the accident, or they could take days or weeks to develop. Make sure to keep a record of which symptoms you are experiencing and when so that you can tell your medical professional.
Whiplash happens at all speeds. You don’t have to slam into a brick wall at 40 MPH to get whiplash. Researchers have actually shown that whiplash can happen at low-speed crashes less than 5 MPH. Also, a rear impact at only 10 MPH can whip your head forward with a force of up to 9 Gs (a “G” being the gravitational pull on the earth). Impact speed does not always correlate with a whiplash injury.
X-Rays don’t always show fractures. When you go to the ER, the doctor may order X-Rays of your neck. Often, there will be no sign of fracture. But you still may suffer pain; this can be due to a straightening of the curvature of the cervical spine. Sometimes fractures are not even visible until they start to heal, which means they would not be seen right after an accident.

Will I be sore after my massage?

Maybe. It can be normal to feel sore after a massage. The technique carries blood and nutrients to your muscles while eliminating toxins. After stimulating muscles that you may not usually use, you might experience delayed onset muscle soreness. This is a physical response to the inflammation as your body heals.

This can happen if your muscles aren’t accustomed to massage or if you have lactic acidosis, which is a buildup of lactic acid in your body. In the same way that your body gets used to working out, your muscles need time to get used to being manipulated in certain ways.

You may experience inflammation and soreness in areas that need healing. If you have neck pain after a massage, for example, it can be a sign that you carry a lot of tension in that area. You may have limited flexibility and mobility in your neck due to working at a desk or bending forward repeatedly.

If you haven’t had a massage recently or if it’s your first one, it’s more likely that you will feel sore afterward. Your body will create muscle memory if you have frequent massages, so aim to be regular with your sessions when possible.

To help combat soreness, stay hydrated, follow through with any stretches your therapist gives you, use hydrotherapy (hyperlink), follow an anti-inflammatory diet and get plenty of rest.

https://www.healthline.com/health/sore-after-massage

Were you involved in a Motor Vehicle Accident or in a Work-Related Injury?

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What Our Patients Are Saying About Us

Slide 1

Nancy M.

s. Goodwin - 12/18/20

“After my accident, the single most effective treatment for the pain from my injuries was this massage. I was prescribed medication, but fortunately my practitioner also recognized the benefit of medical treatment beyond that. My progress, and relief, have been significant because of these massages. The office and therapists are welcoming, skilled, and caring.”

Slide 2

Grace A.

Elizabeth Grey, 1 month ago 3 weeks ago

"Advanced medical massage literally saved me after being rear-ended. They are the absolute best massage therapists and always have availability for people with busy schedules. They also gave me so much helpful information regarding insurance and IMEs. Everybody that works there is so kind and they really care about your recovery 🙂 thanks so much guys!"

Slide 6

M. Fernandez

Elizabeth Grey, 1 month ago 3 weeks ago

“The front desk staff is always super sweet and helpful and always seems on top of things. The massage therapists are all very professional and do a wonderful job at making me feel comfortable and understood. They all have slightly different techniques and approaches but I always feel great after my appointments no matter who I am working with that day. Everyone seems knowledgeable and do a great job at pinpointing my pain and make sure to explain things and offer great tips for what I can do at home and/or after my appointments to help with my healing progress. Great team overall and I appreciate them for providing outstanding service every time!! :))”