Social and psychological aspects of pain affecting patients postauto accidentswork injuries

After an automobile accident, aside from the patient’s physical complaints of headaches, spinal and/or extremity pain, further questioning from the prudent clinician will reveal exactly how the injury has affected the patient in their daily lives.

Duties under duress, if present, can be manifested by a patient who continues to work despite pain.  Complaints of neck or low back pain with sitting in an office worker or a professional driver, neck or back pain while bending and lifting in a mechanic, back pain while standing in a retail worker, can be documented properly to depict symptoms that were not present prior to their injury.

Loss of enjoyment, if present, can be documented in the records as any social or physical activity that the patient used to do prior to the injury and is precluded from that activity now due to neck, back, or extremity pain.  Examples could be inability of a patient to lift/interact with kids, clean their house, wash dishes, prepare meals, performing yard work, etc.

Recent research (Hinton PM, Journal of Canadian Chiropractic Association 2010) has revealed that proper documentation of the psychosocial aspects of the patient’s post-injury complaints with proof of improvement with care, will provide a quantifiable baseline, influencing treatment decisions, eliminating any uncertainty or dispute about whether care provided was necessary, effective, and reimbursable.

At Total Health Family Clinic, we strive to paint the perfect picture of exactly how the injury at issue has affected our patient in every aspect of their lives.

Yours in Health,

Ashkan Aazami, DC
Total Health Family Clinic, Chiropractic care and physical therapy, offices in Landover Hills, District Heights, Rockville, MD