Author: Staff Writer

 “Discover why chiropractic care is an essential component of the recovery process after an auto accident. Learn about the benefits of chiropractic care and how it can help you get back to your daily activities.”

At least 1,100 car accidents happen every day in Florida. If you’ve been in an auto accident, chiropractic care is a must as you start your recovery. While you may have visible injuries, there might be more going on underneath the surface. This is especially true if you start to feel neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain and headaches. Sometimes you’ll feel pain immediately and other times it might slowly start to build in the hours, days and weeks afterward.

Dr. Llaird Likens has been treating injuries from auto accidents for 18 years and he holds the Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certification from Southern California University of Health. His patients have seen many benefits of chiropractic care for managing pain after a car accident. Those benefits include reducing inflammation, increasing mobility and range of motion, preventing further damage from scar-tissue and providing a non-invasive treatment option.

Chiropractic care reduces inflammation

Whiplash and other car accident injuries cause inflammation. Inflammation is part of the body’s healing process. Unfortunately, it can be painful. Inflammation after a car accident can present in many ways, including back pain, neck pain as well as muscle stiffness and soreness. The chiropractic treatment for victims of auto injuries can signal to your body to reduce the production of its inflammatory cytokines which will help reduce pain and soreness. 

Chiropractic care increases mobility 

After a car accident, you might find your range of motion and mobility limited. Adjustments by your local chiropractor can help mobilize the spine so you can move more freely. 

“Dr Likens is very personable, caring, and extremely knowledgeable in the fields of Chiropractic Care and Acupuncture. I have achieved quite a bit more range of motion in my neck and back along with an increased level of pain management due to an extensive treatment plan provided by Dr Likens,” said former client M.W.

Scar tissue that builds up after an injury can limit your range of motion and mobility. Your treatment with Dr. Likens can help break it up and allow your body to heal properly. That’s good news because that means you’ll be able to get back to your normal daily activities.

Chiropractic care is non-invasive 

Chiropractic care can help you recover without surgery or medication.

You might assume that if you have back pain or spasms after a car accident you will require back surgery before you can find relief. However, a visit to Dr. Likens can align your spine which will in turn take pressure off the nerves causing you pain. The adjustments will have a ripple effect and allow your body the relief it needs in order to heal naturally. 

If you’ve been given medication or muscle relaxers for any auto accident injuries, they may be masking the underlying cause. Becoming dependent on medication can also be an underlying fear patients in pain have. In fact, misuse of prescription painkillers was the second highest illicit substance in 2022. Chiropractic care allows you to find relief naturally without medication so there is no possibility of becoming dependent. 

Chiropractic care can also help you find relief if you’re already on medication.

In fact, our former client, Bryan Tena, was highly addicted to pain medications after a car accident in 2012. After receiving chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture from Dr. Likens, Bryan has been medication free since 2014! 

Dr. Llaird Likens has been serving Northwest Florida including Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Midway, Mary Esther for 18 years and has helped hundreds of victims of car accidents. He offers affordable self-pay options.

Whiplash is a common injury associated with auto accidents. Learn how to identify the symptoms of whiplash, how it’s treated, and what to expect during recovery.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about Whiplash including:

• Symptoms associated with whiplash
• Best treatment options for whiplash
• What to expect as you recover from whiplash

Read on so you or your loved one can feel healthy again after being affected by whiplash.

Symptoms Associated With Whiplash

The most common symptoms associated with whiplash are:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Headaches, typically stemming from the base of the skull
• Shoulder pain and stiffness
• Muscle pain and stiffness
• Reduced range of motion in the neck
• Tingling in or numbness in your arms or hands

These symptoms should be examined immediately. Other symptoms can include blurred vision, fatigue, loss of sleep, irritability and concentration problems.

Best Treatment Options For Whiplash

If you’re driving down Highway 98 (affectionately named “Nascar 98”) in Northwest Florida including Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Midway, Mary Esther there’s a chance you might find yourself in an auto accident and suffering from whiplash. 

Your treatment plan will be based on your injuries and whiplash-related pain. Dr. Llaird Likens earned the Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certification from Southern California University and will be able to help you in a variety of ways. The two primary ways are manipulation and muscle relaxation.

Manipulation

Dr. Llaird Likens specializes in manipulation as a chiropractic treatment for whiplash. Dr. Likens will gently move the affected joint back into alignment and the correct position. This can provide immediate relief but can also help with any other injuries that might have been aggravated by the car accident such as herniated or bulging discs. 

Muscle relaxation/stimulation

Muscle relaxation/stimulation is the primary method used to help you find relief after suffering from whiplash. Muscle stimulation includes gentle stretches to the affected muscles. This technique helps to trigger the nervous system to release tension and restore range of motion. 

What To Expect As You Recover From Whiplash

Any car accident is traumatizing, but most patients with lower grade whiplash will feel better within a few days or weeks. More severe cases can take several weeks up to months to heal. 

This is why it is important to see a chiropractor after an auto accident. They are uniquely able to recognize underlying issues and identify true underlying sources of pain and aggravation so that you can completely heal. The pressure that misalignment or even scar tissue can cause can be relieved with chiropractic treatment and allow the body to heal itself.

As you heal from whiplash injuries, you need to make sure you rest, avoid strenuous activity. However, your treatment plan will likely include light exercise like walking or stretching in order to restore full mobility. 

Other People Ask:

How do you know if you have whiplash?

The biggest indicators of whiplash will be reduced range of motion in the neck and pain that worsens when you move the neck. It’s best to see your chiropractor if you’ve been in a car accident.

How long does it take to recover from whiplash?

Recovery can be as little as a few days or weeks for mild cases of whiplash. More severe cases will take several weeks or months to recover fully. 

H3: Is chiropractic care for whiplash covered by insurance?

In Florida, you have 14 days to seek medical care for injuries due to a car accident in order to be able to claim expenses under your personal injury auto insurance claim. This is why it’s important to immediately seek care from your chiropractor. 

Dr. Llaird Likens also offers self-pay options in the event you do not have insurance to cover your whiplash injuries.

If you are experiencing pain from whiplash and you live in Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Midway or Mary Esther Dr. Llaird Likens is ready and available to schedule an appointment for you. He’s been treating whiplash injuries for 18 years and looks forward to the opportunity to help you feel better.

Chronic pain is on the rise in America, but functional medicine offers the solution to improve your quality of life. 

Chronic pain affects over 50 million Americans every day. The most common pain locations are back pain and hip, knee, or foot pain. But this chronic pain does not have to be a lifetime sentence. 

If you suffer from chronic pain conditions and you’re tired of just trying a new pill or shuffling around from doctor to doctor, Dr. Llaird Likens is ready to help you. He uses a functional medicine approach to your health which focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of your condition so you can feel better. So, what is functional medicine? How does it work? Can it help you? Read this guide to find out.

If you’re feeling frustrated or hopeless about your pain and condition, functional medicine is the answer.

In this guide, we’ll explain to you why functional medicine is the answer you’ve been searching for. We’ll cover:

• What is functional medicine?
• How functional medicine helps diseases like myofascial pain syndrome or piriformis syndrome 
• Why chronic pain like lower back pain is best suited for a functional medicine approach

Read on so you can be one step closer to feeling better today. 

What is functional medicine?

Functional medicine is different from conventional medicine in that it seeks to find the root cause of a symptom and then treat it holistically. That holistic approach often includes exercise, nutrition and medical care along with lifestyle changes.

While conventional medicine has made incredible advances, people are living longer and feeling worse. Chronic diseases are on the rise and obesity is an epidemic. There are more allergies, digestive disorders than ever and people are more medicated than ever. 

For all the science, we’re not better.

Dr. Likens uses a holistic approach to your health to heal what is underneath the surface. That approach includes lifestyle, sleep, exercise, nutrition as well as chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture. When you relieve your body of these types of bio-stressors, your body can begin to heal naturally. 

How functional medicine helps diseases like myofascial pain syndrome or piriformis syndrome 

Often people with chronic conditions like myofascial pain syndrome or piriformis syndrome don’t feel hopeful about their outlook. They think their best hope is the medication they’ve been prescribed.

A functional medicine approach can change everything. For instance, patients suffering from piriformis syndrome can expect Dr. Llaird Likens to identify weak and taut muscles, make appropriate adjustments, apply trigger point therapy and recommend specific stretching and strengthening exercises. These practices can help the body heal, not just mask the symptoms like muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory medications can do. Acupuncture is also an option that can work well for piriformis syndrome. 

Another disease Dr. Llaird Likens’ functional medicine approach can help with myofascial pain syndrome. Many times a patient with myofascial pain syndrome does not realize he or she suffers from spinal subluxation, which is simply a misaligned vertebrae in the spine. Yes, something that simple can be causing chronic pain. Dr. Likens can also use myofascial release and recommend specific lifestyle and exercises that can help heal the body from the inside out.

This same, multi-faceted approach is applied to every patient that walks in. That’s because it allows true healing and relief for patients.

Why chronic pain like lower back pain is best suited for a functional medicine approach

Any sort of chronic pain, including neck pain, back pain, back spasms, middle back pain and leg cramps at night are best suited from a functional medicine perspective. While conventional medicine will seek to medicate or isolate symptoms, Dr. Likens will seek to find the underlying cause of your pain and apply treatments that allow you to find relief without any invasive procedures or medications. 

Dr. Llaird Likens has been serving Northwest Florida including Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Midway, Mary Esther for 18 years and has helped hundreds of victims of car accidents. He offers affordable self-pay options. If you’re in chronic pain, come in today!

Acupuncture is a popular treatment used to relieve pain, inflammatory diseases and other ailments. Read this guide to find out exactly what to expect during an acupuncture treatment as well as the benefits you can expect.”

Acupuncture has been used to relieve pain for centuries. Even still, it remains somewhat mysterious for some. Are you considering acupuncture? This guide will answer all your questions, calm any fears and help you prepare for your treatment.

Read on to learn about:

Common conditions to use acupuncture as a treatment

Why acupuncture is an effective medical treatment

All about acupuncture needles

What happens during the acupuncture session

Acupuncture as a treatment continues to grow in America because it is safe, effective and non-invasive. 

This guide will help you learn what to expect so you can be confident in seeking acupuncture treatment for your condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, the following conditions are the most common uses for acupuncture.

Common conditions to use acupuncture as a treatment

• Chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting
• Dental pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches, including tension headaches and migraines
• Labor pain
• Lower back pain
• Neck pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Menstrual cramps
• Respiratory disorders, such as allergic rhinitis
• Tennis elbow

Why acupuncture is an effective medical treatment

Acupuncture is an ancient medical practice, part of Traditional Chinese medicine, that allows for the balance of energy or life force. This balance, known as chi (chee) is connected by pathways in the body. Chinese medicine believes that energy can be disrupted and there are more than 2,000 acupuncture points that can be utilized to rebalance your energy and improve health.

Acupuncture has steadily gained popularity in America but researchers still don’t fully understand how it works. There are two prevailing theories as to why acupuncture is an effective medical treatment for pain and other conditions. 

First, some researchers believe that acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system and causes biochemical changes. Others believe that acupuncture may encourage the release of endorphins, which reduce pain.

All about acupuncture needles

Let’s get the most common fear about acupuncture out of the way: don’t be scared of the needles! While you may have some anxiety about needles, you can put those to rest because the needles used in acupuncture are much smaller and are very thin like a strand of hair. In fact, people often don’t even feel them inserted. They are also typically inserted between tissues, reducing the chances of them being painful. 

Your comfort is a top concern for Dr. Llaird Likens, so if you find you’re more sensitive in one area, he can adjust the treatment accordingly. Dr. Likens uses thin, stainless steel needles that are sterile, disposable and single use.

What happens during the acupuncture session

Your session will start off with a typical doctor visit where you’ll talk about your medical history and your symptoms. Dr. Likens will also perform an exam of your symptoms, imbalances and other physical markers. 

Based on the exam, Dr. Likens will determine the best treatment, which will be immediately applied with the goal of achieving relief for whatever is most bothering you as well as addressing any underlying issues. 

Depending on the areas of treatment, Dr. Likens will have you sit or lie down on the table. He will insert the needles, typically 5 to 20 in a session, and they’ll stay in for about 10 to 20 minutes. Some patients even fall asleep during their appointment.

Once the needles are removed, you’ll likely feel either relaxed or even energized. Many patients of Dr. Llaird Likens have been able to reduce or manage pain as a result of using acupuncture. Others have been able to stop taking prescription pain medications or muscle relaxers and avoid fusion surgeries. 

Dr. Likens has been providing acupuncture treatment for 18 years. He is extremely experienced in the field of acupuncture and how to apply treatment properly. After studying acupuncture at the Logan College of Chiropractic, he went on to receive his certification from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and his Fellowship from the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture. 

If you have any questions, call us today so we can help you get started. Dr. Llaird Likens accepts insurance and offers self-pay options. He services those living or visiting in Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Midway or Mary Esther.