JUNE 2024 Newsletter

Specialists in Neuromuscular Therapy for Soft-Tissue Injuries and Chronic Pain
As a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), Dr. Rand McClain and his team specialize in addressing the root causes of pain related to auto accidents, including soft-tissue injuries like whiplash, muscle strain, and ligament damage. In our clinic, we go beyond standard treatments that rely on pharmaceuticals or invasive procedures. Instead, we use advanced neuromuscular therapy, laser therapy, and more techniques to restore function, alleviate pain, and accelerate healing.

Mechanical Pain vs. Chemical Inflammatory Pain
In many medical settings, pain is treated as primarily a chemical issue related to inflammation. This approach often focuses on prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs that target chemicals like prostaglandins, cytokines, and leukotrienes. However, while these medications may offer temporary relief, they carry significant risks—such as kidney damage, gastrointestinal bleeding, heart attacks, strokes, and more. Research has demonstrated that NSAIDs and similar drugs, commonly prescribed for chronic pain, are linked to serious health complications when used long term.
Dr. McClain’s clinic understands that mechanical pain—pain stemming from structural issues like muscle dysfunction, joint misalignments, or ligament injuries—plays a key role in auto accident recovery. Our neuromuscular therapy addresses both the mechanical and chemical-inflammatory causes of pain, ensuring that the body is treated holistically for optimal recovery.

The Dangers of Long-Term Use of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

While conventional medical approaches emphasize anti-inflammatory drugs as the go-to treatment for pain, the risks of these medications cannot be ignored. Some well-documented side effects include:

  • Kidney Damage: Chronic use of acetaminophen, aspirin, and NSAIDs has been linked to an increased risk of kidney failure.
  • Gastrointestinal Bleeding: NSAIDs can cause significant damage to the gastrointestinal tract, leading to ulcers, bleeding, and in severe cases, death.
  • Heart Attack and Stroke: Studies show that NSAIDs increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events.
  • Other Serious Risks: Conditions such as dementia, hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, surgical complications, and even autism spectrum disorder in prenatal cases have all been associated with long-term use of NSAIDs.

In contrast, neuromuscular therapy provides a non-invasive, drug-free solution to treating pain, focusing on restoring muscle and joint function through hands-on, targeted treatments.

Neuromuscular Therapy for Auto Accident Injuries

Dr. McClain’s clinic specializes in treating mechanical pain through neuromuscular therapy, which is particularly effective for injuries sustained in auto accidents. These injuries often involve soft-tissue damage, leading to muscular dysfunction, postural misalignment, and pain that cannot be resolved by drugs alone.

Neuromuscular therapy helps relieve pain and restore mobility by targeting:

  • Trigger points: Areas of muscle tension that cause referred pain.
  • Scar tissue: Breaking down scar tissue to improve flexibility and reduce pain.
  • Joint dysfunction: Correcting postural issues and restoring proper movement.

By focusing on these key areas, our clinic helps patients recover more quickly and avoid the long-term use of harmful drugs.

The Relationship Between Mechanical Pain and Chemical Inflammation

As Dr. McClain and his team have seen in countless cases, mechanical pain often overlaps with chemical-inflammatory pain. For instance, an injury to the spine or joints can lead to inflammation, but simply treating the inflammation will not address the root mechanical dysfunction.

This understanding was advanced by researchers like Vert Mooney, M.D., who emphasized that spinal injuries and stiffness result in biochemical changes within the intervertebral discs, leading to chronic pain. Mooney’s work demonstrated that mechanical treatment, such as spinal manipulation or targeted neuromuscular therapy, is the most effective approach to resolving pain and improving function.

By improving joint mobility and muscle function, we are able to break the cycle of pain and inflammation, restoring the body’s natural ability to heal.

A Hypothesis for Chronic Pain: Ligament Injuries and Muscle Dysfunction

Research from Manohar Panjabi, PhD, proposed that ligament sub-failure injuries—injuries that don’t completely tear ligaments but cause micro-damage—are key contributors to chronic back pain. These injuries often disrupt the mechanoreceptors in the ligaments, leading to neuromuscular control dysfunction.

In our clinic, we recognize the importance of treating these micro-damage injuries using targeted neuromuscular techniques to restore proper muscle function and relieve pressure on ligaments. By doing so, we reduce the risk of chronic pain developing from untreated injuries, especially in cases like whiplash where ligament damage is common.

Whiplash and Chronic Neck Pain: Cervical Zygapophysial Joint Pain

Whiplash injuries, commonly resulting from rear-end car accidents, often cause damage to the cervical facet joints in the neck. Studies by researchers like Nikolai Bogduk, MD, PhD, have demonstrated that whiplash creates abnormal spinal movement patterns that stress the cervical facet joints, leading to chronic neck pain.

At Dr. McClain’s clinic, we utilize neuromuscular techniques that target these joints, relieving pain and restoring normal movement in the neck and spine. Our treatments are tailored to each patient’s specific injury, allowing for precise, effective care that promotes long-term recovery.

The Impact of Facet Joint and Synovial Joint Dysfunction

Research into facet joints and other synovial joints shows that mechanical injury to these structures often leads to pain due to nociceptive signaling—the process by which pain signals are sent to the brain. This pain, if left untreated, can become chronic, even in the absence of ongoing tissue damage.

By improving joint biomechanics and addressing mechanoreceptor dysfunction, our neuromuscular therapists help patients avoid chronic pain, even when dealing with long-standing injuries. This approach ensures that patients receive care that not only relieves pain but also corrects the underlying issue, preventing future problems.

Supporting Personal Injury Attorneys

At Dr. McClain’s clinic, we work closely with personal injury attorneys to ensure that their clients receive comprehensive care that supports their legal cases. Every patient undergoes a thorough pre-consultation, during which we evaluate their injuries and develop a customized treatment plan.

We provide detailed documentation on each patient’s progress, offering personal injury attorneys clear evidence of their client’s injuries and treatment outcomes. This documentation not only helps to support legal cases but also demonstrates the efficacy of neuromuscular therapy in providing long-lasting pain relief.

By partnering with our clinic, personal injury attorneys can ensure that their clients receive the best possible care while also having access to the medical documentation necessary to support their claims, Dr. McClain’s team is a valuable asset in building a strong case for your clients.

Why Choose Dr. McClain’s Clinic for Auto Accident Recovery?

Dr. McClain’s clinic offers a proven, non-invasive solution for treating soft-tissue injuries caused by auto accidents. With a focus on neuromuscular therapy, laser therapy, and more,  we address the mechanical dysfunctions that lead to chronic pain and disability. Our hands-on approach helps patients recover faster, avoid the dangers of long-term medication use, and restore their mobility and quality of life.

By choosing our clinic, personal injury attorneys can trust that their clients will receive:

  • Expert care from a team of highly trained neuromuscular therapists.
  • Comprehensive evaluations and treatment plans tailored to the individual needs of each client.
  • Thorough documentation and progress reports that can support legal claims.

A Trusted Partner for Personal Injury Attorneys

At Dr. McClain’s clinic, we pride ourselves on being a valuable resource for personal injury attorneys and their clients. Our goal is not only to help patients recover fully but also to provide you with the medical information and support necessary to strengthen your legal cases. We understand the complexities that arise when dealing with insurance adjusters, and we provide the thorough documentation needed to successfully navigate these challenges.

This newsletter is intended to keep you updated on relevant academic concepts related to whiplash and auto accident injuries. By sharing this information, we hope to enhance your understanding of the latest advancements in injury treatment and provide you with the tools necessary to support your clients effectively.

At Dr. McClain’s clinic, our expert physicians, nurse practitioners, and neuromuscular therapists are well-versed and trained in these concepts, and can be a valuable asset in personal injury cases. 

By referring your clients to our clinic, you ensure they receive the highest standard of care while strengthening the medical foundation of your legal cases.

We would be thrilled to discuss how to partner together to help our patients and your clients, and to assist people that have been injured in accidents. 

If you’d like to discuss how we can work together to better serve your personal injury clients, call us today at 310-951-3531.

 


…Call today for guaranteed relief and results!

310-798-4263

Licensed and Professional

Neuromuscular Massage Therapists

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Massage Revolution & Therapeutic Massage Los Angeles offers all types of massage services to help you live relaxed, rejuvenated, and pain-free. We proudly serve the South Bay cities including Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, El Segundo, Playa Del Rey, Westside (Santa Monica, Culver City, Venice, etc) and surrounding Los Angeles areas.

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