Please don't drink and drive

How many drinks would it take to be considered drunk?  Too drunk to drive?  Have you ever wondered....okay have you ever wondered this BEFORE you started drinking and not after?

Okay, one (1) drink per hour is a safe calculation.....it's too hot after that long.

Here is a calculator that tells you (estimate) what your BAC (Blood Alcohol Count) would be after so many drinks in so many hours.....COOL!! BUT.....I just learned that if I have four (4) beers at 6% alcohol in 2 1/12 hours oops DUI.  This shocked me because when I have four (4) beers at 6% alcohol in 2 1/2 hours I FEEL FINE....I guess that's where the impairment comes in huh?

So here's the thing.  No one wants you to drive drunk or impaired....even bar owners.  If you aren't safe you won't return, am I right?  It used to be called a $10,000 DUI...well those days are over because the with the increase of insurance, legal fees, fines, bail it could be up to $25,000 when you are finished.....that is $6250.00 PER BEER I just had.  MSN has a breakdown of most fees that may be incurred with a DUI. (MSN Money arrive alive).

It is important that if you are going to be drinking please do not drive.  Get a designated driver, call a cab or call a friend (hopefully not the friend who was sitting next to you drinking with you).  I am going to have to call someone or have a designated driver as the calculator says I am allowed two (2) beers at 6% alcohol in a 2 1/2 hour time span.

Colorado Car Wreck | The Auto Injury Clinic wants you to be safe.  Please know your limit and always have a designated driver before going out.

What is Spinal Cord Injury? Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function such as mobility or feeling. Frequent causes of damage are trauma (car accident, gunshot, falls, etc.) or disease (polio, spina bifida, Friedreich's Ataxia, etc.). The spinal cord does not have to be severed in order for a loss of functioning to occur. In fact, in most people with SCI, the spinal cord is intact, but the damage to it results in loss of functioning. SCI is very different from back injuries such as ruptured disks, spinal stenosis or pinched nerves.
A person can "break their back or neck" yet not sustain a spinal cord injury if only the bones around the spinal cord (the vertebrae) are damaged, but the spinal cord is not affected. In these situations, the individual may not experience paralysis after the bones are stabilized.
What is the spinal cord and the vertebra? The spinal cord is about 18 inches long and extends from the base of the brain, down the middle of the back, to about the waist. The nerves that lie within the spinal cord are upper motor neurons (UMNs) and their function is to carry the messages back and forth from the brain to the spinal nerves along the spinal tract. The spinal nerves that branch out from the spinal cord to the other parts of the body are called lower motor neurons (LMNs). These spinal nerves exit and enter at each vertebral level and communicate with specific areas of the body. The sensory portions of the LMN carry messages about sensation from the skin and other body parts and organs to the brain. The motor portions of the LMN send messages from the brain to the various body parts to initiate actions such as muscle movement.(http://www.spinalinjury.net/html/_spinal_cord_101.html)

Car Accidents can cause numerous problems to the body. Spinal cord injuries can affect your hands, arms, legs and feet.  Depending where the injury will determine what other parts of your body will be affected. A neck injury can affect your arm while a back injury can affect your legs. When you are involved in a car accident and you don't "feel" any injuries seek medical attention anyway. It may take several weeks before any injuries will be discovered.

At Colorado Car Wreck you will get the attention YOU deserve and need. 

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Teenage drivers

One of the most exciting events in a teenager's life is also the most deadliest.

What every parent should know but is often afraid to know

 

Information provided by:
Insurance Institute for Highway safety
and Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association


In 2007, the latest year for which data are available, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death among 13-19 year-old males and females in the United States.

• A total of 3,466 teenagers ages 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2009. This is 60 percent fewer than in 1975 and 15 percent fewer than in 2008. 
• Thirty-three percent of deaths among 13-19-year-olds occurred in motor vehicle crashes, 39 percent among females and 31 percent among males.
• 16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age.
• The crash rate per mile driven is twice as high for 16-year-olds as it is for 18- and 19-year-olds.
• About 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2009 were males.
• Sixty percent of teenage passenger deaths in 2009 occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 18 percent occurred when a teenager was driving.
• Statistics show that 16- and 17-year-old driver death rates increase with each additional passenger.
• Eighty-three percent of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2009 were passenger vehicle occupants. The others were pedestrians (7 percent), motorcyclists (4 percent), bicyclists (2 percent), riders of all-terrain vehicles (2 percent), and people in other kinds of vehicles (2 percent).
• Fifty-five percent of motor vehicle crash deaths among teenagers in 2009 occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
• In states with GDL programs that include at least five of the most important elements, there was a 20% reduction in fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers.
• In 2006 (latest data available) crashes involving 15- to 17-year-olds cost more than $34 billion nationwide in medical treatment, property damage and other costs, according to an AAA analysis.

How do teenage crashes differ from those of other drivers
According to the IIHS
Analyses of fatal crash data indicate that crashes of teenage drivers are more likely to be attributed to driver error. Teenagers' fatal crashes are more likely to involve speeding than those of older drivers, and teenagers are more likely than drivers of other ages to be in single-vehicle fatal crashes. Plus teenagers do more of their driving in small and older cars and at night, compared with adults. In 2010, 17 percent of teenagers' fatalities occurred between 9 p.m. and midnight, and 24 percent occurred between midnight and 6 a.m. Fifty-five percent of teenagers' fatalities occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

The more you know, the more prepared you are the safer your child will be.  Colorado Car Wreck would rather not meet you under these circumstance but should you ever need us we will be there to help you.

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Ligament injuries

We all think that a broken bone is painful…..we only think that UNTIL we have had a ligament injury.  We don’t often associate car accidents with ligament injuries….UNTIL it happens to you.  We are all familiar with Whiplash…we understand what that means, right?  

There are several different injury results that come from whiplash; the soft tissue for muscles, nerves and ligaments.

According to Dr. Sutton there are two types of ligament injuries:

1. Complete Failure (which is often called a “tear”)
2. Sub-failure (“stretching” of a ligament)

First we need to know what ligaments are: 

According to Livestrong: Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that connect two bones together to increase the stability of a joint. A torn ligament results in pain, swelling, bruising and an inability to move the joint, states Medline Plus, of the National Institutes of health. A pop or tear may be heard or felt at the time of injury. Mild sprains or partial tears are treated conservatively, while a severe sprain may require surgical repair.

Ligament injuries can often be difficult to discover. Your standard x-rays won’t discover them BUT the DMX (Digital Motion X-Ray) can!

DMX technology can reveal these sub-failure ligament injuries in as little as 15 minutes! This allows the Doctor to specifically determine which ligaments are injured.

Learn more about DMX at coloradocarwreck.com

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More on the history of pain treatment

Okay, so we get smarter, right?

Well, we know what happened in the early 1900's......more than 200,000 people addicted to opium so Congress passed a law in 1909 prohibiting the manufacture and sale of opium.

1915-1951- The Violet Ray Generator.  Tens of thousands were sold.  The claim was it cured paralysis, wry neck and writer's cramp among other things.  In 1951 the FDA banned the manufacture from claiming it provided medical cures.

1919:  The Electreat:  (The TENS device):  Patented by Charles Willie Kent, operated on two "D" batteries and a mechanical inductorium.  A roller was at the top and applied to the skin, plug in sponge pad electrodes were supplied to the area.

1939:  Remember I said 200,000 people are addicted to opium?  Germany was the first to synthesize Methadone for pain relief.

1944-1948:  The opening of Nerve Block Clinics which were devoted to the treatment of pain.

1967:  Neurostimulators:  implantation was done on six patients in 1970 by Neurosurgeon C. Norman Shealy.

1972:  The neurostimulators were first marketed to neurosurgeons but the device was renamed to spinal cord stimulators.

1976:  First totally implantable neurostimulator:  The Cardiac pacemaker.

1980's:  Epidurals.  This is the use of opioids administered directly into the spinal column.

1997:  IDET:  Intradiscal electrothermic therapy was introduced as treatment for chronic low back pain.  This involves killing nerve fibers by heating a catheter positioned inside the spinal disc.

2004-2005:  The first rechargeable spinal cord stimulation systems became available in the U.S.

2008:  St. Jude Medical introduces the longest lasting rechargeable neurostimulator to treat chronic pain of the trunk or limbs and pain from failed back surgery....the Eon Mini.  (Advanced Neuromodulation Systems. Eon Neurostimulation System Clinician's Manual.  Plano, Tex.; 2005)  2010 Approved in Japan.

I am so glad that Colorado Car Wreck | The Auto Injury Clinic has the latest technology!!!

Visit their website to learn more.

The way they USED to deal with pain

I am so glad I was born in my generation and not generation in the past.  What used to be done for pain, by today's standard, ARE CRAZY!!!

Lets first take a look at BC:  Opium was the drug of choice as we discovered by the Egyptian Medical Scrolls dating back to 1500 BC.  During this time another form of pain treatment was 600 Bolts of electricity first discovered in ancient Greece.


Let's not forget Leeches, 500-1500 AD!  They were applied to the skin to treat headaches!!!!

richard-seaman.com

In the 1750's:  Who can forget kite flying Benjamin Franklin.  Yes, while out flying his kite he verified electricity.....did you know that he experimented with the creation of batteries also?  During this time they used batteries to send electrical stimulation to treat pain.
Early 1800's Morphine replaced Opium.

1874:  For those of you who thought marijuana just started for pain, guess again.  The cannabis plant was a "well regarded" way to treat headaches.

1882:  The Faradic Electrifier, which claimed to treat Rheumatism, Disease of the Liver, Stomach and Kidneys, Lung Complaints, Paralysis, Lost Vitality, Nervous Disability, Female Complaints which later the inventor, Kent was the first to be prosecuted by the FDA for false advertising.

1898:  Advertised by Germany's Bayer Company:  At least 10 times as potent a painkiller as morphine without any of the "addicting properties."  Can you guess what this was?      HEROIN!

I don't know about you but I am pretty glad I was not in pain during these times.  No wonder the average life span in the 1800's was under 40!!



Colorado Car Wreck | The Auto Injury Clinic ONLY uses the LATEST and PROVEN technologies to treat their patients.  Click here to read and learn more.

The Secrets AFTER a car accident

Okay, so you have been in a car accident.  Here are a few secrets you HAVE to know before you say anything to anyone.


Insurance companies ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND!!  They will call you, and more often than not it is being recorded, to see if you are okay and to ask you a few "questions."  DO NOT AGREE TO DO THIS. Even the truth can hurt you later on.  Imagine a murder suspect in interrogations...the police are allowed to lie to the suspect in the hopes of a confession.  After the car accident you are now in this situation.  The insurance company will lie to you in hopes to get the answers they need.

Their ONLY GOAL, no matter what they say, is to 

SAVE MONEY!!

If you are hurt you need to seek medical attention.  Keep in mind that not all injuries do not materialize right away.  It is essential that you seek a PROFESSIONAL and RESPECTED Doctor as your injuries can cause long term damage OR hurt your claim if not documented correctly.  If you are in Colorado I recommend Colorado Car Wreck | The Auto Injury Clinic.  Be honest with your Doctors...but be careful how you respond on the initial paperwork.  


Here's my oops that I want you to learn from:

By this....I strongly urge you not to answer the question "What are you doing for the pain?" with......."lots of alcohol."

Negotiations:  Lets be honest...we all think we can "get more" if we don't hire an Attorney.  

"Insurance companies will NEVER tell you to consult an attorney, because they know that if you hire an attorney, you will get more money, even after you pay the attorney, than you will get if try to negotiate with them yourself. Insurance companies will NEVER tell you that their negotiators and claims adjusters are often attorneys."  (The Washington Times) 

Did you know that Insurance Companies will often request your Doctor's summary to compare with other Doctors?  Did you know that they PAY other Doctor's to review your injuries to decide if treatment is necessary?  

Guess what the findings are......yep, treatment wasn't necessary.  

Don't get bullied by the Insurance Company!  Get medical treatment from an HONEST and REPUTABLE Doctor and/or clinic!  If you are in the Colorado area I highly recommend Colorado Car Wreck | The Auto Injury Clinic where they are there to help you through this terrible, painful, time in your life.....a clinic that can't be "bought" by the Insurance Companies.

Distracted Drivers and what they mean to you

This video is a MUST watch for anyone who drives!
Lets begin with the three types of distractions:

• Manual: Taking your hands off the wheel
• Visual: Taking your eyes off the road
• Cognitive: Taking you mind off driving

18% of Fatalities were directly related to cell phone use.

You are 23 Times more likely to be involved in a crash if you are texting vs a non-distracted driver.

37% of brain activity is REDUCED while driving and using a cell phone.

The types of distractions are:

Texting

Using a cell phone or smartphone

Eating and drinking

Talking to passengers

Grooming

Reading, including maps

Using a navigation system

Watching a video

Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

Now we need to re-visit the types of distraction and compare it with texting:

Manual: you hand(s) are off the wheel to text.

Visual: it doesn't matter how good you are at texting you will still have to take your eyes off the road to text.

Cognitive: I have received texts and thought "was any thought put into this text" but lets face it...to write you must think and when doing this you are taking your mind off your driving.

Imagine sitting at a Bronco game...now imagine the length of the football field. That is how far you drive in the average 4.6 seconds, going 55 miles per hour, it takes to send or receive a text.

Texting and driving is illegal in Colorado. To find out what the laws in other states are visit Distracted.org.

Let's be honest, cell phones have made our lives easier: we can conduct business between meetings, we can find our children easier, we can schedule our appointments, we can facebook, we can let our family know we are running late...and it can kill us! Something so simple, something that we NOW KNOW will save lives yet we just don't understand the dangers because "it will never happen to us." It may not have happened to you...but to the 18% it did happen to it is REAL.

In 2010 there were 3092 FATALITIES involving distracted drivers....there were 416,000 INJURED because of distracted drivers. These numbers are REAL....and just because it hasn't happened to you I am sure if you look around you know someone who it has happened to.

It is right there, the facts are REAL....and it is so simple to fix the problem.

Take the pledge

Information provided by Distracted.gov

My car accidents and injuries

I consider myself a "lucky" person....except when it comes to car wrecks.  I have been involved in two serious car wrecks in my life.  The first one I was about 24 years old and we were both ticketed for running a green...yes I said green light. 

I have to admit that 20 years ago technology wasn't as good as it is today....so I didn't get the care I "should" have and wasn't taken "care" of the way I should have been.  So be it.....I get on with life.....with still some of the same pain I received in that car wreck.

Six years ago.....I get into another car accident.  Yes the chances are pretty good that you or someone you know will be involved in a car accident.  Knowledge is Power, Learning is Experience.....so please learn from MY experience.

Not knowing any better I did the "typical" treatment for car accident victims which consist of x-rays and treatment.  Cost was not an issue as I carry excellent insurance....I just didn't know.  I go to a chiropractor I get treated....it helps me function but after 20 visits I'm passed onto another chiropractor.....20 treatments later I am sent for a MRI.  It was only THEN it was discovered my injuries were "worse" than what anyone thought.  (I have to be honest...I KNEW they were serious but nobody else thought they were).

I admit I did it wrong from the beginning.  It was three weeks after my accident that I couldn't move so I would have seen anyone to feel better.  I contacted a friend who referred me to my first chiropractor.  I didn't hire an Attorney to begin with, I wasn't hurt for the first three weeks so I didn't "need" one.  Treatment, passed off, treatment, passed off.  I did what we all do.....need a referral, call a friend.  I'm not going to say that is the wrong thing to do.  BUT...sometimes your friends should not be the one's to ask.  Had DMX been available to me......my life would probably be different today.

Digital Motion X-Ray is simply a type of fluoro-based x-ray system, coupled with new digital and optic technology, allowing clinicians to view the spine in real-time motion at 30 x-rays per second. The procedure is performed with the patient standing and actively moving in a weight-bearing position within the system.

DMX is a digital movie of an x-ray in motion and it can be:

* Printed and emailed as "still" x-rays;

* Stored on a hard drive;

* Recorded on DVD.

So, if you have to hear it from a friend, than consider us friends.  I want you to know that getting the BEST in the BEGINNING will make a difference in your life.

If you, or someone you know, has been injured call Colorado Car Wreck/ The Auto Injury Clinic at 877-779-9340 and get it done right from the beginning.  The staff there are wonderful, caring and will get answers for you in the beginning. 

I still have pain from both of my accidents.  I will always wonder if my injuries were discovered earlier.....

Tell me about your experiences after car accidents.   If you have ever used DMX I would love to know how different it was for you. 

Just exactly what type of people work here!

Today I am going to share something personal.  A family member ended up in the Emergency Room the other day.  After HOURS of waiting....nothing was discovered.  I call Mark Sutton and ask if I can "pick his brain" about the situation.

After the initial background of the situation Mark not only offered comfort but explained that certain tests they do could possibly figure out what the problem is. 

Appointment scheduled for my family member.  I will keep updating on the progress of what is going on.  I cannot stress enough exactly how WONDERFUL it was to pick up the phone and be given an option that nobody had thought of. 

Heat Exhaustion and Driving

We all hear about car accidents in the winter with ice, snow and low visability. But car accidents are on the rise in the summer. Summer is when are kids are out of school and...on the road.

With the heat we have been having heat exhaustion is a big problem. According to WebMD Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness that may occur after you've been exposed to high temperatures for several days and have developed dehydration, which is an inadequate or imbalanced replacement of the fluids and electrolytes you've lost through excessive perspiration.
There are two types of heat exhaustion:

• Water depletion. Signs include excessive thirst, weakness, headache, and even loss of consciousness.
• Salt depletion. Signs include nausea and vomiting, frequent muscle cramps, and dizziness.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

The most common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• confusion
• dark-colored urine (which indicates dehydration)
• dizziness
• fainting
• fatigue
• headache
• muscle cramps
• nausea
• pale skin
• profuse sweating
• rapid heartbeat

Take a good look at the list of symptoms of heat exhaustion. Now imagine having these symptoms while driving....it is a dangerous combination.

Please be careful when getting behind the wheel of a car.

It's all about KNOWING!!!

What is Spinal Cord Injury? Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function such as mobility or feeling. Frequent causes of damage are trauma (car accident, gunshot, falls, etc.) or disease (polio, spina bifida, Friedreich's Ataxia, etc.). The spinal cord does not have to be severed in order for a loss of functioning to occur. In fact, in most people with SCI, the spinal cord is intact, but the damage to it results in loss of functioning. SCI is very different from back injuries such as ruptured disks, spinal stenosis or pinched nerves.
A person can "break their back or neck" yet not sustain a spinal cord injury if only the bones around the spinal cord (the vertebrae) are damaged, but the spinal cord is not affected. In these situations, the individual may not experience paralysis after the bones are stabilized.
What is the spinal cord and the vertebra? The spinal cord is about 18 inches long and extends from the base of the brain, down the middle of the back, to about the waist. The nerves that lie within the spinal cord are upper motor neurons (UMNs) and their function is to carry the messages back and forth from the brain to the spinal nerves along the spinal tract. The spinal nerves that branch out from the spinal cord to the other parts of the body are called lower motor neurons (LMNs). These spinal nerves exit and enter at each vertebral level and communicate with specific areas of the body. The sensory portions of the LMN carry messages about sensation from the skin and other body parts and organs to the brain. The motor portions of the LMN send messages from the brain to the various body parts to initiate actions such as muscle movement.(http://www.spinalinjury.net/html/_spinal_cord_101.html)

Car Accidents can cause numerous problems to the body. Spinal cord injuries can affect your hands, arms, legs and feet and will usually take a MRI to discover. Depending where the injury will determine what other parts of your body will be affected. A neck injury can affect your arm while a back injury can affect your legs. When you are involved in a car accident and you don't "feel" any injuries call Colorado Car Wreck anyway. It may take several weeks before any injuries will be discovered.

DMX Technology

DMX allows clinicians to view the spine in real-time motion at 30 x-rays per second. The procedure is performed with the patient standing and actively moving in a weight-bearing position within the system. DMX technology help patients find the source of their pain, doctors diagnose injuries, and attorneys prove their client is in pain so they can get the treatment they need and the compensation they deserve!!!

Board Certified Experts

Board Certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr Jere Sutton, is one of the first in Colorado specifically trained in the innovative advancement of Digital Motion X-rays to diagnose soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and ligament damage that standard x-ray tests and MRIs can't always detect.
Digital Motion X-Ray, commonly called DMX, is a revolutionary advancement in radiology that can diagnose soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and ligament damage that standard x-ray tests can’t always detect.

Regular X-Rays are like typewriters

We don't use typewriters any more for a reason....we have something better:  the computer.  Computers are easier, quicker, better and fits today's technology....so why use yesterday's technology when it comes to your health?

The X-Ray you have done can make all the difference in your treatment!!

Digital Motion X-Ray makes all the difference to you!!

According to Dr. Sutton, Premier Back Rehabilitation Center, PC:

Digital Motion X-Ray is simply a type of fluoro-based x-ray system, coupled with new digital and optic technology, allowing clinicians to view the spine in real-time motion at 30 x-rays per second. The procedure is performed with the patient standing and actively moving in a weight-bearing position within the system.

DMX is a digital movie of an x-ray in motion and it can be:

* Printed and emailed as "still" x-rays;

* Stored on a hard drive;

* Recorded on DVD.

Traditionally, diagnosis of whiplash injuries rely upon non-moving diagnostic procedures such as static x-rays, stress view x-rays, CT, and MRI. During these tests, patients are asked to stand or lie still: "Don't move" and/or "Hold your breath". Patients hurt more when they move and pain is commonly an indicator of injury. The majority of these non-moving diagnostic tests come out negative or unremarkable.

I will tell you this last Saturday I ended up in the ER and had to have the "old way" of X-Rays.  Hold your breath.....OUCH!  When the results came back....multiple rib fractures.  Okay, it is hard enough to breath let alone hold your breath!!  My request to Dr. Sutton is to be available to me 24 hours a day 7 days a week because I am obviously very clumsy and NEVER want to hold my breath again for X-Rays!!!

Watch this video to learn more about Digital Motion X-Ray and this life-saving method

If you or a loved one is involved in a car accident INSIST on Digital Motion X-Ray!!
Visit Colorado Car Wreck's website for more information

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Whiplash: The injury you may not be aware of

Whiplash is an injury that can be caused by a car accident. There may be minimal or no damage done to your vehicle which will lead the insurance companies to claim that you were not injured in the accident. Also, you may not know you are injured for weeks after the accident. I know this first hand from my car accident. It wasn't until a few weeks after my accident, and after I told the other party's insurance company I was not hurt, that I could barely move. After months of doctor visits I learned of my neck injuries. 

Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness, headaches, pain in the shoulder or between the shoulder blades, low pack pain, pain or numbness in the arm and/or hand, dizziness and/or ringing in the ears or blurred vision.



When you are involved in a car wreck it is essential that you seek medical attention from a board certified Physician to treat your injuries.  I want to stress that even if you do not think you are injured still make an appointment!  I was involved in a car accident years ago and didn't think I was hurt.....until three weeks later when I could no longer move.  Most drivers carry usually carry $5,000 in MedPay so check your policy...if you don't have it....it is worth the few dollars a month to add to your policy. 
It allows immediate medical treatment so even if you don't "feel" injured you don't have to worry about the bills.  It's better to go in and make sure you are healthy.

Dr. Sutton:  "Injuries such as whiplash usually may not show any symptoms for hours, days or even a week later. If you've been injured in an automobile accident your injuries will probably not heal on their own. A soft-tissue injury is permanent and if scar tissue forms in your muscles, it may leave them less flexible and prone to re-injury if not treated."

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