Conditions Treated

• We Listen – As one of the leading chiropractors in the county for auto accidents, we believe you will find that our office is different. For starters, we listen. We really listen. That is why we offer a free consultation. That gives us a chance to sit down with you and really find out what your needs are.
• We Care – Having treated hundreds of auto accidents victims, Dr. Fretty has seen first hand the devastation it can bring to peoples lives. We believe this gives us a very special ability to understand what you are going through. hurts. The Whiplash hurts. The headaches, neck pain, arm pain and even low back pain are real. We know. are real.
• We Get Results – At Ocean Chiropractic Center in San Francisco, we utilize the latest techniques as well as some of the oldest and most trusted ones. Our primary adjusting technique is the “Gonstead Technique”. It is one of the only techniques with the specificity to correct the structural abnormalities that result from whiplash type injuries.

We believe that these are just some of the reasons that car accident attorneys from all over the state of California refer their auto accident clients to our office. So call (415) 841-0115 and schedule a free consultation today.

WHIPLASH CAUSES PERMANENT DAMAGE!
I Thought It Would Go Away! We cannot begin to tell you how many times we have heard this. This is like driving down the freeway and your engine oil light comes on and you keep driving waiting to see if it will go away. You were injured. Your body was damaged just like your car. You need to have it fixed. Too often patients wait a year or two until they can not stand the pain by then the problem is usually much worst.

EFFECTS OF IMPROPER TREATMENT ON AUTO ACCIDENT INJURIES
Improper treatment of whiplash injuries and all soft tissue injuries is a factor in a large percentage of the patient’s that finally present themselves to our clinic. Most MD’s and DO’s prescribe muscle relaxers, pain medications, and anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS). These drugs do nothing to correct the problem and only cover up the symptoms.

DON’T TAKE UNNECESSARY CHANCES
In whiplash injuries, ligaments, muscles and joints are stretched and torn. The bones in your spine can be moved out of their original positions. When this happens, the nerves become compressed and cause pain. Without proper care, the injury can progressively grow worse, because the neck vertebrate are now unstable and disc decay can form. Your ligaments and other soft tissues can heal with scar tissue, and your vertebrate may heal in the wrong positions, creating long-term instability and weakness. This is a permanent condition known as fibrosis, the pain is real and can last a lifetime. Auto Accidents cause injuries. Don’t fool yourself.

THE GOOD NEWS!
The good news is that Ocean Chiropractic Center has proven to be very effective in helping most whiplash victims identify and treat their whiplash injuries – without drugs or surgery. No conventional medical treatment has proven to be as effective as chiropractic. A study by Woodward, Cook, Gargan and Bannister found 93% of patients under chiropractic care for whiplash injuries had improved. They further stated”…..” No conventional medical treatment has proven to be as effective as chiropractic.”

IF YOU HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
There are more than 300 auto accidents each month in both Alameda and Contra Costa County’s. In spite of the frustrations you may now be going through, if you are alive, the accident could have been worse. First, let’s count our blessings!!!

SLOW IMPACT WHIPLASH CAN FOOL YOU!
If your auto accident seemed minor because of slow speeds or little damage to your vehicle, that doesn’t mean injury did not occur. It can be a time of great concern. At just 10mph, the body can be subjected to a force of 5 to 10 G’s. The force of 10 G’s is greater than a fighter pilot would experience during aerial combat.

Independent studies show that your body can violently move back and forth 6 to 10 times the speed your auto was going at time of impact. In other words, a 5-10 mph crash, your neck can move at 50 to 100 miles per hour! This is how G force can cause serious injuries at even low speeds. At Ocean Chiropractic Center our doctors are experts at detecting and correcting injuries resulting from auto accidents.

TWO TYPES OF INJURIES WHIPLASH
Whiplash is a term used to describe what happens to your head and neck in an automobile accident. It can occur at any angle; head on collisions, rear-end impacts, from any corner, or from being T-Boned, which is impact from the side.

The ill effects of a whiplash injury can occur instantly or it could be weeks, months or even years before symptoms occur. Injuries to the neck caused by a sudden movement (head forward, back, or sideways) is commonly referred to as “whiplash” or “acceleration/deceleration injuries”. Literally thousands of pounds of force is exerted upon the neck and spine of the whiplash victim. These forces result in tearing of muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and in turn, can result in a displacement of the vertebrae of the spine (subluxation) which is a dysfunctional joint causing nerve irritation (pinched spinal nerves).

The results of such injuries can cause neck pain, shoulder and arm pain or numbness, elbow and hand pain or numbness, mid back pain, headaches, dizziness, and blurred vision. The injured areas lose the ability to function and loss of range of motion (stiffness) occurs. This is where whiplash pain comes from. It’s most prevalent in the neck – but can happen to any area of the spine or body.

SYMPTOMS OF WHIPLASH
Whiplash symptoms can include neck pain and stiffness, shoulder pain, headaches, back pain, arm pain, numbness or tingling in your fingers, dizziness or light headedness, mid back pain, low back pain, numbness or tingling down your legs. Whiplash may also produce facial pain, ringing in the ears or hearing loss, vertigo, blurred vision, or even hoarseness. Whiplash is real and painful. You may experience one or many of the above symptoms. Each person is unique in their injuries.

THE PROBLEM WITH WHIPLASH
The problem with whiplash is that very few doctors truly understand it. Well meaning emergency room physicians, general medical doctors and physical therapists do not appreciate the extent of the pain and injuries of whiplash accident victims. The end result is these people are often provided inadequate treatment to care for their injuries. Don’t let this happen to you. We truly understand the pain you are going through.

WHIPLASH INJURIES CAN REMAIN HIDDEN FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS
Because of the body’s ability to adapt to injury, some whiplash injuries can remain hidden for weeks or months before pain or other symptoms surface. By the time symptoms surface, many people have already signed their right s to treatment away. Insurance companies know the facts and spend millions of dollars a year to hide them. It is no secret that insurance companies may not have your best interest in mind and attempt to get you to prematurely settle your claim in order that they can avoid additional liability.

Their concern is not your health. Their concern is to get you to settle for as little as possible.
If you do, what happens when hidden challenges begin surfacing? Don’t let this happen to you. Preserve your rights to receive the treatment you need. Do not sign anything until you have been thoroughly checked by a doctor that specializes in Auto injury trauma at our office.

SPINAL CARE
Chiropractic is the most appropriate approach to these types of injuries. Chiropractic care utilizes specific bone manipulations (Adjustments) to help normalize spinal function. This is crucial in the beginning phases of healing to bring back proper motion, but return of functional joint motion usually requires 2-3 months of chiropractic care. Active care allows the soft tissue (muscles, ligaments, and tendons) to heal most effectively with minimal scar tissue and physical therapy can take from a few months up to a year to complete the healing process.

THE 3 PHASES OF HEALING
There are 3 phases of healing that our bodies must undergo in any type of injury and chiropractic combined with physiotherapy is the most effect approach to all soft tissue injuries:

1. Acute Inflammatory Phase usually lasts 24 to 72 hours and ice (Cryotherapy) and correction is essential during this phase.
2. Regeneration Phase begins around 3 to 5 days post injury and can last up to 3-6 months. Chiropractic care combined with passive modalities is crucial to achieve maximum improvement of joint function during this phase of healing. This is when damaged tissue is replaced by new tissue (Collagen). Mobilization to the injured joints (chiropractic care) is essential to proper healing during this phase of care.
3. Remodeling Phase begins about 2 to 4 weeks after the injury and can last longer than 1 year in very severe cases. Remodeling is when new tissue (Collagen) begins and continues to strengthens. Always remember chiropractic first, medicine (drugs) and physiotherapy second, and surgery last.

PAIN, WHY ME?
Pain is God’s way of telling you your body is in trouble. Without pain our bodies could not tell us that there is an injury and that there is something wrong. Usually the absence of pain and swelling after injury is an exceedingly poor indicator of healing tissue. Most minor to moderate whiplash injuries are overlooked by the patient, the hospital, and even the patient’s family medical provider due to the lack of initial pain. One week up to 2 months after the injury, the patient continues to have pain or the pain worsens, is when most people begin to realize that the injury is much worse than they had imagined.

Call Us Today! Our doctors have the experience of helping thousands of auto accident victims in their careers, saving most of them from long-term drug addiction and years of future pain as a result of their soft tissue, whiplash injuries.

Call us for your comprehensive examination. If you have challenges needing treatment, rest assured we will provide you with the most competent and comfortable care available. We are willing to work with you regardless of whether you do or do not have an attorney. Our primary concern is to help you move into your future without the painful effects of whiplash following you there.

Call us today at (415) 841-0115. We look forward to serving you.

Back Pain in San Francisco
The back is a broad term that covers a large area of the body. It is made up of many tendons, ligaments, discs, muscles, and bones. Without a solid understanding of these different parts, it can complicated to locate and address the source of the pain. The following explains some of the most common issues and their identifying features. It also explains how chiropractic medicine can help to resolve them. This is a general guideline to help you in your quest for effective treatment, but we highly recommend that you seek a professional opinion to properly diagnose these issues.

Disc Bulges and Herniations
Disc bulges and herniations are conditions in which the outer edges of the discs, located between the vertebrae, are damaged. This causes the jelly-like center to bulge or be pushed out. This is a surprisingly common issue and it is often, but not always, very painful. Many people who have this condition feel nothing at all. The quality and intensity of it, for those who experience pain, depends on the type and position of the herniation. If the damaged disc is irritating a surrounding nerve, shooting or stabbing pain along with weakness in the legs is often severe.

It is important that this issue is properly identified and promptly treated to avoid further damage. A chiropractor in San Francisco will thoroughly assess your back to determine the extent of the issue and the appropriate treatment to prevent worsening of the herniation, and provide relief from the associated pain.

Subluxations
Subluxation is a medical term describing a misalignment in the vertebral column. There are a wide variety of causes, including physical stress, trauma, and toxins. Subluxations are often quite painful and can disrupt normal movement. Subluxations are one of the most commonly overlooked contributors to back pain. Chiropractors are trained to identify and correct this issue using non-invasive adjustment techniques.

Muscular Sprains and Tendon or Ligament Strains
Strains and sprains most typically occur when we engage in tasks that our body is not accustomed to, or when we are involved in an accident. Lifting while twisting, or stretching past one’s limits are common causes to strains and sprains of the back. These can be extremely painful, and are often accompanied by swelling and bruising of the surrounding area. Strains and sprains in the back tend to involve changes to the alignment of the spine and typically respond well to chiropractic care.

Stress and Back Pain
Chronic stress wreaks havoc on the body, and can eventually lead to hyper-tension and chronic back pain. The back pain is a result of tension and muscle spasms that occur when stress hormones are released. The tension will often accumulate in what are referred to as trigger points. These trigger points can be extremely painful and need professional attention to resolve. Chiropractors have the knowledge and tools to relieve stress from trigger points and to deal with underlying nervous system imbalances that may be keeping your body locked in patterns of stress and pain.

Other Issues that Cause Back Pain
Conditions such as obesity, arthritis, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections have been shown to cause symptoms of lower back pain. These are all serious issues that need to be identified and treated immediately to avoid long-term health issues. San Francisco chiropractic doctors are trained to identify these issues and support you in getting the appropriate treatment. Many of these issues can have their source in spinal misalignments and respond well to chiropractic adjustments.

If you have questions about how our team at Ocean Chiropractic Center can help you, please schedule a consultation today.

Carpal Tunnel in San Francisco
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is usually accompanied by sensations of burning, pain, tingling, or swelling in the palm of the hands and extends into the first three fingers and the thumb. Occasionally people also report a feeling of swelling in the hand even when no swelling is present. Patients commonly experience weakness in the affected hand and have difficulty with picking up small objects. This condition can have a major impact on a person’s lifestyle and in some sever cases, if left untreated, the damage to the median nerve can cause permanent loss of movement in the hand.

What is the Cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The pain experienced with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a result of the swelling and misalignment of tissues and bone which then press on the nerve. Often there is an underlying problem. Some patients have had an obvious injury, a stress or break to the wrist, that causes the symptoms to develop.

The most common cause is related to occupations that involve the long term use of vibrating instruments and the repetitive use of the hands and wrist. At other times, this issue seems to develop out of nowhere. Metabolic disorders involving the pituitary and thyroid gland can be a contributing factor to the unexplained development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, as can pregnancy and obesity. More commonly, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, that develops in one or both wrists without a clear cause, is the result of a nerve irritation stemming from the spine.

How is Carpal Tunnel Treated?
Traditionally, Carpal Tunnel treatment has been limited to decompression surgeries, physiotherapy, and prescription medicines. Due to the fact that these options often fail to deal with the underlying problem, they may only provide short-term relief and, at times, can prove completely ineffective. When left untreated, or when unsuccessfully treated, people are forced to adapt their lifestyles to accommodate this debilitating issue. This may include quitting one’s job and needing help with basic everyday living.

Fortunately, many people in San Francisco are finding long-term relief from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome through chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic medicine is a non-invasive alternative that seeks out and deals with the underlying cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. A chiropractor will perform an evaluation of your condition and formulate an individualized treatment plan that will work to correct nerve interference in the spine and restore you to an optimal state of health. If you are noticing any signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome do not hesitate to call our team at Ocean Chiropractic Center today for a consultation.

HEADACHES & MIGRAINES
Whether you are dealing with a persistent ache in your head, or the worst symptoms associated with migraines, including light and noise intolerance, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, depression, and irritation the cause may be a structural issue. When the spine moves out of position because of developmental issues, trauma, repetitive stress, and other incidents, it can put pressure on the surrounding nerves. When the nerves are compressed or irritated, they send a message to the muscles of the back, neck, and jaw to tighten.

Whether you are dealing with a persistent ache in your head, or the worst symptoms associated with migraines, including light and noise intolerance, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, depression, and irritation the cause may be a structural issue. When the spine moves out of position because of developmental issues, trauma, repetitive stress, and other incidents, it can put pressure on the surrounding nerves. When the nerves are compressed or irritated, they send a message to the muscles of the back, neck, and jaw to tighten.

CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENTS
Chiropractic care has a long history of successfully treating headaches and migraines. Chiropractors have an extensive understanding of subtle issues occurring in the spine which, due to its connection with the nervous system, is very often the source of pain. A chiropractic treatment starts with a thorough evaluation that will rule out other possible causes of your headache and examine your spine for issues of misalignment.

The assessment will determine the exact type of treatment that is necessary for the specific issue at the root of the pain. Using gentle and non-invasive techniques a chiropractor is able to achieve adjustments to the spine that, although they may seem subtle, can provide almost instant relief and restore your long-term health. Unlike medications which treat the problem on the surface level and provide only short-term relief, a chiropractic adjustment will address the cause of your headache or migraine and provide lasting results that will improve your quality of life.

Neck Pain in San Francisco
Although the neck is a relatively small area of the body, it is comprised of some complicated structures which do the important job of holding your head up. The small size of the vertebrae of the neck allows for a lot of mobility, but can also make the neck more vulnerable to injury and pain. Some of the causes of neck pain include:

• Trauma, such as whiplash
• Sleeping position
• Poor posture
• Repetitive stress
• Abnormalities in the bone structure
• Joint issues
• Muscle strains and pulls

Most of these issues are either caused by, or impact, the alignment of the spine. When muscles in the neck go into spasm, the spine gets pulled out of alignment. When the spine is misaligned, the nerves become irritated and cause further tension and other systemic problems. Because every nerve in the body has its root in the spinal column, issues that have their source at the neck can have a major impact throughout every other system.

Many people let spinal problems go uncorrected in San Francisco. They hope that if they wait long enough the pain will simply go away. In some cases it will go away, but the misalignment that caused the problem is usually still there. Over time, that area can become aggravated, and the pain can return. If the problem is not corrected it can become much more serious. Some patients let things go to the point where surgery may be the only option.

Conventional vs. Holistic Treatments
Most commonly, people try to deal with their neck pain using prescription or over-the-counter medications. This may help to relieve the symptoms in the short-term, but not only are patients dealing with side effects, the underlying issue goes unaddressed. Massage Therapy has become more popular over the years and this can help to relieve some muscle tightness. If the issue is in the bones or joints, the problem will remain.

Chiropractic treatment is a holistic practice that addresses the structural cause that leads to the majority neck pain. Following a thorough chiropractic assessment aimed at ruling out other issues and finding the exact source of the problem, a personalized recovery plan is developed. Gentle adjustments to the spine can bring instant relief and restore long term health to the neck and the entire body. Call our team at Ocean Chiropractic Center today to set up a consultation and bring an end to the pain in your neck.

Symptoms of a workplace injury can include:

• Lower back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Carpal tunnel and hand pain
• Disc injuries
• Sciatica (pain caused by the sciatic nerve in your lower back and legs)
• Joint pain

Being examined by a chiropractor is often the first step in identifying and treating a workplace injury through non-invasive care which is why Ocean Chiropractic Center conducts thorough examinations during his first session with new patients in order to better assess their injury. Since workplace injuries usually develop over time, it’s important to share all the symptoms you may be experiencing so we can identify the root cause.