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  • Hurt in a Car Accident in Oregon? What to Do, and How PIP Works

    Even a low-speed collision can strain the neck, back and shoulders. Symptoms are often delayed, sometimes by a day or more. Knowing what to do right after a crash, and how Oregon’s no-fault PIP coverage works, can save you stress later.

    Right after the crash

    • Get to safety and call 911 if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked.
    • Get checked. Go to the emergency room or urgent care for severe pain, head injury, numbness or anything alarming.
    • Exchange names, contact details, license plates and insurance information. Take photos of the scene and the vehicles.
    • Do not assume you are fine because you feel okay. Adrenaline can hide pain.

    Reporting the crash in Oregon

    Oregon DMV requires drivers to submit an Oregon Traffic Collision and Insurance Report within 72 hours when anyone is injured or killed, or when damage to your vehicle, to any towed vehicle or to other property is over $2,500. A police report does not replace your own. You can find the form on the Oregon DMV crash report page. Also tell your insurance company about the crash promptly.

    How PIP works

    Oregon auto policies include Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which pays regardless of who caused the crash. The state minimums are:

    • Medical expenses: up to $15,000 per person for reasonable and necessary care related to the crash, for expenses incurred within one year of the injury.
    • Lost income: 70% of lost income, up to $3,000 per month, for up to 52 weeks.
    • Essential services: up to $30 per day if you cannot do household tasks because of your injuries.

    Your own policy may provide more than the minimums. Ask your insurer exactly what your PIP covers, including chiropractic care. We can explain the clinical side, but we cannot give legal or insurance advice. Read how PIP insurance actually works after an Oregon car accident.

    Why pain can show up late

    Soft tissue such as muscles and ligaments can be strained in a crash without immediate symptoms. Stiffness, neck pain, headaches or back pain may appear over the next days. See why car accident pain does not always show up right away.

    How a chiropractor can help

    Dr. Devine starts with a careful exam of your neck, back and shoulders and screens for injuries that need medical imaging or a referral. Care may include gentle manual therapy, rehab exercises and, in some cases, laser therapy. Learn more about our car accident chiropractic care, whiplash, and injury treatment at Form & Function Chiropractic.

    Deadlines and legal questions

    Oregon sets time limits for injury claims, and they can be short, so do not wait to learn them. If you have questions about fault, settlements or claim deadlines, speak with an Oregon attorney.

    When to get medical care first

    Go to the emergency room for head injury, loss of consciousness, severe neck or back pain, weakness, numbness, chest or abdominal pain, or trouble breathing after a crash.

    Related reading

    Book an appointment

    Dr. Jeff Devine practices at Form & Function Chiropractic, 3 Monroe Pkwy Ste G, Lake Oswego, OR 97035. Call (503) 495-3454.

    This article is general education, not medical advice. It does not replace an exam by a licensed provider. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.

  • Posture at Your Desk: What Actually Matters

    Most of us have been told to “sit up straight.” The reality is more forgiving, and more useful. The best posture is the next one: your body does well with variety and is stressed by holding any position for too long.

    Why posture matters for pain

    Hours spent with your head forward and shoulders rounded load the neck, upper back and shoulders. For some people this shows up as stiffness, tension headaches or achy shoulder blades. Posture is rarely the only cause of pain, but it is often a factor you can change.

    A simple workstation check

    • Screen: top of the monitor near eye level, about an arm’s length away. Laptop users benefit from a stand and a separate keyboard.
    • Chair: feet supported, hips and knees around 90 degrees, lower back supported.
    • Arms: elbows close to your sides and near 90 degrees, wrists relaxed.
    • Phone: lift it toward your eyes instead of dropping your head to it.

    Move more than you fix

    • Stand, walk or stretch for a minute or two every 30 to 45 minutes.
    • Alternate sitting and standing if your desk allows.
    • Try gentle shoulder rolls and slow neck turns during breaks.
    • Build in regular exercise that strengthens the upper back and hips.

    When posture needs a professional look

    If you have pain that returns every day, headaches that follow long computer sessions, or numbness or tingling in your arms or hands, it is worth an exam. Dr. Devine looks at how your spine, shoulders and hips move, then builds a plan around your work and habits. Read about how desk work reshapes your spine over time, or see our pages on neck pain and shoulder pain.

    When to get medical care first

    See a doctor promptly for sudden weakness, numbness that is spreading, severe unrelenting pain, or pain with fever or unexplained weight loss. Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing or signs of a stroke.

    Related reading

    Book an appointment

    Dr. Jeff Devine practices at Form & Function Chiropractic, 3 Monroe Pkwy Ste G, Lake Oswego, OR 97035. Call (503) 495-3454.

    This article is general education, not medical advice. It does not replace an exam by a licensed provider. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.

  • Low Back Pain: What to Do, What to Avoid, and When to Get Help

    Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people miss work and put off activities they enjoy. The good news is that most episodes improve over time. The way you handle the first days and weeks can make a real difference.

    Keep moving, within reason

    Staying gently active usually helps more than bed rest. Short walks, changing positions often and returning to normal activities as comfort allows are good starting points. Avoid pushing through sharp pain, and avoid heavy lifting and long, unbroken sitting while it settles.

    Sitting or lifting: what really caused it?

    Many people blame a single lift, but long hours of sitting loads the spine too. Stiff hips, weak trunk muscles and a rushed return to activity often play a role. Read our colleagues’ article on how to tell if your back pain is from sitting, not lifting.

    What a chiropractic back exam includes

    • A history of how it started, what aggravates it and what eases it.
    • Movement testing of the spine and hips, plus checks for nerve involvement in the legs.
    • Screening for signs that need imaging or a medical referral.
    • A plan that may include gentle manual therapy, rehab exercises, activity coaching and, for some patients, laser therapy.

    Learn more on our low back pain page, or see how a chiropractor approaches lower back pain. If pain travels down the leg, read about sciatica.

    Small habits that help

    • Stand up and walk every 30 to 45 minutes.
    • Hinge at the hips when you lift, and keep the load close.
    • Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees, or on your back with a pillow under your knees.
    • Build a regular routine of walking and core and hip strengthening once pain allows.

    When to get medical care first

    Go to the emergency room for loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or leg weakness that is getting worse. Seek prompt care for back pain after a fall or crash, back pain with fever or unexplained weight loss, or pain that is severe and constant, even at rest or at night.

    Related reading

    Book an appointment

    Dr. Jeff Devine practices at Form & Function Chiropractic, 3 Monroe Pkwy Ste G, Lake Oswego, OR 97035. Call (503) 495-3454.

    This article is general education, not medical advice. It does not replace an exam by a licensed provider. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.

  • Disc Injuries: Bulge, Herniation and “Slipped Disc” Explained

    Between the bones of your spine sit discs, tough cushions that absorb load and allow movement. When a disc is irritated, the outer wall can bulge or tear, and the softer center can push out. That is what people mean by a bulging, herniated or “slipped” disc, although a disc never actually slips out of place.

    Bulge versus herniation

    • Bulge: the disc extends past its normal edge, but the wall is intact.
    • Herniation: the wall has torn and some inner material pushes through.
    • Degeneration: normal age-related change in discs. It is very common and is not always painful.

    Imaging often shows disc findings in people with no pain at all. What matters most is whether your symptoms and exam findings match what the image shows.

    Common symptoms

    • Low back or neck pain that worsens with sitting, bending or coughing.
    • Pain, tingling or numbness traveling into a leg (often called sciatica) or an arm.
    • Muscle weakness in the affected limb.
    • Stiffness and guarding of movement.

    Conservative care options

    Many disc-related problems improve over weeks with conservative care. Dr. Devine tailors care to your exam findings, which may include gentle, low-force manual therapy, movement and stabilization exercises, activity changes and, in some cases, laser therapy. If your symptoms are not improving or your exam shows signs that need a different approach, he will refer you for imaging or to a medical specialist.

    See our herniated disc page, and read how conservative care approaches disc herniation at Form & Function Chiropractic. Leg symptoms? See sciatica.

    When to get medical care first

    Go to the emergency room right away for loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs (“saddle” numbness), or leg weakness that is getting worse. These can signal a serious nerve compression. Also seek prompt care for severe pain that is unrelenting, pain with fever, or pain after major trauma.

    Related reading

    Book an appointment

    Dr. Jeff Devine practices at Form & Function Chiropractic, 3 Monroe Pkwy Ste G, Lake Oswego, OR 97035. Call (503) 495-3454.

    This article is general education, not medical advice. It does not replace an exam by a licensed provider. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.

  • Neck Pain: Common Causes and What Actually Helps

    Almost everyone gets a sore neck at some point. Most episodes settle with time and sensible movement. When neck pain keeps coming back, or limits sleep, work or driving, it is worth finding out why.

    What commonly drives neck pain

    • Prolonged screen time. Holding your head forward for hours loads the muscles and joints at the back of the neck.
    • Sleep position and pillows. A pillow that bends the neck too far up or down can leave you stiff in the morning.
    • Stress and tension. Many people carry stress in the shoulders and neck.
    • Past injuries. An old fall, sports injury or car accident can leave areas that stay irritated.
    • Joint or disc irritation. Sometimes the joints or discs of the neck are the source, which can also cause arm symptoms.

    What helps in the first few days

    • Keep moving gently. Slow turns and tilts within a comfortable range usually beat complete rest.
    • Use heat or ice, whichever feels better to you, for short periods.
    • Adjust your workstation: screen at eye level, elbows near 90 degrees, feet supported.
    • Change position often. The best posture is the next one.

    What a chiropractic neck exam looks like

    Dr. Devine begins with your story: how it started, what makes it better or worse, and any arm symptoms, headaches or past injuries. He then checks motion, muscle tension and joint function in the neck, upper back and shoulders, and screens for anything that needs medical attention. Care may include gentle manual therapy, mobility work, home exercises and, in some cases, laser therapy.

    Learn more on our neck pain page, or see the neck pain care at Form & Function Chiropractic. If your neck pain followed a crash, read about whiplash.

    When to get medical care first

    Go to the emergency room after significant trauma, or if neck pain comes with fever, severe headache, trouble walking, loss of bladder or bowel control, or sudden weakness or numbness. See a doctor promptly if arm pain, numbness or weakness is spreading or getting worse.

    Related reading

    Book an appointment

    Dr. Jeff Devine practices at Form & Function Chiropractic, 3 Monroe Pkwy Ste G, Lake Oswego, OR 97035. Call (503) 495-3454.

    This article is general education, not medical advice. It does not replace an exam by a licensed provider. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.

  • Headaches and Your Neck: When Chiropractic Care May Help

    Headaches are one of the most common reasons people look for help. Some are triggered by sleep, stress or screen time. Others start in the upper neck and travel up the back of the head. Knowing which kind you have is the first step to getting the right care.

    Three common headache patterns

    • Tension-type headaches usually feel like a dull band or pressure on both sides of the head, often with tight neck and shoulder muscles.
    • Cervicogenic headaches start in the neck. They often begin at the base of the skull, may come with neck stiffness, and can feel worse with certain head positions.
    • Migraines are often one-sided and throbbing, and may come with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Some people notice neck tension before or during an attack.

    These patterns overlap, and you can have more than one. That is why a careful history and exam matter more than a label you picked from the internet.

    Why the neck and jaw get involved

    The joints and muscles of the upper neck share nerve pathways with the head. Long hours at a desk, a forward head position, poor sleep positions, clenching your jaw or an old whiplash injury can all load those tissues. When they stay irritated, headaches can follow.

    What a chiropractic headache exam includes

    • A detailed history: when the headaches started, what triggers them, and what you have already tried.
    • A screen of your neck and upper back for movement, tenderness and muscle tension.
    • A basic neurological check, so anything that needs a medical workup is caught early.
    • A plan that may combine gentle hands-on care, movement and posture coaching, and, for some patients, laser therapy.

    Dr. Devine treats headaches as part of the whole picture. You can read more on our headaches and migraines page, or see how Form & Function Chiropractic approaches headaches and migraines.

    Things you can try at home

    • Take short movement breaks every 30 to 45 minutes when you work at a screen.
    • Raise your monitor so the top third is near eye level.
    • Drink water and keep regular meals and sleep times.
    • Notice patterns and jot them down. A simple log of when headaches hit helps your provider.

    When to get medical care first

    Seek emergency care right away for a sudden, severe headache that feels like the worst of your life, or a headache with fever and a stiff neck, confusion, trouble speaking, weakness or numbness on one side, vision loss, or a headache after a blow to the head. See your medical doctor promptly for headaches that are new after age 50, keep getting worse, or wake you from sleep.

    Related reading

    Book an appointment

    Dr. Jeff Devine practices at Form & Function Chiropractic, 3 Monroe Pkwy Ste G, Lake Oswego, OR 97035. Call (503) 495-3454.

    This article is general education, not medical advice. It does not replace an exam by a licensed provider. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.