Novaré Injury Care Blog

Chronic Joint Pain Treatment Without Surgery (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on options besides surgery for chronic joint pain, using electromagnetic therapy together with traditional therapy. Full transcript.

How to Slow Down Arthritis and Stay Active (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on why arthritic changes in the spine and joints are common with age, and how the right therapies can help slow them. Full transcript.

Non-Surgical Knee Pain Treatment: Options to Know (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on why non-invasive therapies for knee pain are worth discussing before deciding on surgery, joint injections or medication. Full transcript.

How to Slow Down Arthritis: 6 Ways to Ease Joint Pain

Second Opinion Before Back Surgery (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on why anyone told back surgery is their only option should get a second opinion before deciding. Full transcript.

6 Common Sciatica Triggers and How to Avoid Them

Back Pain From Sitting All Day: Why It Happens (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on how long hours of sitting tighten the hip flexors and switch off the glutes and core, and what to do about it. Full transcript.

Exercises You Can Do Sitting Down (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on building movement breaks into a day of sitting, with simple chair exercises and a daily timer to start the habit. Full transcript.

Full Body Stretch for Shoulders and Back (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on a full body stretch he uses for his shoulders, wrists, elbows, hips and lower trunk, and why it isn't spinal decompression. Full transcript.

Why Is My Neck Always Tight? (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on needing the same neck stretch every day, and looking at posture, mobility, strength and, when appropriate, imaging. Full transcript.

Chiropractic Adjustment for Neck Arthritis (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on treating a Vietnam veteran with arthritis in his spine using a different approach instead of cracking the neck. Full transcript.

How to Do Cat-Cow Pose: Setup and Steps (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on how to do cat-cow: hands under shoulders, knees under hips, then a slow breath in for cow and out as you round into cat. Full transcript.

Chiropractor and Physical Therapy Together (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on why physical therapy may address the muscles but not the joint, and how a chiropractor can work alongside it. Full transcript.

Neck Stretch for Tight Neck Muscles (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on a simple seated neck stretch using a chair: hold the seat, lean to the side, stretch gently, breathe, and never force it. Full transcript.

Cat-Cow Stretch Benefits for the Spine (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on getting more from cat-cow: moving segment by segment from tailbone to neck and letting the breath drive it. Full transcript.

Radiculopathy Treatment Without Surgery (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on combining robotic laser, EMSCULPT NEO and spinal decompression for radiculopathy and pain radiating into the legs or arms. Full transcript.

5 Ways to Stay Active With a Herniated Disc and Feel Better

Back Pain After Back Surgery: What Comes Next (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on back pain that continues after surgery and a proactive plan to rebuild strength and mobility and ease pressure on the nerves. Full transcript.

Inversion Table vs. Spinal Decompression (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on how an inversion table differs from spinal decompression, the risks of hanging upside down, and why an MRI matters. Full transcript.

What Not to Do With a Herniated Disc (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on what to stop doing with a herniated disc, from sitting for hours to rigorous flexion exercises and forward folds. Full transcript.

Does Physical Therapy Help a Herniated Disc? (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on why herniated disc pain can return after rounds of physical therapy and why he looks at pressure on the nerve first. Full transcript.

5 Signs Sciatica Is Healing and When to Get Help

Spinal Decompression vs. Traction: Why the Exact Level Matters (Video)

Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, on why traction and a full body stretch are not spinal decompression, and why an MRI and the exact level matter. Full transcript.

4 Facts About Chiropractor Credentials and What DC Means

5 Things to Know About Herniated Disc Healing and Recovery

5 Ways to Decompress Your Spine at Home and What to Avoid

6 Chiropractic Adjustment Side Effects and What They Mean

Chiropractic Care in Lehigh Acres and East Fort Myers

Can a Chiropractor Help with Sciatica?

Chiropractic Care for Lower Back Pain: What to Expect

Is Chiropractic Care Safe? Common Questions Answered

What to Expect at Your First Chiropractic Visit

How to Choose a Chiropractor in Fort Myers

What a Chiropractor Actually Does (a Fort Myers DC Explains)

Sciatica Exercises: Gentle Moves That May Ease Nerve Pain

5 Things to Know About How Florida PIP Insurance Works

I’m Dr. Ivan Bracic, and I’ve spent more than 30 years caring for injury patients, a lot of them here in Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres. The question I hear most from people right after a crash isn’t about their neck. It’s “how does PIP insurance work, and will it actually pay for this?” Florida […]

What to Do in the First Days After a Car Accident

The Florida 14-Day Rule After a Car Accident, Explained

The Florida 14-day rule means that to keep your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) medical benefits after a car accident, you generally must be seen by a qualified provider within 14 days of the crash. Miss that window and you can lose your PIP medical coverage entirely, even when your injuries are real. If you have […]

7 Things to Do After a Car Accident in Florida

If you have been in a car accident in Florida, the first things to do are get to safety, call 911, and see a qualified provider promptly, because your health and your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits both depend on acting quickly. Florida’s no-fault system generally gives you 14 days to be seen after a […]

After a Car Accident in Florida: PIP vs. Health Insurance

After a car accident in Florida, your auto Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage usually pays first for crash-related medical care, up to $10,000, but only if you are seen by a qualified provider within 14 days of the crash. Health insurance generally applies afterward, on your plan’s normal copay and deductible terms. If you have […]

Neck Stiffness After a Car Accident in Fort Myers | 4 Reasons to Get Evaluated Right Away

Your neck feels tight after a crash. Maybe just a little sore. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, so you decide to wait a few days and see. That wait can cost you. In more ways than one. Neck stiffness after an accident is one of the most common symptoms people dismiss too quickly. […]

Whiplash Recovery Stages Explained | What to Expect Through All 3 Phases

We see it every week in our Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres offices. Someone comes in two or three days after a crash. They feel confused because they felt totally fine right after the accident. Now their neck is stiff, their head is pounding, and they can barely look over their shoulder to back out […]

Untreated Whiplash Long-Term Effects | 5 Risks and How to Prevent Them in Fort Myers

You felt sore after the accident. A few days passed. You told yourself it would go away. Months later, your neck still aches every morning. The headaches haven’t stopped. Your arm has started to tingle in a way it never did before. This is one of the most common patterns we see in patients dealing […]

4 Treatment Options for Whiplash and How They Work Together

Whiplash treatment options aren’t one-size-fits-all, and that’s exactly why so many people don’t fully recover after a crash. Most expect whiplash to clear up with rest. A few days of neck pain and stiffness, some soreness that fades. But whiplash is a neck injury that doesn’t always follow that path, especially when the damage goes […]

5 Symptoms of Whiplash That Appear After the Initial Impact

You got hit. You walked away. You told yourself you were fine. Then you woke up the next morning and couldn’t turn your head. This happens to about one out of every three people after a car accident. Whiplash symptoms can take up to 48 hours to show up. That means you might feel okay […]

8 Facts About Whiplash and Neck Injuries From Car Accidents

Whiplash injury treatment often starts with a story like this. You walked away from the wreck feeling fine. Maybe a little shaken up, but okay. Then you woke up the next morning and could not turn your head. If you’re in Fort Myers or Lehigh Acres, you’re not the only one. We see this story […]

3 Reasons Back Pain Shows Up Days After a Crash

Back pain that shows up days after a crash is normal, and there are three main reasons for it: adrenaline masks pain at the scene, inflammation from the injury builds and peaks over the next 24 to 72 hours, and soft-tissue or disc damage surfaces slowly rather than all at once. Feeling fine right after […]

6 Types of Headaches After a Car Accident to Watch For

I’m Dr. Ivan Bracic, and I’ve spent more than 30 years treating injury patients, a lot of them after car accidents here in Southwest Florida. The single most common thing people ask me in the days after a crash is some version of “why does my head hurt, and should I be worried?” Headaches after […]

How Long Does Whiplash Last? A Recovery Timeline

If you’re asking how long whiplash lasts, the honest answer is that for many people it improves within a few weeks to a few months, though a smaller share deal with symptoms that linger longer. I’m Dr. Ivan Bracic, and I’ve spent more than 30 years treating neck injuries after car accidents here in Southwest […]

How to Relieve a Pinched Nerve: What Actually Helps

To relieve a pinched nerve, most people do best with gentle movement, a short break from whatever position sets it off, ice or heat, and small posture changes, giving the irritated nerve room to settle. I’m Dr. Ivan Bracic, and I’ve treated spine and nerve pain in Southwest Florida for years at Novaré Injury Care […]

Lower Back Pain After a Car Accident: Causes and Care

Lower back pain after a car accident usually traces to one of four things: the facet joints along the back of your spine, the discs that cushion the vertebrae, the muscles and ligaments that stabilize your low back, or the sacroiliac joint where your spine meets your pelvis. Which one it is decides how it’s […]

Pinched Nerve in the Lower Back: Causes and Warning Signs

I’m Dr. Ivan Bracic, and I’ve spent more than 30 years treating back and nerve injuries in Illinois and here in Southwest Florida. A pinched nerve in the lower back is one of the most common reasons people walk into our Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres offices, and it’s also one of the most misunderstood. […]

7 Things Florida PIP Insurance Covers (and Doesn't)

I’m Dr. Ivan Bracic, and I’ve spent more than 30 years helping crash patients in Illinois and Southwest Florida, including thousands of accident and legal cases. The question I hear most in my Fort Myers office is simple: what does PIP insurance cover? In Florida, Personal Injury Protection generally pays up to $10,000 after a […]