Chapter 196
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: Whiplash Treatment
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In fact, for musculoskeletal pain from traffic accidents, it's no big issue to chalk over 90% of it up to blood stasis.
The body triggers an inflammatory response to heal sprains from the impact, but the clotted blood pools there, blocking circulation and causing pain.
Of course, in Kim Ju-hyuk's case, the neck pain alone could easily fall under blood stasis.
So, routinely prescribing a few blood stasis remedies for traffic accident pain is perfectly fine.
It's much like how Western medicine mechanically hands out anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants.
'Still, come on—they should've at least asked if his stomach was okay!'
They'd pegged him as a malingerer from the start and hadn't even bothered asking about his symptoms.
For someone like Kim Ju-hyuk, where other issues might be the real problem—or if digestion was poor, or if he was extremely deficient—it could actually cause discomfort.
'Just as I thought, it's not blood stasis; phlegm retention is the bigger issue.'
The slippery pulse was far more pronounced than the choppy pulse indicating blood stasis.
His symptoms felt similar, so in cases like this, you follow the pulse.
"For traffic accidents, herbal prescriptions are covered by insurance for up to 21 days max. You've already used 5 days, so 16 left. I'll do my best to ease the dizziness within that window. It's called Jaum Geunbi Decoction."
"Ah, okay. Jaum... Wait, only two weeks? Don't herbal meds usually run a full month?"
Kim Ju-hyuk took the prescription note but questioned the duration.
"The insurance limit for car accidents is set by the government. If symptoms persist, we can discuss wrapping up with acupuncture or non-covered options. I think 16 days will make a big improvement, though."
His pulse wasn't severe, so I said it confidently, but Kim Ju-hyuk still looked uneasy.
Makes sense—he'd gone a week without any real treatment.
Putting caps on treatment and prescription periods is frustrating when care is truly needed.
But from the policymakers' side, they have to account for doctors and patients teaming up for endless tonics.
'Even so, 21 days is way too short! If he goes elsewhere, the meds go to waste!'
What can you do? For now, maximize treatment within the rules.
"The handout will detail the meds, so no worries there. For the cervical pain, we'll use acupuncture."
"Ah, got it."
"Did Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital explain whiplash injuries?"
"Uh..."
Kim Ju-hyuk's eyes darted around.
"Let me break it down again. When rear-ended, your neck snaps forward in hyperflexion, then whips back into hyperextension."
I pulled up two photos to illustrate.
"It mimics a whiplash motion, hence Whiplash-Associated Disorders, or WAD. It's the umbrella term for neck pain from accidents. In your case, spasms in the posterior cervical muscles are causing referred pain."
I moved behind Kim Ju-hyuk and checked tension points on the back of his neck.
"Ah, and the C1-C2 spinous joint is a bit misaligned. Chiropractic can fix that. The real culprits are ligament damage connecting the cervical vertebrae and muscle tension."
"So, direct needling into the neck?"
"That's ideal. Best would be pharmacopuncture up to the facet joints, direct treatment on neck, shoulders, head, plus chiropractic. But if needles in the neck scare you..."
"Do it all! Feels like it'll melt away right here! Sticking just five or six in my shoulders is driving me nuts."
Some patients avoid direct neck treatment out of fear—like "What if you hit the carotid?" or "Won't I die if you poke the neck?"
But Kim Ju-hyuk was the opposite, eagerly pointing to the exact tension points I'd just checked.
"I'll treat every sore spot thoroughly."
I sent him to the treatment room.
The heat therapy or physio won't be anything special.
Hell, it might not even match Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital's machines.
But acupuncture? That's a game-changer.
38mm needles into the sprain sites.
Injecting anti-inflammatory herbs to sufficient depth, then needling along the cervical area.
Sometimes you'd hit dead center on the Ren and Du meridians, but right over the spine risks the spinal cord, so I offset slightly left and right.
"Eugh!"
"Hurts?"
"N-no, sorry. That spot was just so relieving."
"Haha, stay still."
Not just cervical—I needled the rigidly tense sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, and rhomboids meticulously.
Even if ligaments take time, loosening these muscles will cut the pain a lot.
'Rhomboids...'
Come to think of it, there was that Korean medicine student—no, doctor now—who couldn't treat these properly.
A disagreeable face I'd long forgotten popped up.
Traffic accident back then too, one he caused himself.
'Graduated by now? Bet he handles rhomboids fine.'
Hoping so, I treated the rhomboid-supporting muscles and ligaments carefully.
"These help with dizziness."
Added a few more to the head and limbs, then finished.
"Stay 20 minutes."
"Thank you."
Pincushion Kim looked thrilled.
A bit later.
Post-acupuncture, cupping to draw out the blood stasis directly.
Then back to the consult room for chiropractic.
Could do chiro first, but with such severe muscle rigidity, acupuncture and cupping loosen it up better.
"Director!"
Kim Ju-hyuk entering looked like a new man.
He'd come in gruff, eyes burning with suspicion and defiance.
Less than an hour later, he bowed like any grateful patient.
"Feels like a weight lifted off my neck! Never dreamed one acupuncture session would do this!"
"Haha, glad it's improving fast."
"For real. I can breathe now. Not fully healed—neck pain's down from 50kg dumbbells to like 10kg."
50kg, huh... A bit of exaggeration, but down to 1/5th regardless.
I laid him on the chiro table.
"Back's fine, just neck hurts. They kept pounding my lower back at Hwangje, made the dizziness worse."
"Releasing trunk tension has value. You might not feel it now with the neck pain, but low back issues can follow. No drops today—focusing on neck. Tell me if back hurts later."
"Yes!"
I usually treat holistically—neck pain gets low back/pelvis, back gets neck—but today, per his request.
With this first-session turnaround, he'll keep coming.
Start neck, work balance sequentially; no rush.
Light superficial back muscles.
Neck: Mobilized each adhered cervical joint.
"Just this one. Might pop."
Crack.
Realigned the slight subluxation.
"Oh!"
Relaxed the muscles too.
"Sit up. Clasp hands behind head."
Cracklec-crunch!
Finally, thoracic thrust to refresh shoulders and back.
Wanted cervical thrust too, but pain was still too intense.
"Whoa, so refreshing. I can live now!"
Kim Ju-hyuk bowed politely, but I swear I saw him bouncing in my mind's eye.
"Good work today. Meds ready tomorrow. Traffic injuries love lingering—squeeze in daily visits during coverage."
"Will do!"
Still dizzy, hand on head, but lighter neck brought nonstop smiles.
Kim Ju-hyuk's treatment? No worries.
I sent the script to An Ju-hee and leaned back.
Scarce downtime.
I'd taken Hwang Sanghun's patients too.
[Bro, is Busan branch Jeong Su-hwan's faction too?]
Curiosity struck; quick text to Hwang Sanghun.
How'd the patient bounce from place to place, ending at So-won General via Haneul Clinic?
Glad he's healing, but bittersweet.
'No reply.'
Hwang Ji-hoon begged for help, so Sanghun's swamped.
He'll answer later.
I fired off more questions.
[Seeing this accident patient reminded me—did Jo Haneul graduate okay?]
The "1" beside the message lingered.
"Director, follow-up patient requests consult..."
"Yes, bring them in."
Back to work.
Hwang Sanghun's reply came post-shift.
Quoting my first question on Busan:
[Yep.]
Short and sweet.
Second on Jo Haneul: longer.
[Lost touch ages ago. Ask Min-gyu?]
No more info.
[Nah, no need.]
Lee Min-gyu? No, Kim Min-gyu?
Even classmates' names fading already.
Our huge class, 6 years together, 2-3 passed—should remember, but...
Last semester back from the martial world, no point memorizing casuals.
Why chase rumors through connections?
News travels eventually.
I forgot Jo Haneul.
Hwang Sanghun worked relentlessly in Changwon.
Seongsu Clinic was busy, but here? Nonstop.
His musculoskeletal focus helped, yet severe inpatients—beyond local clinic fare—were unfamiliar.
Heavy disc cases with multiple surgeries, months-long stays.
Motorcycle paralysis.
Terminal cancer seeking last-ditch Korean medicine.
Mental load x10.
University hospitals dwarfed in variety/severity.
But intern tasks vs. directing as director? Worlds apart.
Diabetes diets, BP checks—every detail on him.
Morning rounds, meticulous checks.
"Hello, how're you today?"
"Same. Back frozen."
"Ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture starting today."
"Yeah, do what you need."
Visible progress?
"Way better post-yesterday!"
Mood boost.
"Can I switch to the new director?"
...Other docs' patients requesting transfers? Awkward.
"Chun-seol, worst spots?"
"Back, knees, calves, shoulders, dizzy, weak arms..."
Early solo practice, Grandma Kim Ok-soon's lists overwhelmed him.
"Got it. We'll tackle sequentially. Total-body pain? Pair with herbs..."
Ran to Han Yeowon back then.
Now? Routine.
"Must I?"
"Bedbound without strength. No intake, no healing."
"Fine... Trust you, Director."
Steady treatment as usual.
"Whoa!"
"Walk okay?"
"Good I took the meds. Strength's back!"
Aides stunned at recoveries.
Plus... Honestly, bro taught me beyond treatment.
Meetings with clinical, nursing, admin, sales—hospital ops ingrained.
Patient referrals snowballing.
Unlike lean clinics, hordes of staff.
'Came to the right place.'
Just observing/learning now, but future payoff?
Hwang Sanghun felt proud.
Exhausted home, lying down.
'Busan issue? ...Why Haneul hyung suddenly.'
Message from Han Yeowon.
Curious, plus his own agenda.
[That paper we worked on's nearly done. Review?]
Typing reply...
Phone slipped.
Out like a light.