Dr. Nikolay Chernukhin, D.C.
Gentle, root-cause chiropractic care for car-accident and auto-injury patients across Vancouver, WA and Gresham, OR — in English, Spanish, and Russian.
Who Is Dr. Nikolay Chernukhin, D.C.?
Dr. Nikolay Chernukhin, D.C. is the founder of Chiropractic and Massage Near Me and the doctor patients across the Portland–Vancouver metro turn to after a car accident. With roughly 12 years in practice, he blends gentle, hands-on chiropractic with a whole-person, root-cause philosophy — and he’s known for taking on complex, stubborn cases that other clinics have already given up on.
Whether you’re dealing with whiplash and delayed neck pain after a crash, a work injury, chronic headaches, sciatica, or years of nagging back pain, Dr. Chernukhin’s goal is the same: find why it hurts, not just quiet the symptom. He cares for patients at both of our clinics — Vancouver, WA and Gresham, OR — in English, Spanish, or Russian.
Why Dr. Chernukhin Became a Chiropractor
Dr. Chernukhin didn’t start out in health care. He started out loading trucks at UPS — and that’s where he seriously injured his back.
The pain was an 8 out of 10. It was bad enough that he ended up in the emergency room, unsure whether he’d feel normal again. What finally turned things around wasn’t a prescription — it was chiropractic care. As he recovered, he experienced firsthand how the right hands-on treatment could restore movement, calm pain, and give someone their life back.
That experience changed his direction completely. He set out to become the kind of doctor who had helped him — and to focus especially on the people who feel written off: the tough cases, the “we’ve tried everything” patients, and the crash victims still hurting after the X-rays came back “normal.” Having been the frightened, hurting patient himself, he treats every person who walks in with that same understanding.
Credentials, Education & Local Roots
Dr. Chernukhin is a fully licensed Doctor of Chiropractic in both Washington and Oregon, with more than a decade of clinical experience treating auto-injury and musculoskeletal patients.
- Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) — University of Western States in Portland, Oregon
- Pre-professional science coursework — Arizona State University
- Washington chiropractic license: CH60421741
- Oregon chiropractic license: 5546
- National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1235550856
- ~12 years in practice (licensed since 2013)
- Languages: English, Spanish, and Russian
He’s also a local. Dr. Chernukhin is a Fort Vancouver High School alum who grew up in this community — so when he cares for patients in Clark County and across the river in east Portland, he’s caring for his own neighbors.
A Gentle, Root-Cause Approach — Because “Motion Is Life”
If the word “chiropractor” makes you picture forceful twisting and loud cracking, Dr. Chernukhin’s approach may surprise you. He practices gentle chiropractic — no forceful manipulation — which matters especially for patients who are sore, guarded, or frightened after a collision.
His philosophy is simple: motion is life. Healthy tissue moves; injured, inflamed tissue stiffens and guards. Using a technique informed by how soft tissue actually behaves and responds — its rheology — he works to restore normal movement gradually and comfortably, so your body can do what it’s built to do: heal. And instead of chasing symptoms, he looks for the underlying cause, because a headache, a pinched nerve, or lingering neck pain is usually a signal, not the whole story.
Car-Accident & Auto-Injury Care Is What We Do
Helping people recover from crashes is at the heart of Dr. Chernukhin’s practice. If you’ve been rear-ended or hit at any speed — even a low-speed fender-bender — the gentle, root-cause care he provides is built for exactly this kind of injury.
Whiplash is a soft-tissue neck injury caused by the rapid back-and-forth “whip” of a collision. Its symptoms — neck pain and stiffness, headaches at the base of the skull, shoulder and upper-back pain, dizziness, or tingling in the arms — often don’t show up right away. Because adrenaline can mask pain and inflammation builds over the first 24–72 hours, many people feel their worst a day or several days after the crash. That’s why getting evaluated promptly is a good idea even if you feel “mostly fine”: it establishes a baseline, helps rule out anything serious, and lets conservative care start early. Most people recover within a few weeks, though some cases take longer — Dr. Chernukhin will give you an honest picture of what to expect, with no guarantees or pressure.
Want the full rundown on what to do after a crash, why symptoms are delayed, and how to avoid gaps in care? Read our complete guide to chiropractic care after a car accident.
We Bill Your Auto Insurance (PIP) Directly
Worried about cost? For car-accident injuries, we bill your auto insurance’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) directly, so you can focus on healing instead of paperwork. PIP is no-fault — it pays your accident-related medical care regardless of who caused the crash.
- Oregon: state law requires PIP on every auto policy, with at least $15,000 in medical benefits per person for covered care within two years of the crash.
- Washington: auto insurers must offer PIP (it’s optional coverage you can decline in writing), typically providing up to $10,000 in medical benefits per person for expenses within three years.
Because PIP usually has little or no copay within its limit, many patients pay nothing out of pocket for covered accident care — but limits are finite and every policy is different. We’ll verify your specific benefits for you and explain your coverage before treatment, and we keep the thorough documentation your insurer or attorney may need. (Coverage isn’t guaranteed — insurers can review care for medical necessity and relatedness — so we’ll always be straight with you about what your plan covers.)
Care in English, Spanish & Russian
Getting hurt is stressful enough without a language barrier. Dr. Chernukhin is trilingual and treats patients in English, Spanish, and Russian — a real advantage in a region with large Spanish-speaking and Slavic communities. You can explain exactly how you feel, understand your care plan, and ask every question in the language you’re most comfortable in.
Where to See Dr. Chernukhin
Dr. Chernukhin sees patients at both Chiropractic and Massage Near Me locations. We’re open every day, 8am–9pm, by appointment — including prompt visits after a fresh injury. Call (360) 798-4543 to book.
Vancouver, WA
4201 NE 66th Ave, Suite 102
Vancouver, WA 98661 (Clark County)
Gresham, OR
689 NW Burnside Rd
Gresham, OR 97030 (east Portland metro)
Serving Vancouver, Hazel Dell, Orchards, and Cascade Park in Washington, and Gresham, Rockwood, Troutdale, and Fairview in Oregon. Need care after a crash? See our Vancouver car-accident chiropractor and Gresham car-accident chiropractor pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Dr. Chernukhin’s credentials?
He’s a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) with about 12 years in practice, a degree from University of Western States, pre-professional science coursework at Arizona State University, and active licenses in Washington (CH60421741) and Oregon (5546).
Does Dr. Chernukhin treat car-accident injuries?
Yes — auto-injury and whiplash care is a core focus of his practice. His gentle technique is well-suited to sore, post-crash patients, and our clinic bills your auto PIP coverage directly.
Is his adjusting technique gentle?
Yes. He practices gentle chiropractic without forceful manipulation, which is especially reassuring for patients who are in pain or nervous after an accident.
What languages does Dr. Chernukhin speak?
English, Spanish, and Russian.
Will insurance cover my care after a car accident?
In most cases your auto PIP coverage pays for accident-related chiropractic care regardless of fault — at least $15,000 in Oregon and typically up to $10,000 in Washington. Coverage varies by policy, so we verify your benefits for you before you owe anything. Payment is never guaranteed, and we’ll always explain what your specific plan covers.
Where does Dr. Chernukhin see patients?
At our Vancouver, WA (4201 NE 66th Ave, Suite 102) and Gresham, OR (689 NW Burnside Rd) clinics, open every day 8am–9pm by appointment. Call (360) 798-4543.