The last thing anyone needs is a car accident. Adding a car accident to the midst of life’s daily challenges only adds to the stress and piles on additional things to think about. Furthermore, vehicle accident injuries might put a strain on your life, requiring you to take time off work or even preventing you from performing certain tasks. One of the most common concerns following a car accident is where to get care for the injuries sustained. Here’s when and why you should see a chiropractor after a car accident.
Was the car accident severe?
Most people, understandably, will agree to go to the hospital after a serious car accident. Whenever there is a risk of internal bleeding or a head injury, it is critical to seek emergency medical attention.
However, most individuals are unaware that even small vehicle accidents can result in soft tissue injuries, which, if left untreated, can lead to chronic arthritic disorders. When the car doesn’t take the full impact of the crash, the occupants do. Therefore, each time your body is wrenched in response to a collision, there’s a chance you’ll get incur an injury. It’s a common misperception that accidents only occur in high-impact incidents. In actuality, even small fender benders can result in harm, with more than half of all whiplash injuries occurring in collisions with little to no car damage. The best way to make sure there are no injuries is to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Are you in pain?
Pain following a car collision is a sign of an injury. If there’s any risk of serious or life-threatening injuries, you should go to the emergency department first to rule them out.
It’s a good idea to consult with a chiropractor after a vehicle accident even if you’re not in any discomfort. Many automobile accident injuries are not painful or uncomfortable until weeks or months after the event. If you do not seek treatment after that period has gone by, you may be forfeiting your entitlement to insurance coverage for your injuries. To protect both your health and your pocketbook, the best rule of thumb is to play it safe and see a chiropractor within two weeks of your vehicle accident.
What to do Next: Have You Seen a Specialist?
Going to the hospital or seeing your primary care physician is a terrific method to safeguard your insurance rights, but that doesn’t mean injuries can’t happen. If you’ve been cleared by the hospital for serious or life-threatening injuries but are still in pain, you should consult a chiropractor. After an accident, hospitals are excellent at detecting significant or life-threatening injuries, fractures, fractured bones, concussions, and all of the other more evident indicators of harm. However, if you leave the hospital with a clear bill of health but are still in agony, it’s wise to seek a second opinion.
If you’ve been in a vehicle accident, you should see a doctor who is experienced with car accident injuries and treats them on a regular basis. Car accident injuries can go undetected for months or even years, at which point they may begin to cause discomfort and limited mobility. Chiropractors are educated to spot these ailments that aren’t visible to the naked eye. They can perform orthopedic and neurological tests to assess patients for soft tissue damage, structural damage, muscle strength, range of motion, joint, and nerve function–injuries that other doctors, despite their best intentions, may overlook.
If any injuries are discovered during this examination, your chiropractor will devise a treatment plan that is unique to you and your injuries. A chiropractic adjustment regimen, as well as deep tissue massages or trigger point therapy, may be part of this treatment strategy. These chiropractic adjustments will help your chiropractor restore health to your spine and associated muscles and tissue. Herniated discs, subluxations, strained tissues, and other complications may arise as a result of a vehicle accident; a series of adjustments can help you regain complete mobility and pain-free movement.
