Chiropractic Care After A Car Accident

After experiencing a car accident, you might be feeling shocked or distressed. The logistics of health insurance, car insurance, and repairs can sometimes be overwhelming and can cause people to procrastinate getting medical treatment, especially when the accident did not result in obvious injuries.

Just as you'd see in any trauma, a car accident will cause adrenaline levels to spike. Adrenaline is a hormone that prepares your body for action in a high-stress situation. It also has a numbing effect on pain. After your body recognizes that the threat is gone, you may experience discomfort and soreness that you didn't feel right after the accident.

One study even found that more than 70% of people who go to the Emergency Room after an auto accident still experience pain 6 weeks later. Chiropractic care is a method of treatment that can provide both long- and short-term pain relief.

Why Should I Visit a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?

Chiropractic care is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive form of treatment for the musculoskeletal and nervous system. As chiropractors, part of our training is how to relieve pain that is commonly associated with injuries from car accidents. 

A combination of multiple therapies including pressure release techniques and spinal manipulations will aid in restoring joint mobility from tissue injury. Chiropractic treatments are free from the often negative side effects of medication or surgery.

Can Chiropractic Treat Multiple Conditions?

There are many different types of injuries and conditions that can be a result of an auto accident, and chiropractic care can help.

One of the most common injuries we see after a car accident is whiplash, which is caused by a sudden, rapid front and back movement of the neck and head that extends the muscles and tendons beyond their normal range of motion. If you were rear-ended, it's possible to receive a whiplash injury even if it was at a low speed. Left untreated, whiplash can lead to headaches, shoulder and upper back pain, chronic neck pain, and numbness.

Another common injury we treat is back pain caused by car accidents, which can leave patients in excruciating pain. Back pain is one of the most common types of car accident injuries, along with neck pain. 

A traumatic injury such as a car accident can be quite damaging to your spine. The bones that make up the spinal column, or vertebrae, can be crushed, fractured, or dislocated. Ligaments (which are the bands of tissue that help provide protection for the spine), nerves, muscles, or even the spinal cord itself can be damaged. The full effects of a spinal cord injury are not felt right away. Inflammation, swelling, bleeding, and fluid buildup in or around the spinal cord can lead to additional damage and pain.

Back injuries don't affect only the back. A lower back injury can affect your bladder control, bowel, and sexual function. 

We also see many patients that suffer from headaches after a car accident. Typically, these headaches go away on their own, but they are sometimes persistent. Long-term headaches that are caused by an auto accident or other head injury are called post-traumatic headaches. They are sometimes accompanied by a number of symptoms, including:

• Ringing in the ears

• Dizziness

• Blurred Vision

• Anxiety or depression

A consultation with us will determine the best method of treatment, and spinal manipulations often reduce pressure on the neck area, which can ease the pain of post-traumatic headaches. 

Is Chiropractic Care the Best Treatment for Me?

If you find you are still experiencing pain after your auto accident, talk to your primary care doctor about chiropractic. You may choose to use chiropractic alone or as a complementary treatment with others, such as acupuncture and physical therapy. 

We are committed to helping our patients heal from auto accidents and injuries and to reach their full health potential. Schedule an appointment today to see how you can benefit from chiropractic care.