Chiropractic After an Auto Accident

After going through the trauma of an auto accident, you are probably feeling distressed or shocked. Figuring out health insurance, car insurance, and auto repairs can feel overwhelming, and often leads to people putting off their medical treatment, particularly when the accident did not cause obvious injuries.

When a person experiences physical trauma, adrenaline levels spike. Adrenaline is a hormone that prepares the body for action in high-stress situations. It also has a numbing effect on pain. Once your body recognizes the threat is gone, you may experience soreness and discomfort that you didn't immediately feel due to the rush of adrenaline. Chiropractic care is a method of treatment that can provide both long- and short-term pain relief.

Should I Visit a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?

Chiropractic care is a non-invasive, drug-free natural form of treatment for the nervous and musculoskeletal system. As chiropractors, we are trained in methods to relieve pain that is commonly associated with car accident injuries.

We will typically use a combination of various therapies such as spinal manipulations and pressure release techniques, which will aid in restoring joint mobility after tissue injury. Additionally, chiropractic treatments are free from negative side effects that often result from surgery and medication.

Can Chiropractic Help With Multiple Conditions?

After an auto accident, you could be experiencing a great number of conditions or injuries, and chiropractic can help!

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries we see as a result of auto accidents. Whiplash is caused by a sudden, rapid front and back movement of the head and neck that extends the tendons and muscles past their normal range of motion. If you were rear-ended, even at a low speed, it is possible to suffer a whiplash injury. If left untreated, whiplash can cause shoulder and upper back pain, headaches, numbness, and chronic neck pain.

Another common ailment we treat is back pain caused by auto accidents. Our patients come to us in sometimes excruciating pain. Back pain, along with neck pain, is one of the most common types of car accident injuries, and we are highly skilled in providing treatment.

A traumatic injury caused by a car accident can result in damage to your spine. The vertebrae, or the bones that make up the spinal column, can be fractured, crushed, or dislocated. Ligaments (bands of tissue that help protect the spine), muscles, nerves, or even the spinal cord itself can be damaged. The full extent of spinal cord injuries are not necessarily felt right away. Swelling, bleeding, inflammation, and fluid buildup in or around the spinal cord can cause additional damage and pain.

Back injuries affect more than your back. A lower back injury can affect your bowel, bladder control, and sexual function.

In addition to whiplash and back pain, we see many patients that suffer from headaches as a result of a car accident. These headaches typically go away on their own, but others are persistent. Long-term headaches caused by auto accidents or other head injuries are called post-traumatic headaches. They can also be accompanied by other symptoms, including:

• Depression or anxiety
• Ringing in the ears
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness

There are several methods of treatment for post-traumatic headaches, and spinal manipulations in particular often reduce pressure on the neck, which can ease that pain.

Is Chiropractic the Best Treatment for Me?

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

It is our goal to help our patients reach optimal health, whether they are recovering from an auto accident or seeking natural forms of treatment. Contact us today to see how you can benefit from chiropractic care.