Chiropractic & Motor Vehicle Accidents: What You Need to Know About Recovery
The impact of a car accident can change your life in an instant, causing serious injury to people of all ages. Whether it’s a fender bender or a major crash, it takes time to recover so you can get back to your everyday lifestyle.
Annually, an estimated 6 million car accidents happen in the United States. Think about all of the injuries that occur, especially since there are often multiple people in the car. Sometimes, these injuries are temporary, and victims have a short recovery. Other times, the injuries from an accident can have a life-long impact.
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When to Talk to a Chiropractor After an Accident
The first step is to seek medical services from a primary care physician or emergency room immediately after the accident occurs. The severity of the injuries must be evaluated as soon as possible, often including x-rays or an MRI.
Emergency services will treat immediate injuries, then send you home to recover. At this point, it’s smart to talk to a chiropractor who can assist with ongoing healing and recovery.
Even if you don’t notice pain right after the accident, it’s common for the stiffness and pain to set in a day or two later. Tissues and muscles can receive small points of damage throughout the body, resulting in swelling and inflammation that builds over time. A chiropractor can help with both immediate injuries and the delayed onset of symptoms
Optimize Recovery with Chiropractic Care
A significant amount of force is placed on the body during a car accident, even when you are properly restrained with a seat belt. This force causes movement and injury in the soft tissue and muscles and can also result in misalignment (subluxations) of the spine and neck.
When the spine remains out of alignment, it takes a long time for the body to heal – and you could have more ongoing pain from the injury. Here are some of the ways that a chiropractor can help with your recovery:
- Identifying All Injuries: Even if you don’t notice pain or discomfort, it’s best to talk to a chiropractor as soon as possible to identify any issues that can’t be seen. The best solution for treating conditions that don’t show up on the x-rays is through early, preventive care.
- Reduce Inflammation: When micro-tears happen in the muscle, it can cause chronic inflammation and the buildup of scar tissue over time. Chiropractic care helps to repair the micro-tears and loosen scar tissue, which can have a positive impact on reducing pain in the future. This approach improves healing times, helping you return to your normal activities as quickly as possible.
- Noninvasive and Drug-Free: While pain killers can numb the immediate symptoms, these medications don’t get to the root of the injury. A chiropractor can help with fast pain relief, as well as the long-term care needed to optimize healing without invasive surgery and invasive treatments.
One of the benefits of chiropractic for motor vehicle accidents is the personalized care you receive from a specialist who looks at the whole-body system. Our team at Back On Track Integrative Wellness, Inc., can assist with everything from back pain to whiplash, numbness, blurred vision, headaches, range of motion, and more. Call to schedule a consultation: (916) 782-3141.
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The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. We do not aim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Information is shared for educational purposes only. You must consult your doctor before acting on any content on this website, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.
Dr. Todd W. Bunning, DC, PC
Dr. Todd W. Bunning’s chiropractic and functional medicine services reach far beyond the local Roseville area, with webcam consultations available for patients in any location. With over 20 years of Private Practice experience, Dr. Todd continues to focus on the individual: science-based methods to address whole-body health factors.
Dr. Todd’s education didn’t stop when he graduated from Life West Chiropractic College in 2003. Today, he’s continuing to receive training and is chipping away on numerous post-graduate degree programs. This unique blend of clinical health investigation and Lifestyle Medicine application helps people of all ages find the underlying factors that result in chronic disease.