Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident – What You Need to Know

Are you in a dilemma on which treatment option is best after a car accident? This article explains why you should consider chiropractic care after a car accident. 

Why You Should See a Chiropractor After a Car Accident

Car accidents are one of the most traumatic events that can happen. In addition to car damage, you may sustain bodily injuries to your spine, neck, and back. Your health is the priority after a car accident, and it is no surprise you will be looking for the best solutions to resume your normal activities. Here’s the time to consider chiropractic care after a car accident.

Diagnosis of Hidden Injuries

Sometimes injuries aren’t fully obvious after a car accident. Things like whiplash can take mere hours or several days to manifest. The best way to deal with many of these injuries is to take care of it early so that you can avoid long-term pain.  This is why immediately seeing a chiropractor can benefit you.

Avoid Long-Term Pain and Recover Faster

Chiropractors are known for providing relief from short-term pain, but did you know that they can also help with chronic pain? Chiropractors use many different techniques to provide relief for chronic pain, and each person may respond differently to each one. Chiropractors provide relief from long-term pain by using a variety of techniques, such as spinal manipulation and trigger point therapy. Chiropractic care can also speed up your recovery time while ensuring your injuries heal correctly so that you can avoid chronic pain in the future. 

Legal Documentation for Personal Injury Claims

If you were hurt due to the negligence of another driver, then seeking help after the accident improves the odds of receiving proper compensation for your injuries.

Legal Documentation for Insurance Claims

When an injury is caused by another individual, it is up to their insurance company to compensate you for medical treatments. You will immediately need to obtain medical attention. If you don’t, you risk having the claim denied. Then all your costs will come out of pocket

How a Chiropractor Can Help You Recover from Auto Accident Injuries

After a car accident, the doctor may recommend continued care with a chiropractor. Chiropractors assess the severity of the musculoskeletal system damage before tailoring a chiropractic care plan.

The chiropractor uses a blend of soft tissue adjustments,  spinal manipulation and full body massage to treat your whole body or target specific spine areas to help relieve chronic pain resulting from a car accident injury. Minor fender benders and high-impact collisions can cause  slipped discs, out-of-place vertebrae bones, whiplash, and neck pain, all of which can be treated by chiropractic care.

also prevent future mobility issues and reduce inflammation, contributing to better overall health for those who suffered a personal injury in a car crash.

Common Types of Car Accident Injuries

An auto accident injury can vary in severity. Some can be fatal, others immobilizing, while others are minor scratches and nicks. The neck usually bears the brunt of an auto accident. But we don't rule out feet and lower-body injury. Knowing the type of injury you sustain is pivotal to getting the appropriate and effective treatment.

The most common types of car accident injuries Include:

• Neck injuries such as Whiplash - A whiplash injury results from the neck and head flinging forward, coming to an abrupt stop, and snapping backward, which may cause bulging or herniated discs.
• Bone fractures - The sudden impact of a collision fractures bones and causes facet joint injuries.
• Bruising - Seatbelts often cause bruising in car accidents. Bruising is usually harmless and will heal on its own. However, bruising can also be a sign of internal bleeding and should not be ignored.  If you experience numbness, swelling, weakness, intense pain or nausea in conjunction with bruising you should seek medical attention, as these are sign of a more serious issue. 

The upper body sustains the most injuries because of the airbag collision and the twisting of the seat belt on your spine. Since your head and neck aren’t restrained, they can injure even after a minor rear collision.

Nerve damage also occurs since the spine and the brain are the Central Nervous System and get affected by the crash's impact. Pinched nerves are usually a side effect of slipped discs and increased pressure on the spine.

Chiropractic Treatments to Expedite Post-Accident Recovery

Chiropractic care after a car accident targets specific pain points and injured areas on your body. However, a full-body approach is always on the table. After a chiropractor assesses the degree of injury, they may use the following chiropractic treatments to expedite post-accident recovery:

• Spinal manipulation
• Manual therapy
• Whiplash treatment
• Electrical stimulation
• Joint realignment
• Massage therapy

Depending on the severity and location of the auto injury, the chiropractor may administer a blend of the above treatments for best results. Always ensure you have a candid discussion with the chiropractor on the treatment options and what they entail.

How Soon After a Car Accident Should You See a Chiropractor?

Your initial response to a car accident is an  EMT to patch up wounds and stop bleeding. Most likely, you will be in shock and unable to process everything. However, if you are not feeling mild or severe pain, you should contact a chiropractor. Signs of musculoskeletal or spine damage can manifest after a few days by which you are experiencing intense pain. In the first two days, you may not feel pain, and that is when you should see a chiropractor for a chiropractic adjustment. In your visit, share with the doctor if you are on blood-thinning medications, have cancer, and have your medical history. Not everyone is eligible for chiropractic care. Talking to the chiropractor about your eligibility is the preliminary step before seeking any chiropractic treatment.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait to See a Chiropractor After Being Injured in an Accident

Most people call auto accident attorneys after a collision. But after your attorney arrives, it is time to book yourself into a chiropractor's clinic. Claim verification and settlement may take longer than the 72 hours, but by that time, the symptoms of whiplash will have intensified. Chiropractic care is a slow and steady process. The longer you wait, the more treatments you will need. Targeted approaches to chiropractic treatment including upper cervical adjustments require time. That means you may need to take sick leave. Booking yourself at an approved chiropractic center as soon as possible minimizes the downtime and restores you to your standard functionality. If the other driver causes the accident, it is best to seek immediate medical care. Visiting a chiropractor increases your chance of getting settlements for your claims.

Final Words

Dr. Darren Faherty D.C.

In 2004, Dr. Darren Faherty graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from UWEC - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Dr. Darren continued education at the highly esteemed University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College) where he obtained his chiropractic degree in 2007. He has been helping people recover from injuries and return to their normal lifestyles ever since.