Common Signs of Hidden Injuries
Hidden injuries like whiplash may not show any symptoms for the first few days after an accident. This is incredibly common. When the symptoms do start, they can include headaches, shoulder pain, neck pain, blurred vision, dizziness, reduced range of motion in the neck, and other pain or stiffness in the neck, shoulders, or back. None of these symptoms should be taken lightly, as there is a real possibility that ignoring them can lead to more serious issues and chronic pain in the future.
What Happens if Injuries are Ignored?
During a car accident, it’s possible for the musculoskeletal system to be knocked out of alignment, leading to whiplash or back and neck pain. This leads to pain as well as scar tissue developing on the bones in the spine. If the spine isn’t aligned again, the scar tissue can make it more difficult to do this in the future. The result could be chronic pain, muscular degeneration, nerve issues, and other serious and long-term injuries that may be more difficult, if not impossible, to fully recover from. It’s never a good idea to ignore the signs of an injury after a car accident, as it’s just not worth the risk.
How a Chiropractor Can Help
So, why go to a chiropractor instead of a doctor for car accident injury treatments? The answer lies in what a chiropractor can do to help. One of the biggest differences is the chiropractor will not prescribe pain medication. Medication simply masks the pain and doesn’t get it to go away. It will help someone feel better, but there are a number of serious side effects when taking medication, and the injury will still be there when the medication is finished. The chiropractor will develop a treatment plan designed to get rid of the root cause of the pain, providing long-term relief for the patient.
Chiropractors help to reduce the amount of pain relief, sometimes instantly, and will help improve the range of motion. The act of adjustments can help move the bones back into place, so they don’t hurt as much and can encourage the body to release hormones that help relieve pain, leading to someone feeling better right away. Those who are suffering from a neck or back that feels stiff, for instance, will find they have a wider range of movement and the stiffness disappears when they follow their chiropractor’s treatment plan.