Should I see a Chiropractor after a car accident?

Car accidents can be very traumatic to the body. Symptoms range from feeling sore and stiff to more severe effects like chronic pain, reduced mobility, and scarring. Chiropractic care is aimed at treating a wide array of problems and each treatment is specific to a patient’s diagnosis. Leaving any issues untreated may result in worsening, and sometimes chronic symptoms. That’s why it’s important to seek treatment as soon as you can after a car accident.

If you have auto insurance or Personal Injury Protection (PIP), or you're seeking a settlement, it’s important that you get the care you need as soon as possible. Insurance companies usually want to see that you’re getting accident-related care sooner than two months after the accident. Otherwise, they may argue that your injuries are not because of the accident.

Immediate records of your injuries from a medical professional like a chiropractor will only help the insurance and settlement process, so it’s important that you seek a diagnosis from both a doctor and a chiropractor. That way you can make sure nothing is left out and that you have your injuries documented by an expert. The chiropractors at Accident Care Chiropractic always provide detailed documentation of all appointments, diagnoses, and treatments.

Furthermore, if you’re seeking a settlement because you were not at fault for the accident, then you should not wait for the settlement to be reached to receive the care you need. This could result in long delays and possibly disputes regarding future costs of treatment.

Lastly, your health is not something you want to sacrifice to save money, regardless of your coverage. Although your insurance should cover the costs of chiropractic care, you should prioritize your health. Also, at Accident Care Chiropractic, our staff members can help with the claims process to make sure your insurance company and lawyer have all of the information they need.

You may be surprised how common undiagnosed injuries are after an accident. Ideally, all of your injuries will be diagnosed at the hospital with X-rays, but that is not always the case. X-rays don’t detect all injuries and some injuries may not become apparent until later. Chiropractors conduct a thorough diagnosis including additional imaging tests like MRIs along with a full-body evaluation to determine if you have any hidden injuries that need to be treated. Getting this done early on will save you from pain and worse injuries down the line.

In addition to undiagnosed injuries, you may have some mild injuries or symptoms that are best dealt with early. Even mild injuries that you think can be left to heal themselves should be evaluated and treated by a chiropractor. This will nip any problems in the bud and prevent them from becoming chronic.

Chiropractors are excellent at addressing and managing pain. You may be fine with taking painkillers after an accident, but painkillers do not fix the problem as chiropractic treatment does. Chiropractors can help reduce and eliminate pain using a variety of treatment options, including physiotherapy and electric stimulation, massage therapy, and even acupuncture.

Stiffness and reduced range of motion and mobility are common after a car accident. Your body likely sustained some form of trauma and injury to the joints, muscles, and nerves may be preventing you from reaching your normal range of motion. Losing your range of motion can affect daily life and make work life more difficult or even impossible. Chiropractic care can improve your range of motion through treatments like massage therapy, physical therapy, realignment, and more.

Inflammation can happen anywhere in the body after a car accident. For example, if your body contorted or twisted during the accident, your spine may become inflamed. This can cause discomfort, pain, and stiffness. Chiropractic treatment is very effective at diagnosing and treating problems with inflammation.

In addition, scarring is another common problem resulting from accidents. Chiropractors can perform treatments that break up scar tissue to reduce its size and visibility.

Car accidents can be traumatic for both the mind and the body. Moreover, if you don’t receive a thorough diagnosis from a chiropractor, you may wonder about undiagnosed injuries or worsening symptoms. The simple act of getting even a one-time evaluation from a chiropractor can supply patients with significant peace of mind, as they can leave knowing that there are no hidden problems from the car accident.