Even after relatively minor car accidents, it’s not uncommon for people to experience joint stiffness, muscle spams, and a host of other musculoskeletal problems. Jarring impact events like these disrupt the natural alignment of the spine. When vertebrae and other structures are forced out of their natural positions, certain parts of the body are overworked as a result of compensating for these changes.
A quick visit to the emergency room will often result in a prescription for muscle relaxers or other pain-relieving agents. Most conventional doctors address musculoskeletal distress by recommending bed rest. However, if you want a more natural and proactive way to regain your health and well-being, you might want to consider working with a chiropractor. Chiropractors take a hands-on approach to restoring balance and health after car accidents. They use techniques that assist the body in healing itself without the use of drugs, surgery, or other invasive or potentially addictive treatments.
Working with a chiropractor after a car accident can significantly shorten your recovery time. It can also foster more rapid relief by alleviating stress on structures that are overcompensating for your injuries. Chiropractic therapies are effective for reducing swelling and inflammation, ensuring proper blood flow, and addressing joint pain and joint dysfunction head-on. These services can be ideal for anyone dealing with whiplash, lower or upper back pain, neck pain, or shoulder pain. Given the strong connection between spinal alignment and general well-being, seeking chiropractic care can also be advantageous for car accident victims with recurring headaches, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue, insomnia, or other secondary symptoms of severe spinal subluxation.
There Are Many Reasons To Consult With a Chiropractor Following a Car Crash
There are certainly other reasons to work with a chiropractor following a car accident. Like most people, you may be filing an insurance claim to seek compensation for your injuries. If you only have the benefit of an emergency room examination, some of your injuries will likely be missed. Not only will overlooked problems result in less compensation, but they can also leave you with lasting, latent pain, and additional medical costs and personal losses that aren’t accounted for in your settlement. Emergency room doctors:
- Are largely concerned with ensuring that car accident victims are in a stable condition
- Often discharge patients after verifying that there are no broken bones, lacerations, or dislocations
- Do not take the time to thoroughly examine the health and alignment of the spine
Although they aren’t lacking access to a generous array of diagnostic tools, emergency room doctors rarely have the time to use this equipment to thoroughly investigate musculoskeletal injuries. Worst of all, the problems that they overlook during their investigations might not cause pain for days or even weeks after car accidents have occurred, and after car accident claims have been hastily settled. Once accident victims agree to and accept settlement monies, they cannot return for additional cash even if latent pain leads to more time away from work, the need for new and more expensive medical treatments, and dramatic changes in their mobility and lifestyles.
When you visit a chiropractor post-accident, you’ll receive a thorough initial exam. This will include an in-depth review of your current health and medical history, and a careful study of your spine, its alignment, and the alignment and health of all surrounding structures. When spinal subluxations or misaligned areas are identified, manual or computer-assisted adjustments can be made to gently finesse displaced and distressed structures back into position. Massage therapy can be employed to reduce tension and stress, and to facilitate improvements in blood flow and healing.
If you choose to work with an integrative chiropractic clinic, you’ll have access to a much broader range of therapies. In these environments, inversion tables can be used to instantly alleviate spinal stress, neck pain, back pain, and certain forms of shoulder discomfort. Ultrasound therapy may be offered to quickly reduce swelling and promote pain relief. Integrative clinics also offer acupuncture and acupressure therapies, hydro-therapy, hot and cold therapy, and many other strategies for naturally restoring good health. Unlike pain medications, these treatments go beyond simply muting discomfort.
They are designed to address musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction resulting from impact events right at their source. With chiropractic care, people can sidestep the need for pain medications entirely, or simply limit their use of them. In certain instances, chiropractic care can also prevent the need for invasive, post-accident surgeries. If you’ve been in a car accident and want to experience the all-natural benefits of hands-on chiropractic care, we can help. Call us today at 205-637-1363.
