Have you been in a car accident?

A car accident is the last thing anyone wants to happen to them. Between all of life’s other daily struggles, adding a car accident into the mix just creates more stress and more things to think about. On top of that, car accident injuries can create an added strain on your life, forcing you to take time off work or even making you unable to do certain tasks. One of the biggest questions after a car accident is if you should seek treatment for those injuries. Here’s when and why you should consider a chiropractic adjustment after a car accident:

Have You Had any Medical Attention?

What most people don’t realize after an accident is that even minor car accidents can lead to soft tissue injuries, and if untreated they can lead to chronic arthritic issues. When the vehicle doesn’t absorb the full shock of the crash, the occupants do–so anytime your body is jerked in response to a collision, the possibility of injury is there. It’s a misconception that only high-impact collisions cause accidents. In reality, even minor fender benders can lead to injury and more than half of all whiplash injuries occur in crashes where there was little to no damage to the vehicle. The only way to rule out injuries is to seek medical attention and follow up with a chiropractor to get your body back to normal.

Are you in pain?

Pain after a car accident is a good indication of an injury. Even if you’re experiencing no pain, it’s still a good idea to see a chiropractor after your car accident. Many car accident injuries don’t cause pain or discomfort until weeks or months later. After that time has passed, and you still have not sought treatment, you may be forfeiting insurance coverage for your injuries. The best rule of thumb to keep your health and your finances protected is to play it safe and get checked out by a chiropractor within 2 weeks following your car accident.

Have you seen a specialist?

Going to the hospital or your primary care physician is a great way to protect your insurance rights, but it doesn’t mean injuries can’t be overlooked. If the hospital clears you of serious / life threatening injuries, but you’re still experiencing pain, seeing a chiropractor should be your next step. Hospitals are great at identifying serious or life threatening injuries, fractures, broken bones, concussions, and all of the more obvious signs of injury after an accident, but if you leave the hospital with a clean bill of health even though you’re still experiencing pain, it can’t hurt to get a second opinion.

If you’ve been in a car accident, you need to be assessed by a doctor who is familiar with car accident injuries and treats them every day. Car accident injuries can be hidden, not revealing pain or limited mobility until months or even years later. Chiropractors are trained to detect these hidden injuries. They can perform orthopedic and neurological tests to assess soft tissue damage, structural damage, muscle strength, the range of motion, joint and nerve function–signs of injury that other medical practitioners (despite their good intentions) may miss.

If you’ve recently been in a car accident and are considering a chiropractic assessment or adjustment, contact Advanced Chiropractic today. We have experience that allows us to treat car accident injuries and the neck pain, headaches, muscle stiffness, numbness and tingling, back pain, and other symptoms that go along with them to get you feeling good and back to a life full of mobility.