Auto Accident Treatment FAQ | Salem Chiropractic

Our chiropractor treats injuries of the musculoskeletal system, including whiplash, herniated discs, spinal misalignments (subluxations), knee, and shoulder injuries, injuries to your lower and upper back and sprains and strains.

Your symptoms will primarily depend on where your injuries are located. For example, if you experience a shoulder injury from your seat belt during the accident, you may notice swelling, bruising, pain, and a loss of range of motion.

• Blurry Vision (usually associated with whiplash)
• Headaches and/or Migraines
• Joint Stiffness and Loss of Range of Motion
• Neck Stiffness and Pain
• Numbness and Tingling in the Arms or Legs
• Swelling at the Site of the Injury
• Upper and/or Lower Back Pain

Whiplash most commonly occurs during car accidents, especially when the driver is rear-ended. This injury occurs due to the head and neck being forcefully whipped or jerked outside of their normal ranges of motion. This results in a severe sprain and strain of the neck.

Whiplash causes severe neck pain and stiffness that gets worse instead of better. Additional symptoms of whiplash include severe headaches or migraines, blurry vision, sensitivity to light and sound, and upper back pain. If the inflammation is severe or you have a slipped disc, you may also experience pain, numbness, and tingling in your arms.

You should schedule an appointment as soon as you can after your car accident, even if you feel mostly fine. Many car accident injuries can take days to fully manifest. By getting diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, you are helping your body heal faster and potentially limiting the severity of your symptoms.

Our chiropractor offers several different treatment options for car accident injuries. We may recommend chiropractic adjustments, which can help with herniated discs, joint injuries, and whiplash; corrective exercises, which are designed to help you rebuild strength in injured muscles and improve flexibility while helping control your pain; and massage therapy, which is beneficial for relaxing the muscles, reducing inflammation and improving localized circulation. Additional treatment options include lifestyle advice and nutritional counseling.

Our chiropractor will recommend a treatment program that specifically addresses your injuries after a thorough physical examination and medical history. We may also take x-rays. While your exact treatment length will depend on your injury, most people notice an improvement after several weeks of treatments.