Why See a Chiropractor After an Accident?

Accidents and injuries can occur at any time. From a simple slip, trip, fall, or crush injury to being involved in a car accident, the way in which we can be hurt, and the consequences of our injury can vary immensely. If we are lucky, we may be able to walk away from an accident with very little damage or feeling unharmed altogether. However, not all injuries are immediately visible especially when it comes to car accidents, crush injuries, and falls because often, the damage sustained affects our musculoskeletal system that is hidden beneath our skin. All too often, people walk away from an accident feeling fine, but begin to suffer from pain and mobility problems hours or days later. If the underlying cause of these symptoms isn’t discovered and treated fairly quickly, it could have longer-term consequences for one's overall health.

Since musculoskeletal injuries aren’t visible, it is recommended that patients visit a chiropractor within 48 hours of being involved in any sort of accident where pressure/force has been placed onto the body which will enable prompt diagnosis and treatment of any issues.

 

What is a chiropractor and what do they do?

A chiropractor is a trained, medical professional who focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions and injuries affecting the musculoskeletal system which is the extensive network of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other connective tissues that facilitate the movement of our bodies. They are licensed professionals that use a range of different techniques in practice to help alleviate the symptoms that the patient is experiencing. These include manual/spinal manipulations, spinal decompression, physical therapy, hot/cold therapy, and massage. The exact techniques used will depend on the reason why you are seeking chiropractic care.

Some of the many different conditions that chiropractic care can help with include but are not limited to:

• Back pain

• Neck pain

• Slipped/herniated disc

• Sciatica

• Car accident injuries including whiplash

• Headaches and migraines

• Chronic pain conditions

• Sport’s injuries

• Poor sleep/insomnia

• Depression and anxiety

Why see a chiropractor following an accident?

There are a variety of reasons why you should make it a priority to see a chiropractor in the days following an accident.
 

They are experts in diagnosing non-visible injuries. Without being assessed by a chiropractor, you may not realize that you have sustained a musculoskeletal injury until you have experienced pain or avoidable further damage to your body. A prompt visit can ensure fast diagnosis and support for any injuries that you may have.
 

Chiropractic care is a non-invasive treatment that doesn’t require the use of anesthetic. Unlike many medical treatments, chiropractic care is completely non-invasive and patients do not need any anesthetic during treatment. You may experience some discomfort initially following an appointment, but this can be alleviated using over-the-counter pain relief and usually subsides quickly, after which you will see an improvement in your condition.
 

Chiropractic care can provide drug-free pain relief. Nobody wants to become reliant on taking pain medications, but unfortunately, many people who suffer an injury and do not seek chiropractic care end up needing to take drugs to deal with their discomfort, never actually getting to the root cause of the problem. Instead, the drugs are simply used to dull their effects. Your chiropractor can diagnose the actual injury and make recommendations for treatment that will help to heal it and prevent further pain.
 

Your treatment will speed up your rate of healing and reduce the likelihood of tissue scarring. Inflammation and scarring are two of the most common effects of any sort of injury, even those which occur internally. The inflammation is a natural body response to try and protect the site of injury, while scarring forms when the tissues heal. However, both of these responses can restrict movement and cause pain. Excessive scar formation can even cause long term mobility issues.
 

Additionally, chiropractic treatment releases pressure points so that inflammation can decrease and also encourages the flow of oxygenated blood around your body, which delivers essential nutrients to the areas which need to heal. This counteracts inflammation and speeds up the rate of healing. At the same time, chiropractic movements help to break down areas of excessive internal scar tissue so that they cannot overgrow and restrict movement.

If you would like more information about how chiropractic care can support you after an accident, please speak to our experienced and knowledgeable team today.