8 Reasons Why You Need to Visit a Chiropractor After a Car Accident.

Car accident injuries aren’t just emotionally traumatic; they can also have long-term physical repercussions. Sometimes, minor car accidents can also lead to serious injuries like soft tissue damage, whiplash, and other back problems. People who have been in a car crash don’t realize the lasting effects of their injury until much later. If you are in a car crash, your probability of chronic neck or back pain doubles. 

They assume the pain will pass in a few days, so they don’t go to the doctor. Unfortunately, this often leads to more serious physical issues—including chronic pain, soft tissue injuries, muscle tension, and headaches years down the road.

NCBI – National Center for Biotechnology Information notes the most common cause of neck pain and discomfort is motor vehicle accidents. That’s why car accident victims need to seek the help of a chiropractor—the sooner, the better.  

Now, why should you visit a chiropractor after a car accident? Here are some medically-backed and research-approved reasons:

1) Treat Whiplash:

You must have heard the term “whiplash” before. Whiplash injury is an injury caused by hyperextension in the neck after a car accident. This can cause severe discomfort and pain. Usually, people who have experienced whiplash don’t realize it until the next day or a few days later as the pain sets in.

This is because the soft tissues and muscles around the neck are strained beyond their regular limit in an accident. When whiplash is left untreated, it can lead to long-term pain, limited mobility, accelerated degeneration and other chronic issues.

So, instead of saying, “I’m fine,” make sure to visit a Doctor of Chiropractor after the accident, who can determine if you have whiplash and treat it accordingly. This will significantly reduce the chances of further complications, speed your recovery and limit chronic spinal pain.

2. Reduce Swelling and Inflammation:

Inflammation is common after a car accident. It is the body’s reaction to any injury or trauma, which can cause severe pain and discomfort. While inflammation can cause pain, in truth it’s actually a good thing!  Inflammation allows the body to bring in important elements to the injured region to help heal the injured tissues. 

As soon as you experience any inflammation after a car accident, visit a chiropractor. They will decide the type of treatment based on the severity of your auto accident injuries. Usually, spinal manipulations, massage, physical therapy, and other therapies are used to reduce swelling and inflammation and make sure that the spine heals in its proper biomechanical position.

3. Chiropractic Treatment is Drug-free and Non-invasive:

Chiropractic is a holistic form of treatment that does not require any type of drugs or surgery. Its non-invasive approach is a safe and natural way of treating any injury. Usually, people with neck pain rely on strong painkillers, which have harmful side effects.

Chiropractic, however, offers a drug-free approach to healing the body. This makes it an ideal form of treatment for car accident victims who want to get better without any side effects.

In fact, United Health Care’s new guidelines now suggest that patients with neck or back pain seek a Doctor of Chiropractic as their first point of contact.  

4.  Alleviate Chronic Pain:

Nothing can be worse than chronic and long-term pain. This can become a major hindrance in your daily life—it can affect your work, sleep, and overall performance.

Chiropractors are experts at treating chronic pain. They use a combination of safe and effective techniques that target the root of the problem and reduce any pain in the long run.

The most common chronic pain caused by a car accident is in the neck, lower back, and shoulder.

Neck pain is the most common complaint after an auto accident. Exposure to MVC can cause chronic pain, and even doubles the risk of developing chronic pain. A chiropractor can diagnose the source of your neck pain and treat it to reduce discomfort.

To make sure your recovery process is smooth and without any further complications, it is important to seek medical attention from a qualified chiropractor.

5.  Improve Mobility:

Range of motion (ROM) can become impaired after a car accident. This can further cause mobility issues and prevent you from doing your daily activities.

What happens is the muscles and other structures around the affected area become weakened, leading to limited movement. When the person tries to move, the pain increases drastically.

With help from a chiropractor, you can improve your mobility and range of motion by gently manipulating the affected area. This will also reduce the pain and improve your overall functioning.

Dr. Swanson is also a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certified through the National Strength & Conditioning Association.  He will help design an at-home recovery plan to assist with regaining muscle strength. 

6. Posture:

Poor posture is another common side effect of car accidents. This can happen due to trauma in the areas where muscles and ligaments support your spine.

Chiropractors can help you by providing therapy to strengthen weak areas and improve your posture. They will also provide corrective exercises and stretches that will help you improve your posture.

When put together, these treatments can help you get back to your normal posture and improve your overall health and decrease your downtime.

7. Reduce Scar Tissue:

Did you know that car accident victims can often experience scar tissue formation? This happens when the body is trying to heal itself.

Scar tissues can be painful and can limit the range of motion. Post-accident scars are stubborn and can lead to long-term pain, limited mobility, and other chronic issues.

When you see a chiropractor after an accident, they can determine the extent of scarring and provide treatments to reduce them. These treatments are gentle yet effective and can help you recover from the accident faster, better, and with reduced pain.

8. Secure Documentation and Legal Support:

You may be eligible for a personal injury claim if you have faced a car accident. To secure the right amount of compensation, however, you need to have reliable documentation and legal support.

That’s where Dr. Swanson comes in. He is trained to provide documentation and help you get the right amount of compensation for your injury.

Your insurance company or personal injury attorney may also require an independent medical examination. A chiropractor can provide documentation and proof of the injuries you sustained. This is important as it will help your lawyer determine the compensation amount that you should receive.

Also, for some people, things like medical bills, insurance paperwork, and other documents are very tricky to manage.

The best way to ensure that everything is compiled and organized correctly is to have your chiropractor provide a detailed report of the injury.

This report will include data such as the cause of the accident, the severity of your injury, and other factors that help determine how much compensation you are eligible for.

FAQs

Why don’t you feel neck pain right after the accident?

Sometimes car accident victims don’t feel any pain or discomfort immediately after an accident. This is because the adrenaline from the trauma can mask any pain, and you may only start to feel it a few days or weeks after the incident. This is why it’s so important to consult a chiropractor as soon as possible. They can detect any underlying issues and start the process of healing right away.

How soon should you see a chiropractor after an accident?

It’s best to consult a chiropractor as soon as possible after the accident. We recommend seeing a chiropractor within two weeks of the accident. Doing so will ensure that any underlying issues can be addressed before they worsen and cause more damage.

Why pain medication isn’t recommended for car accidents?

Pain medications are not recommended for car accident victims because they can mask the underlying cause of the pain. It is important to get to the root of the problem, so a chiropractor can offer treatments that target the cause and provide lasting relief. Inflammation is an important part of the cellular healing process.  If you take Advil, NSAIDs it will slow down the body’s innate healing response.

Why manual treatment is better for car accident victims?

Manual chiropractic treatments are often the best option for car accident victims as they can target both the pain and the underlying cause. Manual treatments such as adjustments, trigger point therapy, and soft tissue manipulation can help reduce pain, improve range of motion, and promote healing. This is why manual treatments are often recommended for car accident victims vs. just masking the pain with medications. 

Visit a Chiropractor After a Car Accident

So, these are the 8 reasons to visit a chiropractor after a car accident. From reducing pain and scar tissue to improving mobility and posture, a chiropractor can help you recover faster.

You don’t have to suffer in silence anymore. Take the first step towards faster recovery and book an appointment with Dr. Swanson at Cedar Park Chiropractic & Acupuncture today.

Remember, the most important thing is to seek the help of a professional and experienced accident injury chiropractor. You can always trust the experts at Swanson Chiropractic & Acupuncture to provide quality care and help you recover from a car accident.

So, don’t wait any longer, and book an appointment with our office today. We look forward to helping you get back to a pain-free life.