Who Should You See After An Auto Accident?

Automobile accidents happen every day. Some accidents are so severe that injuries are obvious and patients are rushed by ambulance or air-lifted to nearby hospitals for evaluation and treatment. In the case of head trauma, broken bones and extensive bleedings, this is the wise thing to do. However, less serious accidents often don't elicit immediate response from EMS technicians or the victim of the accident and their passengers. A person may have mild bruising, soreness, mild joint discomfort and other symptoms that appear to be negligible. We often hear motorists say "I don't need to go to see anybody. I'm fine." That is too often the worst thing a patient can believe about their "mild" injury. That's where chiropractic care comes in.

If a traffic accident victim is already seeing a chiropractor, they will most likely transfer their care to their doctor of chiropractic. People who do not know anything about chiropractic or have been given false information about chiropractic care often are treated in emergency rooms and sent home with miscellaneous pain medications and are told to follow the RICE "prescription" (rest, ice, compression and elevation) until the area of tenderness is "better". Once this stage has passed, the patient believes they are fine and that they have "dodged the bullet" so to speak.

Unfortunately, a history of neck injury in a motor vehicle accident is a major risk factor for the development of future troublesome neck pain. The consequences of a neck injury in a car crash can have long lasting effects and can predispose individuals to experience recurrent episodes of neck pain. Sudden jolting of the neck can displace vertebrae which in turn causes what chiropractors call "subluxations." This is simply a misalignment of a vertebrae putting pressure on nerves that lead to organs in the body, the extremities and basically, the entire the body. Often referred to as a whiplash injury, this causes pain, headaches, and stiffness which results in further misalignment of the vertebrae because when we react to our pain, we develop unhealthy postures. If left untreated, the subluxations can lead to "dis-ease" affecting the entire body.

Seek treatment from a principled chiropractor as soon as possible after an automobile accident. He or she will do a complete evaluation including x-rays and scans to pinpoint your subluxation. The chiropractor will explain all findings to you and offer a plan of treatment. Adjustments to your spine will begin and you will soon be on the way to complete recovery. Some chiropractors offer nutritional plans and exercise programs to get you back on track. A careplan can include adjustments for as long as you choose. Take care of your spine and it will take care of you.


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