5 Reasons to see a Chiropractor after an accident

Accidents and injuries happen all the time. Whether it’s a slip, a fall, being crushed, or being one of the approximate 3 million people in the U.S. who are hurt as a result of being in a car accident each year, there are countless ways in which our bodies can become hurt and where we can experience pain and a range of other symptoms. Depending on the severity of your accident and injury, you may need immediate medical attention, or if you are lucky, you may walk away from the scene feeling fairly unharmed. Often in the case of the latter, it becomes clear several days later that you aren’t quite as unscathed as you first seemed. This is because it’s possible to suffer from non-visible injuries that later cause pain and other debilitating symptoms.

If you have been involved in an accident where your body has been placed under extreme force or pressure, it’s advisable to visit a chiropractor as soon as you can. Trained specifically in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal problems, they will be able to assess you for non-visible injuries that could cause you problems in the future if they aren’t treated – for example, strains, sprains, and spinal misalignment. Once diagnosed, they can arrange for the treatment you need to ensure that you don’t suffer any long-term effects from your accident.

Here are the top 5 reasons why you should see a chiropractor following an accident.
 

1.Find out if you have sustained an injury

As we know, many of the injuries that can be sustained in an accident can be hidden. This is especially true for those that affect the musculoskeletal system. Pain and problems moving around can start days or even weeks later and trying to carry on with your usual activities while having an injury could potentially make it worse and make it harder to heal from. Chiropractors have the skill and experience needed to identify injuries affecting the musculoskeletal system and will be able to discover what they are, and the treatment needed for them to heal. Prompt treatment could prevent long-term injury and associated difficulties.

 

2. Relieve your pain without medication

Many injuries result in at least some degree of pain. Living with chronic or severe pain can be exhausting. Despite this, many people are reluctant to take medications to help cope with their pain, mainly because they worry about becoming reliant on them. Fortunately, chiropractic care offers patients a drug-free way to manage or even completely eliminate their pain. This is because chiropractic adjustments treat the underlying cause of the discomfort, rather than just the symptoms. By doing this, patients can enjoy long-term relief from their discomfort without medications.

 

3.   Prevent the formation of scar tissue

Many people are surprised to learn that scar tissue can form internally as well as externally, and in the case of internal injuries such as those sustained by the musculoskeletal system in the event of an accident, it’s very normal for patients to develop scarring inside their body. This scarring is accompanied by inflammation, which is the body’s way of protecting and healing itself. However, inflammation and scarring both have the potential to cause pain and limit your mobility as the affected areas become stiff and inflexible. Chiropractic care increases the flow of oxygenated blood around the body so that it can reach the area that requires healing. This reduces inflammation and helps prevent the formation of excess scar tissue, enabling your body to heal without limitations on your mobility.

 

4. Reduce your risk of headaches and migraines

They may not be the most obvious symptoms associated with musculoskeletal injuries, but headaches and migraines are an extremely common side effect of being involved in an accident, particularly amongst those patients who have experienced the neck injury known as whiplash. Whiplash is where the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck are suddenly extended beyond their usual capabilities, and this causes tearing and other damage which results in significant pain and mobility problems. Some chiropractic techniques, including those which focus on relaxation and easing tension, like massage, can be very effective in helping to counteract headaches and migraines.  

 

5. Accelerated healing

Getting back to normal after an accident takes time, but chiropractic treatment can help accelerate the process so that you can recover as quickly as possible. This is because chiropractic treatment aligns the spine which enables the central nervous system – which controls all other body systems – to function optimally. Inflammation is reduced, oxygenated blood carrying important nutrients can flow freely to the areas that need healing, scar tissue is controlled, and your pain can be managed. All of these contribute to a faster recovery.

Car accident doctors at our Tukwila/Kent/Renton, Skyway/Renton, Bellevue, and Seattle locations. If you have been involved in an accident and would like to know more about chiropractic care or seek the expert advice of a car accident doctor, please schedule an appointment with our experienced and understanding team.