Why Should I See a Chiropractor After an Auto Accident
Most people don’t realize that even a low speed, low impact crash can cause whiplash, a potentially painful injury. In addition, there does not have to be noticeable damage to your car for there to be whiplash injuries to the driver and/or any passengers.
Emergency room or medical doctors are usually not trained to diagnose a whiplash injury. If they take an x-ray they are looking for any fractures, not for changes in the positioning of vertebrae.
Many of the initial injuries suffered in an auto accident are soft tissue injuries, meaning to muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Soft tissue injuries do not show up on x-rays.
These injuries can cause swelling and spasms that can pull the joints or vertebrae of the neck out of position or the impact of the accident can result in changes to the curve of the neck. Chiropractors, like Dr. Alexander, are specially trained to test for, diagnose, and treat whiplash injuries.
Whiplash can injure bones in the spine, disks between the bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and other tissues of the neck. For this reason, it is important to consult with a chiropractor after any car accident, even a minor one. Whiplash can cause long-term effects if left untreated.
Symptoms of whiplash include:
- Neck and shoulder pain,
- Loss of range of motion,
- Back pain,
- Headaches,
- Tingling and/or numbness in arms
- Fatigue,
- Dizziness
Symptoms of injury may be felt immediately or up to several weeks after an accident. Whiplash is the most common injury sustained in a car accident. For accident insurance purposes you should report any symptoms or contact an attorney within a 14 day period.
Muscle relaxers and/or pain medication will only cover up the symptoms on a temporary basis. They do not treat the injury itself. Chiropractic treatments and therapies are designed to correct any misalignments of the spine that may have been caused by the accident as well as to help heal any soft tissue injuries.
It is important to be checked for any injuries you may have suffered. Set up an appointment at the Whole Life Health Center for an accident injury assessment even if you don’t feel like you were hurt.
How Does Chiropractic Treat Auto Accident Injuries?
The first step to identifying a whiplash injury is a complete Chiropractic/Orthopedic exam, often including an x-ray, to determine the extent of your whiplash injury. Dr. Alexander will then recommend a care plan which will include chiropractic adjustments and, in most cases, a combination of therapies to support the recovery process.
What is a chiropractic adjustment, and how do they help?
Chiropractic adjustments are specific, quick pressures applied to exact spots on the spine to move an out of place vertebra back to its correct position. Adjustments can be done either manually by hand or with a specially designed adjusting instrument. Dr. Alexander is highly skilled and experienced at both manual and instrument adjusting using an Activator or Arthrostim instrument.
Returning the vertebrae to their correct position takes the pressure off surrounding nerves and muscles. This improves the spinal movement and your body’s overall function
