Every year, around 4.4 million people require medical attention after being injured in a car accident. The good news is that even if you have chronic pain after a car accident, you can get treatment to reduce your symptoms. Then, you can get back to your normal activities.
If you are in pain after being in a car accident, you might have several symptoms. For example, if you have neck or back pain, you could have whiplash or a spinal injury. And if you do not get care for that, the damage could have an adverse and severe effect on you. You might find that you need to get treatment for many years for chronic pain.
Luckily, a chiropractor is trained in helping patients who have been in car accidents. They can help you feel better without the need for surgery or medication.
What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is pain that lasts a long time and does not respond to treatment. During an accident, your musculoskeletal system might get knocked out of alignment. The force of the accent is responsible for that. The result might be neck or back pain.
If you have whiplash, it might occur during a rear-end collision. Your neck moves back and forth rapidly, causing the nerves to become strained. The spine is no longer in the correct alignment, resulting in a strain on the neck muscles. You might have chronic pain in the form of stiffness or pain.
What Can I Do for My Chronic Pain from an Auto Accident?
Right after an accident, it is best to see a doctor, even if you do not have any pain. That way, you will not have chronic issues. However, you might still have pain after a car accident. Traditionally, treatment has involved using medication to reduce the symptoms. But if you see a car accident chiropractor, you can address the underlying issue. Whether that is a whiplash treatment or fixing your spinal issues, you can get a long-term solution.
Medication will not help you get your mobility back, but you can do that when you get a chiropractic adjustment. It reduces the pressure on your nerves and muscles that can cause pain and inflammation. And doing corrective exercises can help you, as well.
How a Chiropractor Can Help with Chronic Pain
If you have a cut or broken bone, it is easy to see right away. But other issues might not be noticed immediately. You have adrenaline throughout your body after an accident and shortly after, meaning you might not feel the effects right away. If you have whiplash, you may not notice the results for several days longer, making it much harder to treat your issues. After a few days, you might notice headaches, neck pain, or blurry vision.
If you have swelling and chronic pain after an accident, you can manage the issue by visiting your chiropractor. They can adjust your spine to reduce your swelling and pain. That also reduces damage to the area. Your recovery time will be much faster than if you tried to treat yourself.
Why You May Want to See a Chiropractor
If you have been in a car accident and have pain, you might feel that the only way to deal with the issue is surgery. The good news is that you have more options. Surgery should only be used as a last resort, and it should only be used when you do not have any other options open to you.
But you can seek chiropractic care before choosing to have surgery. The procedures involve using more natural methods, such as spinal manipulation. It can correct abnormalities and help your body heal itself. If you speak with your chiropractor before having surgery, you might not need to have surgery at all. A chiropractor offers a safe and natural solution to surgery, and it is more cost-effective. In addition, it doesn’t take as long to get treatment as surgery might.
You might have inflammation, which chiropractic care can help with, as well. A chiropractor will offer a consultation before examining the area. That way, they can help you find what issues are affecting your body. That could include tears in the muscles or ligaments. If you have a tear, you might have pain, but treatment can go a long way toward helping reduce that issue.
If you have a micro-tear, you might have had whiplash after the accident. The rapid motion can cause tears in your muscles. Spinal manipulation helps your body release anti-inflammatory substances, which are helpful in managing pain.
Less Pain
You might need to take some pain medication after an accident, but many drugs cannot help you with every ache or pain. Medication will only help cover the symptoms. It will not treat the underlying problem, which is why you might not want to take medicine to deal with your pain. Some kinds of medication are addictive, and they could have adverse side effects. You could have withdrawal symptoms, leading to other problems.
With chiropractic care, you will not have as much pain, even after a minor accident. It can help you recover faster and get back to normal. At the same time, you will not have as many adverse side effects from your treatment.
Closing Thoughts
According to the NHTSA, a rear-end collision is the most common motor vehicle crash in the country, at about 29 percent of crashes. If you are in a rear-end crash, you could be at risk of a neck injury, such as whiplash. If you have recently been in a car accident, you might want to seek chiropractic care for chronic pain. No matter what caused the issue, even if it was a simple fender bender, you should not wait to deal with the problem. By getting care right away, you can support your body’s healing processes, preventing more pain in the future. The first step is to make an appointment.
By: Dr. Jeffrey Shapiro
