If you were recently in a car accident, you may have received some medical attention at the scene. In many cases, whether you see paramedics or even go to urgent care, you will be told to follow up with a doctor within a few days. But how do you know what type of doctor to see who can help you? There are many types of doctors who can treat car accident injuries and specialize in this area. You might be interested in a car accident chiropractor for a more natural and conservative approach to your treatment and recovery. However, you might also wonder how long it will take to recover from a car accident if you are seeing a car accident chiropractor. Here is what you need to know about car accident injuries, how chiropractic care can help, and the recovery time.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Unfortunately, there are several types of car accident injuries. Here are five of the most common car accident injuries and how a car accident chiropractor can help.
Whiplash
Whiplash is the most common of all car accident injuries. When you are in a car accident, the force of impact can jostle and shake your body around, especially your head and neck. A forceful fender-bender or rear-end collision can cause your head and neck to snap forward and backward violently, which can cause whiplash. This type of injury can affect the spine and muscles in your neck and even your upper back. Whiplash can damage your spine and lead to misalignments that cause you significant pain and discomfort. It can also cause strains and even tears in your neck muscles.
Back Pain
Back pain is common with car accident injuries because of how the impact puts pressure on your spine and back muscles. Whether you were jostled around or experienced a single, violent jolt, your back muscles and spine likely sustained a lot of pressure and stress. Damage to your spine and muscles after a car accident can lead to back pain. While you might be tempted to wait for the pain to go away on its own, back pain is often a symptom of other car accident injuries and when left untreated can lead to chronic pain.
Muscle Strains
Muscle strains are also common in car accidents because of how the wreck causes your body to move in uncomfortable or unnatural ways. For example, with whiplash, your head and neck can pull your neck muscles out of their normal range of motion and cause muscle strain. Muscle strains can also occur in your arms and legs, especially if you tried to brace yourself for impact. At first, you might think you just have sore muscles from the accident, but muscle pain after a car accident can actually be a sign of a strain or other injury.
Broken Bones
Broken bones, also known as fractures, can occur with car accidents as well. A broken bone, also known as a fracture, can happen in many different ways and affect all parts of the body. When many people think of a broken bone, they picture a brightly colored cast on an arm or leg. However, there are other types of broken bones, like hairline fractures, that are tiny to see with medical imaging but can actually cause you a lot of pain and discomfort.
How Chiropractic Care Helps with Car Accident Injuries
Chiropractic care is a natural and effective treatment option for a wide variety of car accident injuries, including those listed above. When you visit a chiropractor after a car accident, they will not only treat your symptoms but also address the root cause of your pain and discomfort. Chiropractors utilize safe and gentle chiropractic adjustments to help restore healthy alignment in the spine and joints, which tend to get shaken up and disrupted by a traumatic event like a car accident. They also use therapeutic techniques to address pain, inflammation, and mobility issues after a car accident. Chiropractors don’t prescribe medications, so you can avoid taking pain medications that come with uncomfortable side effects and risks for addictions. Instead, experience natural and safe approaches to your healing and recovery after a car accident.
At AICA Orthopedics in Atlanta, our team of car accident chiropractors will develop an individualized treatment plan just for you that addresses your specific healthcare needs and set a goal for healing and recovery that is realistic for you personally. We offer comprehensive chiropractic care for all types of car accident injuries.