Your car isn’t the only thing likely to suffer damage as a result of a collision- they can be traumatic for the body as well. Even without serious injures, you may have some soreness or pain that follows due to the way your body is jostled around on impact. While these may seem like mere annoyances, slight pains like this can become chronic issues if left untreated. Visiting a chiropractor in Atlanta can be a critical step to making sure you don’t have permanent consequences from your accident. But if you’ve never seen a chiropractor before, it may seem daunting. Below is a guide to help you understand what chiropractic treatment can look like after an accident.
When Do I Need to Visit the Chiropractor?
This answer can depend partially on the severity of your symptoms following an accident. Any critical injuries will likely be taken care of on the scene, or you will be transferred to a hospital to address them. But for many people, no issues are apparent until hours or days after the crash when they begin to experience sore muscles, headaches and body aches. If you find that you are suffering from discomfort that doesn’t fade after a couple of days, or if you experience headaches and dizziness, making an appointment with an Atlanta chiropractor should be your next step.
How Often Do I Need to Visit the Chiropractor?
Different injuries will require different frequencies of chiropractic care, and your chiropractor will have the best answer to what that looks like for you. If you are experiencing severe pain and suffering from something like whiplash, you may need to go every few days to begin with so that the problem doesn’t worsen between visits. Minor soreness may only require a weekly visit for a short period.
Your chiropractor will likely recommend at least one follow-up visit after your initial evaluation to make sure nothing else becomes apparent as your body begins to heal.
When Should I Stop Chiropractic Treatment?
For some people, going to the chiropractor is a regular wellness activity that they do for a lifetime. This can be the case when a chronic injury is sustained that will always need treatment. But for many people in an accident, full recovery is achievable. The goal of any clinic is to restore you to full health and help you to determine when you have reached that point. When to stop will depend on your recovery and when you feel comfortable ending your treatment.
Can You Go Too Much?
While there is no harm in going to the chiropractor daily, or even more often, it is typically not necessary. Your chiropractor will work out a reasonable schedule with you that is designed to both alleviate your pain and help your body recover between sessions. This can always be adjusted as you begin to feel more or less pain and understand your body’s needs further.
Do I Have to Go More Than Once?
For someone used to traditional medical care, it may feel odd to need to keep revisiting your chiropractor. But because the body is a constantly changing, moving entity, chiropractors treat it as such. As your body changes and heals after an accident, the types of care needed will change, and chiropractors want to stay in tune with that. Most accident victims will initially have a number of close visits to begin with, and then slowly begin weaning their schedule down to weekly, then monthly, etc. Many people reach a point where appointments are on an as-needed basis.
However, even one chiropractic adjustment following an accident can make a big difference by realigning your spine and allowing your body to heal in a more natural manner.
Choosing Your Chiropractor
After an accident, you may feel like things are urgent and you need to pick a practitioner quickly, but it is important to choose the right chiropractor for you. At AICA Atlanta, our injury chiropractors are specially trained in working with those who have been in car accidents. Our team provides personalized care based on your accident and your injuries, whether they are to your bones, nerves, discs, tendons, ligaments, or joints. We rely on state of the art technology to properly diagnose the cause of your discomfort and then work with orthopedists, pain management specialists, physical therapists, and others to ensure your care is comprehensive and tailored to your needs.
If you have recently been involved in an accident, call AICA Atlanta today to schedule an initial appointment with one of our injury chiropractors and begin your path towards recovery.