Visiting a chiropractor following a car accident is one of the best ways to ensure you get on track for a full recovery. While critical injuries should be addressed at the scene of the crash by emergency responders, licensed chiropractors can provide the specialized care and attention you need to return to your normal lifestyle without the occurrence of nagging injuries, such as frequent headaches or back pain.
In this blog, we’re taking a closer look at when you should visit a chiropractor after a car accident. We will also discuss the types of injuries typically sustained in car accidents, when to visit a doctor or chiropractor, and why chiropractic care can be the best option for your recovery.
At Governor’s Park, we believe in a multi-faceted approach to car accident injury treatment. That’s why we offer various methods such as acupuncture, massage therapy, therapy and rehabilitation, and spinal compression in Denver to ensure you get the most out of your chiropractic treatment.
Continue reading to learn how chiropractic care can help you achieve a speedy, complete recovery.
What Kind of Injuries Are Sustained in Car Accidents In Denver, Colorado?
Patients can receive many different kinds of injuries in car accidents. The crash severity often determines what types of injuries drivers and passengers incur. However, even minor accidents can cause significant injuries.
A few more influencing factors in car accident injuries:
- The type of accident.
- The speed of the cars involved in the accident.
- Whether passengers were wearing seatbelts.
Even if the circumstances surrounding your accident are mild, you can still sustain serious injuries. You might not even notice your injuries at first, which can have significantly damaging effects down the road. In circumstances such as these, one of the most common injuries drivers and passengers fail to recognize is whiplash.
Whiplash occurs when a sudden, significant force acts upon your body, causing your muscles, tendons, and ligaments to resist the force, thus causing injuries. Whiplash can occur in any situation where the driver or passenger doesn’t have time to prepare for the impact.
Other common injuries following car accidents include:
- Soft-tissue Injuries
- Bruises
- Lacerations
- Fractures
- Broken Bones
- Sprains and Strains
- Concussions
- Traumatic Brain Injury
How Soon After a Car Accident Should I Visit a Doctor?
Most states recommend that you visit a doctor after a car accident no later than 72 hours after the accident occurs. You should still consider visiting a chiropractor for a free consultation if your injuries are minor. If they are more severe, you should visit a medical doctor immediately to ensure your overall safety and wellness.
Since determining whether you were injured or not can prove tricky, you should always be evaluated by a physician, even if you don’t feel like you’re injured. The negative effects of not seeing a physician after an accident far outweigh the short-term benefits of not receiving a medical evaluation.
Most insurance companies have time limitations on when you can make an injury claim following an accident. So, if you opt-out of receiving one, you could be forfeiting your right to recover damages.
Why Is Chiropractic Care the Best Choice After a Car Accident?
Most injuries occur due to what’s known as microtrauma, a condition in which your body sustains an injury on a very minor level due to repeated stress that eventually snowballs into larger injuries. While car accidents don’t cause microtrauma, they can exacerbate microtrauma and turn your minor injuries into severe ones.
Following a car accident, most of the damage does not immediately present itself due to adrenaline. Chiropractors specialize in these types of injuries because they can readjust the body to the right positioning to ensure microtrauma doesn’t continue to cause misalignment, stability, and functionality issues. Microtrauma may also cause compressed or pinched nerves and injured ligaments.
Licensed chiropractors perform extensive medical evaluations to determine precisely where your pain, discomfort, and problem areas are. From this medical evaluation, they will be able to devise a treatment plan that best suits your needs.
Regular medical physicians might only prescribe you pain medication, which can be addicting and have unwanted side effects. While these doctors mask the pain, chiropractors can devise a solution that attacks the pain at its root.
Questions to Ask When Considering Chiropractic Adjustments Following a Car Accident
Are You In Pain?
If you are in pain following a car accident, you should immediately visit a doctor. Even if you aren’t in pain, you should consider visiting a doctor to rule out underlying injuries.
Have You Seen a Specialist?
Going to the hospital following a car accident is an advisable way to get an overview of your injuries. However, these physicians can overlook injuries, which is why it’s important to see a specialist such as a licensed chiropractor.
Chiropractors are trained to detect hidden injuries that the hospital can easily miss. They can perform orthopedic and neurological tests to assess soft tissue damage, structural damage, muscle strength, range of motion (ROM), joint and nerve function. These are signs of injuries that other medical doctors might overlook but must be treated for a complete recovery.
When Should I Visit a Chiropractor?
When to visit the chiropractor depends on the severity of your injuries. Any critical injuries should be taken care of on the scene by medical professionals. Chiropractors can prescribe a treatment plan for minor injuries that are not readily identifiable such as frequent headaches and body aches. If you find you’re suffering from persistent discomfort, you should schedule a free consultation with a Denver chiropractor to discuss the next steps.
How Long Should I Receive Treatment?
There is no finite duration to chiropractic care. While your chiropractor will develop a comprehensive treatment plan that directly responds to your injuries, you will likely find the benefits of chiropractic care are not a single serving.
You can even make chiropractic care a lifelong choice, especially if you sustain a chronic injury that plagues you for an extended period of time. For most, full recovery is achievable using a chiropractic treatment model. The goal of any chiropractic clinic is to help determine when you have reached that point. When to stop depends on your recovery duration and whether you feel comfortable ending your treatment.
Do I Have to Go More Than Once?
The chiropractic method may be somewhat jarring for someone used to traditional medical care. Most accident victims will have initial visits to establish the frequency of treatment. Even one chiropractic adjustment can make a large difference in your pain levels and recovery path.
Conclusion – Should You Visit a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?
The time immediately following a car accident is the most critical due to a few reasons. The sooner you seek medical attention, the more likely it is that you will be able to make a full recovery. Additionally, if you wait too long following your car accident, insurance companies might not honor your injury claim and you could lose the opportunity to receive damages from your accident.
Full-service chiropractors offer various treatment methods to patients to ensure they make full recoveries. At Governor’s Park Chiropractic Care, we offer acupuncture, massage therapy, spinal decompression, therapy and rehabilitation, and more to ensure you get back to living the life you love.
Contact us today to set up a free consultation and determine the best treatment course for your full recovery.
Governor's Park Chiropractic is the Colorado chiropractor team dedicated to helping individuals get out of pain and achieve better health. Offering a range of services and treatment options to meet the specific needs of each patient.