When you think of auto accidents, you probably think of emergency rooms and doctors. However, it would help if you also thought of chiropractors for auto accident injuries. After an auto accident, a chiropractor can treat musculoskeletal injuries that often don’t show up in X-rays and can address the causes of what might otherwise become chronic pain. In many cases, an auto injury can heal faster and be less painful along the way through evidence-based chiropractic care.

In 2019, 2.74 million people in the United States were injured in auto accidents. This produced millions of trips to emergency rooms, hospital stays, doctors’ office visits, prescriptions, physical therapy sessions, medical bills, insurance claims, and lawsuits. In addition, there were countless hours of lost work time and wages, healing time, and pain. 

When injuries are obvious and severe, you are treated, and you’re either released or hospitalized for further treatment and possibly surgery. But some injuries don’t cause pain until hours, days, or weeks later. Even minor accidents can cause injury, so it’s essential to seek medical and chiropractic care as soon as possible after an accident, even if you’re not sure you’re in need. It will protect your health and support any insurance and legal claims. 

Why Should I See a Chiropractor?

What Do Chiropractors Do?

Chiropractors treat musculoskeletal injuries—muscles, joints, and ligaments— without surgery or medication. They adjust the spine and other body parts to achieve natural alignment, reducing or eliminating pain and restoring the natural range of motion. 

Why Should I See a Chiropractor for Car Accident Injuries?

Here are two critical reasons:

• Pain can last a long time. You don’t have to live with it for so long. 
• Some injuries don’t show up on X-rays or make themselves known for days or weeks. They still need to be addressed immediately.  

After you have been checked and treated for any severe and life-threatening injuries and you are safe, take a trip to the chiropractor. If you have no serious injuries, try to get there within 72 hours. 

Even in a minor accident, the jolt your body receives can cause musculoskeletal injuries that respond well to chiropractic adjustments. When you see a chiropractor early, treatment can prevent your injuries from deteriorating into something more painful and chronic. The chiropractor’s treatment will complement the work of your primary care doctor, surgeon, and/or other caretakers.

Example: Whiplash

Whiplash is a typical auto accident injury to the neck, especially in rear-end collisions. The neck is violently thrown back and forth, affecting vertebrae, the discs between them, nerves, and tissues. As a result, you may feel increasing neck pain, stiffness, headaches, limited range of motion, and pain in your shoulders or arms.  

Your chiropractor combines adjustments, massage therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, and other techniques to treat whiplash. It may take several visits, but in the end, the pain is gone, and you’ve healed faster.

The Many Benefits of Chiropractic Care after a Car Accident

Reduced Pain 

Your chiropractic treatment will trigger whole-body pain relief, as exemplified in a study in which patients receiving chiropractic treatment experienced substantial increases in pain-reducing oxytocin, neurotensin, and orexin-A.

Reduced Need for Medication

It is common for doctors to prescribe pain and anti-inflammatory medications for the lingering pain after injuries have been treated in traditional medicine. But medication hides the cause of that pain. Instead, chiropractors diagnose and treat the causes directly. 

Moreover, prescribed pain medications may include potentially addictive opioids. Chiropractic care, however, reduces pain without drugs, reducing the risk of addiction. For example, in one study, opioid prescriptions decreased by about 22 percent when chiropractic treatments were included in patient care.

Restored Range of Motion

Back and neck injuries are common in car accidents, and injury limits your ability to move pain-free. Chiropractic adjustments can speed healing and restore range of motion to normal levels.

Prevented or Reduced Scarring

Scarring causes pain and impedes your range of motion. One chiropractic method, the Graston Technique, breaks up scar tissue by scraping the skin with stainless steel instruments. Our own Dr. Jay Greenstein, DC, explains its effectiveness: “The pressure from the Graston Technique breaks up that scar tissue and helps to stimulate blood flow, which can help a patient heal.” He further explains that this technique should be combined with stretching and rehabilitation exercises as Justin Bieber also notes the effectiveness of the technique in this news article.

Accelerated Recovery

Chiropractic care complements your medical treatment. Your chiropractor focuses on and treats the pain and the causes of injuries your medical doctor may not detect. Chiropractic treatments help you heal faster than you would with traditional medical treatment alone.

Supported Insurance and Legal Claims 

Earlier, we talked about the importance of seeing a chiropractor as soon as possible after an auto accident. This is not just for health reasons; it’s also to make sure your insurance and legal claims are accepted. Amid the chaos and emotion of the accident scene, you may not yet feel the pain of your injuries. 

No matter how you feel, it is crucial to get medical and chiropractic evaluation and care immediately. If you wait too long, insurance companies may assume that your injuries must not have been severe enough to need immediate care, jeopardizing your claim and potential settlement. A chiropractor can provide documentation of your injuries and treatment to support your claim.

Conclusion

A chiropractor can play a beneficial role in your healing after a car accident. Chiropractic treatment helps you heal faster and avoid a lot of chronic pain. After traditional medical and chiropractic care, you can look forward to the most effective recovery possible and a successful return to everyday life. 

Here at Kaizo Health, it is our firm belief that, with the proper chiropractic help, you can rise above your pain and enjoy a more proactive lifestyle! If you have any questions regarding chiropractic help, don’t hesitate to contact us and schedule an appointment with our chiropractic team! In the meantime, make sure that you check out our blog for more information on the chiropractic field, as well as our free virtual self-assessment chiropractic web app here.