A car accident is a traumatic experience that takes both an emotional and mental toll on a person. While it can be a disorienting and overwhelming experience, this trauma may leave you facing potentially serious injuries that may not be immediately apparent.

In some situations, car accidents may not involve a significant collision, which might cause you to overlook the seriousness of the problem. While you might feel fine for the first few hours after the crash, it is possible to have hidden injuries that may not show immediate symptoms. To prevent underlying issues from worsening, seek professional chiropractic care as soon as possible.

To fully recover from the accident, it’s important to address both your physical health and your legal rights. Therefore, chiropractic care is essential for your recovery. But when is the right time to seek chiropractic care after a car crash?

We’ll help you navigate both medical and legal factors after the accident. Through this blog, you will be exploring the importance of early intervention and other key factors in your recovery process.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can result in multiple types of injuries. While some of them may not be easy to identify, it can be helpful to identify common car accident injuries. Seeking appropriate care for your injury can help with your recovery process.

Here are some of the most common car injuries resulting from car accidents:

• Whiplash: This is one of the after-effects symptoms you will likely experience after a car accident. It is caused by a sudden change in your head position, causing a muscle tear in your nerves. In a more aggressive case of collision, it can lead to dislocation or herniation of the cervical spine.
• Concussion: If you experience symptoms like headaches or dizziness after a car accident, it might be a concussion. This type of traumatic brain injury is a serious case of injury that requires immediate medical attention. You shouldn’t overlook a minor headache; seek medical attention promptly to avoid complications.
• Back Injuries: If you have a car accident, the high-risk parts of your body are your upper and lower back. You must not overlook back pain symptoms as they may indicate severe damage. Without proper treatment, it may lead to permanent paralysis.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: During the collision, the forces placed on your body often result in soft tissue injury. While this can cause muscle sprains, it can take many forms in your body’s connective tissue, including ligaments, muscles, and tendons. If you notice some discomfort in your muscles, seek medical treatment immediately.
• Chest Injuries: During a car collision, the seatbelt and airbags push against your chest, causing soreness and bruising. If you feel pain in your chest, have it checked immediately. The pain might be a sign of fractured ribs.
• Nerve Damage: If you notice a tingling feeling or numbness in your body, it can be a sign of nerve damage or a spinal injury. Noticing these symptoms can help improve your recovery and prevent complications.

Benefits of Immediate Chiropractic Care

Following a car accident, seeking chiropractic treatment can provide you with many benefits. One of them includes boosting your recovery time. With professional care,  you can expect the following advantages:

• Non-Invasive Treatment:  Chiropractic professionals can provide a non-surgical approach to pain management and your healing process.
• Reduced Inflammation: A lot of chiropractic techniques and therapies can significantly reduce inflammation in the injured area.
• Better Mobility: Chiropractors can help restore your mobility by addressing possible muscle tensions or misalignments immediately.
• Prevention of Long-Term Damages: Early intervention can prevent minor injuries from developing permanent chronic issues.

When to See a Chiropractor

As a general rule of thumb, get medical assistance within 72 hours. However, seeking medical treatment right after the accident is one of the first steps you should take to assess for any possible injuries.

Following a car accident, even if you don’t notice anything wrong with yourself after the accident, you should still seek medical help, as it’s possible for your injuries to take hours or even days to be noticeable.

While you might need immediate care from a chiropractor, it’s important to seek a primary care physician first. A general doctor will perform a complete bodily assessment to identify underlying issues. Afterward, the doctor will let you know if you need chiropractic care.

What to Expect During Your First Chiropractic Consultation

During the consultation process, expect a thorough assessment process. Here’s how it works:

• Assessment of Your Medical History: The first process will include taking a detailed medical history.  A healthcare professional will gather detailed information about your accident and any persisting symptoms you’ve experienced since the accident.
• Chiropractic Exam: After taking a detailed medical history, you will go through general test procedures. These assessments may also include checking the range of motion in your body parts, muscle strength, neurological integrity, muscle tone, and muscle strength.
• Diagnostic Studies: Based on your medical history and chiropractic exam, a diagnostic study can help reveal structural abnormalities. This process will make an accurate diagnosis of the condition.

Typically, a diagnostic study may include an x-ray procedure, but this is not always necessary. Depending on the chiropractor’s assessment, you will either need an x-ray exam or an MRI scan.

• Patient Diagnosis: At the end of the patient’s assessment process, the chiropractor will come to a specific diagnosis. You can expect an explanation of your diagnosed condition, a specific chiropractic treatment plan, and the anticipated length of the treatment.

Maximize Recovery and Partner Legal Assistance

After going through an awful and jarring accident, it’s best to focus on your physical care and legal rights to get the most out of your recovery. While you address your physical injuries through chiropractic care, let a skilled injury lawyer handle your auto accident claim to get the right compensation for the damages and medical costs.

The key to full physical recovery from a car accident will not only offer immediate pain relief but you can also prevent long-term issues. Don’t delay; prioritize your health early at a chiropractic wellness center and consult a dedicated chiropractor to get the right physical therapy and rehabilitative procedures.