After an auto accident, one of the first things you should do is schedule an appointment with your chiropractor. Chiropractic care can often reduce or eliminate pain due to accident-related trauma. AICA’s Jonesboro Chiropractor Clinic offers a range of chiropractic and therapeutic services designed to treat whiplash and other post-accident ailments.
In an auto collision, the neck usually experiences the most trauma, regardless of where the impact occurs. While the body is held relatively stable by the seatbelt, the rapid deceleration causes the muscles and ligaments in the neck to hyperextend, resulting in the pain and stiffness that frequently occurs in the days following an accident.
The impact itself can also destabilize the spine, creating a chain reaction between bones, muscles, nerves, and connective tissue that can cause any number of unpleasant symptoms. Because chiropractors specialize in caring for the entire musculoskeletal system, chiropractic care can help the whole body realign and return to proper function.
Proactive Pain Management
Many people assume that only high-speed accidents cause injuries, but the spine can be knocked out of alignment by an impact of just 5mph. Whiplash injuries can even occur from accidents in which there is no visible damage to the vehicle whatsoever.
In some cases, injury symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months after an accident. However, if you are not evaluated by a chiropractor within two weeks of your accident, you may forfeit any claim to damages in the event that accident-related issues emerge down the road.
Even when your injuries are minor, if they are left untreated, they can evolve into more serious and lasting complications later in life, such as arthritis. By proactively seeking chiropractic care soon after your accident, regardless of how you feel physically, you can take advantage of the care to which you’re entitled, while giving your body its best chance to heal and recover quickly.
Symptoms of Accident-Related Injuries
Pain and stiffness in the neck and back are the most common complaints among accident victims, but there are other indicators that you have sustained bodily injury. Consult with your chiropractor if you experience any of these symptoms at any point following an auto accident:
• Headaches
• TMJ or jaw pain
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Mental fog
• Forgetfulness
• Numbness/tingling
• Pain in the arm/shoulder
• Reduced range of motion
A Holistic Approach to Recovery
Conventional medical treatment often resorts to prescription painkillers to alleviate accident victims’ discomfort. While this can provide patients with immediate relief, it can also mask the underlying source of their pain and ultimately make it more difficult to treat.
Instead of addressing your symptoms with temporary solutions, which can conceal more serious conditions, your chiropractor can help identify and treat the root cause of your pain. Your chiropractic team can also suggest therapeutic exercises and provide you with nutritional advice to complement your treatment regimen, allowing you to approach the healing process holistically.
Whether you’ve been in a fender-bender or suffered a more substantial auto accident, AICA’s Jonesboro Chiropractic Clinic will put you on the road to recovery. Schedule your appointment today by calling 404-602-0387.