When you’ve been injured in a car accident, you want to make sure to pick the best doctor for you. While you may have received some medical attention from paramedics at the scene or even gone to the emergency room, treatment for whiplash should continue in the days and weeks ahead so you can experience a full recovery. That’s why it’s important to find a doctor who meets the following criteria:
Specializes in Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents happen every day and whiplash is the most common car accident injury. But not every doctor specializes in treating complex injuries like whiplash. When you need treatment for whiplash it is important to find a doctor who understands how this type of injury commonly shows up and how it can affect you. A doctor who specializes in car accident injuries like whiplash will know that whiplash can be tricky to diagnose because symptoms don’t always show up right away. What first might seem like a headache in the hours of the accident could develop into more symptoms like muscle pain and stiffness. A car accident doctor is trained and knowledgeable in how to recognize hidden injuries like whiplash.
Experienced in Treating Whiplash
Whiplash may be common, but you still want to find out how a car accident doctor generally diagnoses and treats whiplash. Because symptoms can develop over the hours and even days after the accident, a doctor who primarily addresses visible injuries might not catch this type of injury at first. Car accident doctors who treat whiplash understand how to diagnose the injury with a combination of your reported symptoms and assessing your head, neck, and spine. There isn’t one specific tool that will diagnose whiplash, so a doctor will need to have experience in recognizing whiplash symptoms and differentiating those from other types of car accident injuries.
Recognizes Other Injuries Caused by Whiplash
The stress of the accident alone might give you a headache after a car accident, so headaches alone aren’t enough to demonstrate you have whiplash. But did you know that whiplash can actually lead to other injuries as well? When a skilled car accident doctor determines a plan of treatment for whiplash, they will also take into account other injuries that could have occurred. Because whiplash affects your neck and spine, it can also cause things like a herniated disc or nerve damage. Depending on the severity of the accident and your injuries, you could be looking at a long road to recovery, and getting started on treatment for whiplash as soon as possible can help make a big difference.
Develops Individualized Treatment Plans
When it comes to healing from any kind of injury, you want a doctor who will put you first and determine what will work best for your body. Beware of doctors who say they have found the best treatment option for anyone who suffers from whiplash. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t take into account your medical history, any previous injuries, and what specific symptoms you may or may not have. Instead, choose a car accident doctor who will develop an individualized treatment plan for your whiplash symptoms. Doctors who create unique treatments for whiplash based on each patient put you first and that can help you heal faster.
Chiropractic Treatment for Whiplash
Chiropractors are a great option when considering a doctor to treat you for whiplash. Chiropractors are medical professionals who focus on how your whole body is impacted by an injury like whiplash, from your vertebrae to your neck muscles to the nerves along your spine. When you get chiropractic treatment for whiplash, your chiropractor will assess how your spine was impacted by the injury. This includes the muscles and tendons that help support your neck and allow for you to turn your head up and down and side to side without pain. Many who suffer from whiplash have trouble with range of motion and neck pain because their muscles become stiff and sore. A chiropractor will use gentle, therapeutic techniques to encourage your muscles to heal and strengthen so they can better support your neck and spine in the future.
If you want to avoid dangerous pain medications and prefer less dangerous pain management options then chiropractic might be the best choice for you. Chiropractors do not prescribe medications and instead focus on helping the body heal itself. It’s important to pick the best chiropractor for you. One type of chiropractic technique involves finding any vertebrae in your spine that may be out of place, disrupting communication from your brain to the rest of your body. The goal is to restore your spine to its proper posture so your spinal column can support a healthier you. At AICA Jonesboro, our chiropractors specialize in whiplash and other car accident injuries. We provide comprehensive care to all our patients and develop individualized treatment plans for everyone so you can heal and recover at your own pace.