Car accidents happen every day, but these every-day occurrences have the power to dramatically change your life forever. The hours after an accident usually become a blur, and you may not even know what to do next. Of course, the most important thing to do following an accident is make sure you are healthy and uninjured.
After a car accident, back pain is fairly common, even if it was just a minor fender bender. It's always important to follow-up with your doctor. If you suspect you have a fracture or internal bleeding, go to the hospital as fast as you can. You should also be seen by your primary care doctor after an accident, even if you feel fine.
In the case of back pain from a car accident, a chiropractor should be your next stop. A car accident chiropractor can help reduce pain, restore mobility and prevent further damage following your accident, even if it was minor.
How a Chiropractor can Help with Car Accident Back Pain?
While chiropractors deal with much more than back pain, many specialize as a car accident chiropractor to help people recover from this traumatic event and reduce pain. During a car accident, subluxation and misalignment of your spine is rather common, as your body jerks backward and forward very quickly. This can often lead to whiplash and even chronic back pain if left untreated.
Chiropractors also specialize in restoring mobility. Back pain from a car accident can easily leave you with difficulty moving as you once did, especially if you are older. If you're having severe stiffness in your arms, shoulders, neck or back, a chiropractic spinal manipulation may offer relief and restore mobility.
Chiropractic care may also prevent further damage, as a car accident leaves you in less-than-optimal health. This makes it easier for you to sustain further harm from another minor accident, such as slipping and falling at home. Chiropractic adjustment after an accident will help your body heal faster and the way it is meant to.
When you visit a chiropractor for back pain from a car accident, they may use any number of techniques to measure muscle tension in your spine and neck. They may also perform X-rays and present you with a graphical representation to show you injuries you weren't even aware of. This allows your chiropractor to begin treatment to prevent your condition from worsening, which may make it harder to correct or cause greater pain and discomfort.
Your chiropractor will also recommend a specific course of treatment to help you return to normal. You may only need one or a few sessions, or you may need to return weekly for a month or so to ensure your body is prepared to readjust to its normal state so you can get on with your life.
Always consult a chiropractor after a car accident, even if you don't feel the accident was serious or you don't feel much pain. While it's normal to be sore after an accident, this soreness may be more serious than you think, and it may be the beginning of chronic back problems if left untreated!