How Chiropractic Can Aid Car Accident Recovery
An accident can completely ruin your day, and sometimes it may feel like it ruined your life. It’s not only the insurance, repairs, and inconvenience that are stressful but also often times there is something more pressing: injury.
If you were injured in a car accident and are doubting whether chiropractic care can help, know that you’re not alone in wondering this– many people have had this same thought. If you want to find out how effective chiropractic care is for those who were injured in a car accident, read ahead.
The 3 Phases of a Car Accident
A vehicle accident has three distinct phases. The first is during, which is what happens during the collision and sets the scene for injury and recovery. The second is the minutes, hours, and days that follow, which are crucial to how a person’s body recovers from any sustained injuries. Finally, there are long-term consequences of a car accident. This phase lasts the rest of your life after a car accident, and for some, it can last throughout this time period.
What happens during a car accident?
The car is hit or strikes another object during a collision. This might be another vehicle, a stationary object, or anything else at all—a wall, a body of water, a deer, etc. When the automobile collides with or is struck by another thing, the impact of the smash spreads throughout the entire car and into the bodies of those within it.
Though cars are designed to absorb the majority of an accident’s impact, this usually is not enough to prevent injury from happening to passengers. If you often see crumpled cars in collisions, it is because car designers purposely make them that way—the crumpling effect directs the shock away from your body and into the car itself.
Despite this, your automobile will undoubtedly be damaged. In fact, some research suggests that the less damaged your car is, the more likely it is that you absorbed the shock of the collision!
While a vehicle’s design is intended to crumple in order to absorb shock, the body’s structure isn’t. Every joint needs room between it and the next one for cushioning. Even a little automobile accident can cause serious spinal injuries since the discs between bones are more frequently harmed than not. The following are some of the most prevalent types of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident:
Whiplash
Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when your head jolts forward or backward suddenly. It’s one of the most typical injuries from car accidents, but it can also come from other impacts.
Whiplash is a condition caused by the sudden, violent snapping of the head backward and forward. This motion over-stretches and damages the muscles and tendons in your neck. Common symptoms include pain, headaches, neurological problems, and muscle disorders around your neck and back.
If whiplash isn’t treated, it may lead to persistent problems that grow worse when under strain. This is due to the fact that neck joints are frequently misaligned in whiplash, causing all sorts of discomfort, pain, and illness.
Back Pain
A vehicle accident might cause back pain as a consequence of injury. This is because the impacts of a car accident can shift the bones and joints of the spine out of alignment. This causes a number of issues when the bones and joints in the spine slip out of alignment as a result of impact.
The first reason for suffering is often misalignment in the spine. Nerves that have swollen, compressed, or been crushed and inflamed are to blame. How can nerves get damaged as a result of a vehicle accident? When the collision pulls the spine out of alignment, it may crush and irritate nearby nerves that aren’t usually exposed by the bones and joints.
Neck Pain
Another frequent consequence of vehicle accident injuries is neck discomfort. They might be induced by whiplash, which is the choking of the neck forward and backward or side to side during impact, or they might be produced as a result of the collision’s physical effects on the body’s structure. When a collision causes the body to absorb force, it is frequently possible for the soft and spongy discs in the spine to be crushed or compressed. The cervical spine, which consists of soft tissues surrounding rigid bones, can be injured as a consequence of this.
Knee Pain
Depending on the type of collision and the position and location of your knees, you may find that they are forced to rotate or twist during an accident. This might result in a variety of ailments and lingering discomfort for your knees, making them never feel “quite right.”
Headaches & Migraines
Did you know that headaches and migraines are some of the most common injuries following a car accident – even though they’re not always immediately obvious? We often get caught up in dealing with the logistics after an accident (insurance, car repair, finding new transportation, etc.) that we don’t have time to investigate every possible injury. But these conditions can persist for weeks, months, or years if they’re not treated right away.
What causes headaches and migraines to occur after a vehicle accident? Stress is the first cause. Scientists aren’t sure what causes migraines, but stress is recognized as a significant aggravating factor. Car accidents are extremely traumatic experiences, and their aftermath may leave a ripple of residual tension that contributes to headaches and migraines.
In addition to other causes, headaches and migraines can come from spinal misalignment and inflammation – both of which are side effects of car accidents. Whiplash, a subluxation (when the joints slide out of place in the spine), and other injuries that aren’t immediately visible can have long-lasting migraine and headache symptoms. Sometimes people don’t connect their current migraines or headaches with past car accidents they endured 5, 10, or even 15 years ago.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a debilitating condition characterized by sharp shooting pain from the buttocks down one or both legs. The cause of this often starts in the past with something like a car accident. Sciatica can be hard to live with as it doesn’t always respond well to traditional forms of care such as stretching and painkillers.
Sciatica is often caused by joint damage after a car accident. Your bones and joints take the brunt of the impact when you’re in a collision, but they aren’t always able to handle that much force. This can lead to long-term pain or sciatica.
When the joints are misaligned, it’s like living with a broken limb. The nerves that are tightly coiled around the spinal cord get interrupted when the joints shift. Nerve interference, inflammation, and most commonly, pain can all result from this. Sciatic discomfort may be excruciating and have an onset that is unpredictable (even after periods of simply resting down).
What happens immediately after a car accident?
Though it may not seem like a priority, if you are in a non-severe car accident it is important to address any injuries as soon as possible after the accident. This is especially critical if you begin experiencing soreness or stiffness over the next few days. Seek care from a medical professional specializing in auto injury treatment so that your health and well-being are protected long term.
It’s essential to receive care after an accident to rule out any possible injuries, especially head injuries. Some injuries, like concussions, can occur without symptoms immediately following the accident. If you have any doubts about your condition, seek comprehensive medical care right away.
If a doctor confirms that you do not have any life-threatening injuries, it is time to address the damage done to your neuromusculoskeletal system. A car accident often impacts this part of the body the most, and chiropractic care is designed specifically for treating this area.
Chiropractic Care After A Car Accident
After a car accident, it’s in your best interest to see a chiropractor! They will be able to provide your body with everything it needs to heal properly. Your neuromusculoskeletal system is made up of your joints, muscles, and nerves – all essential for proper bodily function. If you were injured in a car accident and want support during the healing process, look for expert chiropractic care today.
Come to North Alabama Spine & Posture for a personalized assessment and care plan from Dr. Adam Shafran, so you can start recovering from your car accident injury as soon as possible! Get back to living your life pain-free by contacting us today to book your first appointment.
