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If You’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident, Chiropractic Care Can Help You Find Relief

It’s impossible to prepare yourself for an auto collision. You can maintain a safe speed, be diligent on the road, or keep your vehicle maintenance up to date, but you can still be involved in a collision that can have long-term effects on both your health and well-being. While you may consider that the pain will go away with time, some injuries may cause severe, long-lasting effects.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle collision, Dr. Phil at Forward Health can help provide the relief you need to start feeling better.

What type of injuries occur after an auto accident? 

Unfortunately, it is very common in an auto collision for drivers and passengers to suffer physical injuries. Head injuries are most common, such as contusions, concussions, or whiplash. Head and back injuries from a collision are typically the most serious. With a concussion, you may experience dizziness and headaches. The sudden movement of the neck and head upon impact can cause whiplash can be very painful and restrict your movement.

Other types of injuries include neck strains, damage to spinal discs, or soft-tissue injuries. Depending on their severity, these injuries may lead to long-term effects such as chronic pain, memory issues, cognitive problems, or diminished mobility.  For a quicker recovery, it’s best to be assessed promptly and begin therapy treatments as soon as possible. 

A Brief Overview of Whiplash

Whiplash gets its name because of the motion of the neck and head snapping forward and backward like a whip.  It usually takes place when your head is thrust backwards or forward with brute force.  This sudden thrusting action stretches or tears your neck’s muscles or tendons. Whiplash can be the outcome of a motor vehicle accident because of a sudden impact/acceleration due to sport injuries. 

If you have been involved in a collision, it is imperative that you seek medical treatment to assess if you have whiplash injury. Some of the common symptoms of whiplash are as follows:

  • Pain
  • Headaches
  • Soreness in the neck
  • Frequently occurring headaches
  • Stiffness in the neck
  • tingling sensation or numbness

The Side-Effects associated with Whiplash

Difficulties with SleepingNote that chronic neck pain can make sleeping an unbearable challenge. If you tend to sleep with a sore neck, it can result in more stiffness.

Loss of Motion and StiffnessIf you leave a whiplash injury untreated, it may result in immobilization of your neck. And when there is a lack of motion, you would experience stiffness and improper muscle healing.

Migraines and HeadachesThere is no denying the fact that neck pain can cause intense migraines and headaches. The pain can become serious enough to play spoilsport in your daily activities.

TinnitusUntreated whiplash can be the sole reason behind persistent ringing and buzzing in the ears. It is a condition where people may face difficulties in focusing and sleeping.

Loss of Balance – Your neck plays a crucial role in maintaining your overall balance. The trauma from a whiplash injury may suppress nerve signals which causes loss of balance. Also known as the loss of balance is also known as cervicogenic dizziness.

Vertigo You may like you are spinning or falling like an imbalance sensation.

Misalignment of the Vertebrae – The uppermost vertebrae in the neck to move out of spinal alignment limiting range of motion and affecting normal posture.

Note that the main objective of whiplash treatment is to control existing pain and restore your mobility. With the right treatment plan, you would be able to bring your life back to normalcy.

Recovery from Auto Accident Injuries

While some types of injuries might be minor and allow for recovery at home, certain injuries require professional care and supervision.

  • Whiplash symptoms can heal in several weeks, but the recovery could take months.
  • Soft tissue injuries can heal in weeks, depending on their severity. For example, muscle tears may require surgical treatment or physical therapy and usually take months to recover fully.
  • Herniated discs may require surgery, and months may be needed for recovery. Unfortunately, herniated discs can lead to long-term effects like chronic pain.

If you don’t act promptly after your accident, your injury worsens. It also hurts your chances of getting compensated if you sustain permanent health concerns.  As a victim, you may be wondering whether you can get medical help and legal help simultaneously.  You can, car insurance companies rely on facts, and your health care provider has a major role to play. Besides providing timely medical treatment, we will guide you in maintaining an updated record of a car injury case.

If you suffer any of these injuries, visit us at Forward Health clinic after the accident to prevent further complications.  We will develop a personalized treatment plan targeted to your car injury.  Therapeutic exercises pump oxygen, blood, and nutrients to the injury site and enhance healing. Every exercise and stretch prescribed has a specific goal for recovery and improves function and mobility.

If you believe you might be suffering from a concussion or would like to know more call us.

519-826-7973