Injuries resulting from a car accident can affect your mental and physical health. In many cases, injuries do not manifest themselves immediately after a car accident, but this does not mean there was no injury that took place upon impact.
Pain Can Be Delayed After A Car Accident. Here’s why
Immediately after an accident, an adrenaline rush can occur, masking pain. Once the perceived threat has passed and the hormone levels return to normal, the victim may experience excruciating pain, discomfort, and soreness.
Car accident injuries can cause chronic pain. It can even affect one’s mobility and consequently the quality of a person’s life. They can exacerbate an existing health condition or cause new health problems.
Car accident victims with even mild injuries can feel pain and soreness for several weeks after an accident. There are several over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers that promise instant pain relief. These medications have several side effects and can be extremely addictive too. Sometimes, they mask the symptoms of pain instead of treating its root cause.
Why See A Chiropractor After An Accident?
If you have been injured in an accident, consider giving chiropractic care a try. A chiropractor in Santa Rosa use their hands or a hand-held device to apply controlled, gentle, sudden force to the spinal joint. The goal of a chiropractic adjustment is to realign the spine, improve spinal function and reduce pain and discomfort.
A chiropractor is trained to treat back pain, neck pain, muscle pain, and headaches. Chiropractors also offer soft-tissue therapy to relieve spasms, relax tight and stiff muscles and release tension in the connective tissues. If your injuries require expert attention, your chiropractor may refer you to a specialist.
When performed by an expert, chiropractic care is 100% safe. It is non-invasive, does not have any side effects, and can reduce dependency on pain medications. Any pain or discomfort after a chiropractic adjustment is usually temporary and subsides within 24-48 hours.
During an adjustment, don’t be alarmed if you hear a popping or a cracking noise. These noises occur when tiny pockets of air that have built up in the spinal joints are released. This can help reduce the amount of pressure on your spine.
The greatest advantage of chiropractic care is that it gets to the root cause of pain and addresses it carefully.
As a leading chiropractic specialist in Sonoma County, Dr.Toth uses proven methods to help those who have suffered injuries in a car accident regain their lives. Here are some compelling reasons why you should give chiropractic care a try after a car accident.
Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation is a common consequence of car accident injuries. Micro tears can occur after a car accident, causing inflammation. Micro tears most often aren’t visible on X-rays. While some amount of inflammation after a car accident is normal and indicates that the body is attempting to heal itself, too much inflammation can affect your tissues and can cause pain and discomfort.
Inflammation can slow the healing process. Chiropractic care can help reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines, a type of signaling molecule that promotes inflammation.
Improves Range of Motion
An injury resulting from a car accident can affect the neck or back muscles, causing mobility issues. Chiropractic adjustments can help mobilize and realign the spine, restoring range of motion.
Reduces Pain
Pain after a car accident can affect your quality of life. Chiropractic adjustments can help relieve pain throughout the body and promote positive feelings by encouraging the body to produce pain-relieving hormones. Chiropractic care also helps remove toxins from the body. Many people experience immediate relief after a chiropractic adjustment.
Chiropractic care can help prevent long-term pain after a car accident. Even if you do not
feel any pain or discomfort after a car accident; you must plan to see a chiropractor as soon as possible.
Chiropractors in Santa Rosa are trained to diagnose different types of injuries resulting from a car accident. Your chiropractor will conduct different tests to diagnose hidden injuries and will start treatment immediately. Early medical intervention prevents mild injuries and symptoms from worsening.
It is not uncommon for nerve damage to occur after a car accident. Nerve damage causes pain and stiffness. Chiropractic care can treat nerve damage by reducing pressure on the pinched nerves.
Reduces Scar Tissue
Scar tissue can develop after a car accident. It forms part of the normal healing process after the skin has been cut or damaged. Scar tissue can cause long-term pain, itchiness, discomfort, and soreness.
A chiropractor can target scarred areas to break the scar tissue quicker than if it was left to heal on its own. This will help speed up the healing process.
This Can Help With Your Personal Injury Claim
If you experience a car crash without any fault, you can file a personal injury claim against the party-at-fault. Your chiropractor can provide invaluable medical evidence, helping strengthen your personal injury claim. They can also appear as an expert witness in court and corroborate your claim.
What Happens During a Chiropractic Adjustment?
At the beginning of a typical session, your chiropractor will place you in a specific position on a padded chiropractic table so they have access to affected areas. In most cases, patients are instructed to lay face down.
Once you are comfortable, your chiropractor will use their hands or an specially designed handheld device to apply controlled, sudden force to the affected joint, realigning it.
How Long Does Chiropractic Treatment Last?
Every individual responds differently to chiropractic adjustments. How long you will be in treatment depends on your age, type and nature of injury, your fitness level and level of discomfort. As a general rule, chiropractic treatment lasts 2-4 weeks- with three visits per week.
Toth Chiropractic is a reputable chiropractic clinic serving Santa Rosa. Dr. Douglass Toth has extensive experience developing customized treatment plans for his patients. He uses chiropractic techniques to treat different types of pain. To talk to him, call (707) 355-6535.