When you get injured in a car accident, your auto accident injury should be treated right away by a chiropractor once you have been released from the hospital or you believe that you've recovered for the most part. Why? Your body may not be as healed as you think, and your chiropractor is one of the medical professionals who can help you heal more rapidly.
Even if you're feeling well or you are being treated in other ways, here are reasons to see your chiropractor for your auto accident injury. You can ask your doctor for a chiropractic referral or visit a chiropractor of your choosing. Make sure you take all medical records to your consultation and let your chiropractor know what medications you're on as well; this information helps your chiropractor make a custom treatment plan for you.
Your injuries may not be healed yet
Whiplash is a common auto accident injury. This injury, for example, usually heals within six weeks, but around a third of whiplash victims experience neck pain a decade after their injury and some people suffer from some type of injury pain for the rest of their lives. In order to heal fully from your auto accident injury and ensure that you are protected from prolonged pain and swelling, see a chiropractor.
A chiropractor will use a continued treatment approach to check your neck, spine, and hips for alignment issues and swelling related to your auto accident, and they will also do what they can to ensure your other treatments, such as physical therapy and exercise, are working well. If you have whiplash or other auto accident injury repercussions, let your chiropractor know so you can begin treatment right away.
Your injuries may be more severe than you think
An auto accident injury may not present itself until some time has passed after the accident. Or, the injury may appear to be minor at first, but get worse with time, leading to stiffness, reduction in mobility, dizziness, nausea, and growing pain. Even if you feel fine, see a chiropractor to see if you have any alignment issues or other issues related to the impact you received in your auto accident. This way, you can continue to receive treatment and potentially avoid having other accident-related issues arise in the future.
Your chiropractor will work in conjunction with other medical care you are receiving for your auto accident injury, such as physical therapy and surgical intervention. If you have concerns about your health following your auto accident injury, speak to your general doctor to see if a chiropractor may be right for you.