Car Accident? Here's What You Need to Do.

We’ve been seeing a lot of patients after car accidents this year, way more than any other year in the history of this practice. Some of these patients have already been receiving care here and there are new injuries to resolve; for other patients, this is their first time seeing a chiropractor because they had injuries like whiplash, soft tissue sprains, or pinched nerves.

These are situations where I genuinely hate the circumstances that require our care, but I am thankful that we are able to be a resource for proper recovery. If you or anyone you know have a car accident, here are some things that are important for you to consider in order to fully get to maximum recovery:

• Seek Medical Attention Immediately – immediate response to car accidents lead to faster and more full recovery. If you are experiencing any slurred speech, memory loss, blurred vision, or any neurologic symptoms, you should go to the emergency room immediately. It is also important to go to the emergency room if there is any suspicion of a fracture or other serious health conditions.
• Rest to Allow Your Body to Heal – after muscles and tendons become sprained, bruised, or strained, it is going to take time to allow proper healing. Even once the pain starts to diminish, it can still be important to avoid strenuous exercising or other hard activities during certain phases of care.
• Give Your Body the Proper Resources to Heal – Proper hydration; well-balanced diet with plenty of protein; plenty of sleep; all of these fundamentals to health are important regardless of the condition of any injuries, but they are extremely supportive during the aftermath of a car accident injury.
• Chiropractic Care – If the neck or back got jolted and thrown off, chiropractic care can help nurture the spine back to health by improving mobility and reducing pain.
• Pain Management – Over-the-counter or prescription medicines can be considered on a case-by-case basis, ideally as a short-term bridge to help relieve the pain until the cause of the pain is properly addressed. Heat and/or ice applied to injured areas can help too.
• Rehabilitation Exercises – Prescribed stretches and exercises can help you regain strength, flexibility, and mobility. These should be built up gradually to avoid aggravating any injuries.
• Legal Considerations – If your physical injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, you may want to talk to a lawyer to fully understand your rights and options.

I want you to be empowered to have a healthy spine in all phases of your life – and after a car accident is no exception. Car accidents are frustrating, and injuries from them can be overwhelming. You don’t have to handle the situation alone – know that there are resources available to help you recover and heal.  Your body has an amazing ability to heal itself, it may just need some guidance to head in the right direction.