You’ve probably seen all the commercials and heard all the radio ads about what to do when you’ve been injured in a car accident. But when it actually happens to you, the stress of the moment can cause you to second-guess yourself or wonder what truly is the best next step. If you’ve been injured after being rear-ended then it is important that you seek out medical attention as soon as possible. Paramedics may attend the scene and recommend you go to the emergency room for emergency care. However, going to the emergency room will only address your immediate injuries and you should still plan to seek follow-up treatment from a car accident chiropractor to fully heal and recover.
What to Expect with Emergency Care
If paramedics arrive at the scene, it is important that you let them attend to you. Many people are tempted to wave off help and say “I’m fine” in an attempt to be polite or because they don’t really notice any pain or car accident injuries yet. However, paramedics are trained to help in situations like these and will assess you for any visible or possible injuries to make sure you are safe. When it comes to handling your medical care with an insurance company after a car accident, the insurance company will want to know how early the injuries were documented, and turning down assistance at the scene doesn’t send a great message.
Whether or not you get evaluated by paramedics at the scene, you may still decide to visit the emergency room. If you do so, it is important to understand that the purpose of visiting an emergency room is to address your immediate needs. After a car accident, you might have scrapes, bruises, or other more hidden injuries like whiplash or back pain. An emergency room physician will do their best to diagnose any injuries, but the continued care and treatment will be handled separately. That’s where finding a skilled car accident chiropractor comes into play.
What to Expect with a Car Accident Chiropractor
Even if you decided to skip emergency care after being rear-ended, it can still help you to seek treatment from a car accident chiropractor sooner rather than later. The earlier you start treatment for any type of car accident injury, the better your doctor is able to provide a clear diagnosis and start you on the healing process. When it comes to seeing a car accident chiropractor, you can expect them to treat a wide range of car accident injuries like yours and develop a natural, safe, and effective treatment plan for you and your body.
Types of Car Accident Injuries Treated
Chiropractors are doctors of the spine and are able to treat the whole musculoskeletal system with natural, non-invasive techniques to bring about pain management and relief and restore proper functioning to your whole body. As experts of the spine, car accident chiropractors are able to address a number of car accident injuries, like whiplash, neck pain, back pain, and more. Whiplash is the most common car accident injury and can affect your head, neck, back, and shoulders. This includes your spine, joints, muscles, and other soft tissues in these areas. Many car accident injuries can affect the spine and a car accident chiropractor is a great option for treatment.
What Goes Into a Treatment Plan
A car accident chiropractor develops a treatment plan specific to how your body has been affected by being rear-ended and how this may have disrupted your musculoskeletal and nervous systems. For example, if you are suffering from whiplash after a car accident you may feel back pain and have sore neck muscles. A car accident chiropractor would create a treatment plan that would address your back pain by identifying where the pain is coming from, whether related to the vertebrae and discs in your spine or the nearby muscles. In order to provide effective pain management for your back pain, the car accident chiropractor would want to address the root cause so you can experience true relief. They may use gentle massage techniques and stretches to help soothe your neck muscles, regain range of motion in your neck, and ultimately strengthen your neck muscles to protect against future injuries.
You should visit a specialist after being rear ended. Consider scheduling your treatment with a car accident chiropractor who is skilled in not only treating the spine and musculoskeletal system but also in treating a wide range of car accident injuries. You’ll feel better knowing you are receiving treatment and care from someone who specializes in your type of injury and the types of treatment that will help you experience a full recovery. Call or visit us online to schedule an appointment with a car accident chiropractor at one of our many AICA Orthopedic locations.
