A-to-Z Accident Chiropractic

Automobile accidents can be one of the most damaging, costly, and traumatic experiences we go through. Although prevention is one of the best treatments, not everything in life is within our control, and sometimes accidents happen. While prevention plans are substantial, it can be advantageous to develop a backup plan. Our chiropractic A-to-Z guide takes you through some of the most common injuries and treatments used to help patients heal after an accident.

Auto Accidents

Even if you are feeling okay post-accident, it is imperative to seek medical help from a professional as soon as possible. This is because most accidents, regardless of how minor it seems, can lead to long-lasting or permanent damage. Additionally, some symptoms may not present themselves until weeks or months later, giving conditions exponential time to worsen. Research has indicated that even accidents with a speed as slow as 5 miles per hour can cause spinal injury or damage.

Bulging Disc from Car Accident

Car accidents can result in bulging discs. Bulging discs occur when damaged discs, typically in the back or neck, begin to swell and bulge, abnormally extending outwards into your spinal canal. Protruding discs typically gravitate towards one side of the spine, leaving some patients feeling extreme pain on one side of their body. However, it is vital to check for damaged discs, as some bulging discs remain painless and less likely to be discovered and treated in time.

Chiropractors Can Assist Patients Seeking Settlements After Car Accidents

Since chiropractors are healthcare professionals that focus on spinal alignments, muscle reflexes, and your neuromusculoskeletal system as a whole (nerves, muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, etc.), most of them will keep extended records of your condition(s). If you are seeking compensation or a settlement after your car accident, your chiropractor may be able to provide you with a professional record of your injuries and necessary treatments.

Fractures

Auto accidents have enough force and trauma to cause patients different types of bone fractures, such as:

Open Fracture: When a broken or cracked bone is visible through the skin. Also known as a compound fracture
Oblique Fracture: Bones that are broken at an angle, typically diagonal.
Stable Fracture: Broken bones with minimal damage
Stress Fracture: Miniature cracks in the bone
Transverse Fracture: Broken bones horizontally perpendicular to their lengths, typically with their fracture in a straight line.
Transverse Process Fracture: A spinal fracture that occurs along the length of your spine, typically in the lower back.

Herniated Disc from Car Accident

Some believe the terms bulging discs and herniated discs are interchangeable, but this is incorrect. Bulging discs describe damaged outward-extending discs while herniated discs are fully ruptured discs, allowing the jelly-like nucleus center of the disc to leak into your spinal canal. While they can heal, untreated bulging discs can lead to herniated discs. It is exceedingly critical for car accident patients to seek professional medical attention so they can get conditions such as damaged discs discovered and treated in time.

Ice and Heat Therapy

Ice and heat therapy are types of treatments that provide natural pain relief. However, it is important to know when to use each, as they are separate therapies that best suit different purposes. Most professionals agree that it is best to apply ice and cold treatments in the early stages after an accident. Ice can decrease swelling and inflammation, while heat can sometimes intensify it. Therefore, heat therapy typically works best when utilized to treat chronic pain and improve the range of movement over longer periods of time.

Massage Therapy

Chiropractic massage therapy is a type of massage therapy that helps to alleviate tightness, spasms, and inflammation within your muscles. For auto accident patients, massage therapy provides a natural, non-invasive treatment for restoring their range of motion, reducing scar tissue development, and improving blood circulation and oxygen flow for a speedier recovery.

Neck Pain and Sprains

Neck pain can seem like just another temporary condition one may sustain after a car accident, but it can also be an indicator of more serious injuries such as whiplash or a fractured spine. Your local chiropractor can provide you with a number of non-invasive treatments to help reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain within or around your neck, including gentle cervical manipulations, spinal adjustments, decompression, and various other types of therapies.

Post-Accident PTSD

In addition to physical injuries, car accident victims can be prone to experiencing psychological or emotional trauma. PTSD, also known as post-traumatic stress disorder, is a psychological disorder commonly experienced by patients involved in severe car accidents. Aside from physical chiropractic care, our holistic practitioners at Imperium Health Center Littleton can also help you develop a holistic treatment plan. We include lifestyle coaching services for many of our patients in order to provide them with resources and guidance for healing the mind, self-esteem improvement, and building the mental foundations for long-term success.

Spinal Manipulation Therapy

Spinal manipulation therapy is a common type of therapy utilized to treat patients suffering from spinal injuries caused by car accidents. During spinal manipulation therapy, a trained chiropractor typically uses their hands or a specialized device to instigate a controlled thrust to a joint along or within your spine. Helping you correctly realign your spine can reduce acute lower-back pain, chronic pain, sciatica nerve pain, and other symptoms that result from spinal injuries.

Treatment Beyond Pills, Tablets, or Pharmaceuticals

If you are involved in an auto accident, it is perfectly acceptable (and normal) to seek out your primary care physician or general family doctor. However, keep in mind that some general physicians may be predisposed to prescribe you a prescription pill, tablet, injection, or other forms of pharmaceutical treatment. While most prescriptions can treat your present symptoms, many of them may also come with long-term or unpleasant side effects. If this is a concern for you, you can opt to visit your local chiropractor. Some patients have been known to heal just as well from chiropractic care instead of prescriptions or surgeries.

Whiplash

Also known as cervical acceleration-deceleration, whiplash is one of the most commonly-sustained injuries after an auto accident. It involves a rapid forward-and-backward movement of your head or spine and is associated with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or tingling sensations in the hands and feet. Whiplash can lead to muscle and ligament strain along your spine, spine misalignments, and other long-lasting symptoms such as chronic neck or back pain. When left untreated, whiplash can lead to more severe side effects such as persistent stiffness, loss of motion, and even vertebrae misalignment.

Zygomatic Bones

Zygomatic bones, sometimes referred to as the cheekbones, are a pair of bones connected to your eye socket and cheek on either side of your skull. Zygomatic bones help provide structure and act as protection for the blood vessels, nerves, and muscles within your face. Even though skull and facial fractures can be inconspicuous after an auto accident, they are extremely common. Chiropractic offices such as Imperium Health Center Littleton can get you an X-ray and then further assist you with guidance, resources, and information regarding the best next steps to take.

Chiropractor or Doctor After Car Accident?

You have the right to decide whether you go visit your doctor or your chiropractor after a car accident. You also have the ability to seek professional advice and treatment from both resources. Weigh the pros and cons of each solution to determine the best possible choice for your needs.

Going to the Chiropractor After A Car Accident

If you’re local to the Colorado area and are looking for a reliable chiropractor, be sure to visit Imperium Health Center Littleton. Our chiropractors perform gentle adjustments and develop effective, individualized, holistic treatment plans to help you heal and live your best life.

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Benefits of Chiropractic Care After Car Accident(s)