REASONS TO VISIT A CHIROPRACTOR AFTER AN AUTO ACCIDENT
REASONS TO VISIT A CHIROPRACTOR AFTER AN AUTO ACCIDENT
Car accidents cause millions of injuries every year. Although you may think nothing is wrong at first, injuries like whiplash or back problems don’t always become apparent right away. A chiropractor can help to resolve the pain that often comes from automobile accidents. Even if the accident was minor, it’s possible to suffer with long-term problems if you put off treatment. Here are several reasons why you should see a chiropractor after an accident.
CHIROPRACTORS LOOK FOR DIFFERENT THINGS THAN MEDICAL DOCTORS
You may notice pain immediately after the accident, but even if you don’t, you could still have an injury. In these cases, soft tissues may have been damaged, and this could become a painful condition later on. Unfortunately, X-rays are unable to detect such injuries. Although an MRI can show soft tissue injuries, it’s so expensive as to be impractical if you’re not experiencing pain. Most visits to ERs are to clear major injuries looking for fractures or something that requires emergency medical stabilization. Chiropractors look for findings that indicate injury to the soft tissues of the spine and also dysfunction in the nervous system. Any soft tissue injury will have an effect on the central nervous system, that’s how you feel pain. Another often used technology is flexion/extension X-ray of the injured areas of the spine. This can show and measure whether the ligaments which hold the spinal bones together have been stretched or torn. It’s a good idea to have this done if indicated, to determine prognosis and to make sure that certain adjusting techniques are appropriate.
HEALTH INSURANCE MAY COVER CARE
After your accident, it’s wise to see a chiropractor even if there’s no pain. If your healthcare insurance won’t cover the cost, your car insurance might. While you won’t know if your insurance covers chiropractic care until you ask them, this type of care is usually considerably cheaper for insurance providers than covering surgery or years of medication and doctor’s visits. A chiropractor specializes in realigning and freeing up the body’s joints that might have been forced out of alignment because of damage to ligaments and muscles from your accident.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE
Chiropractors utilize very precise movements done by hand or instrument to return joints to their proper alignment and nerves to the proper resting levels. Most surgeons will agree that surgery is a last resort. It’s recommended to do the least invasive things first.
Your time at the chiropractor’s office is typically a pleasant experience, and most people notice improvements right away. Furthermore, research has shown that routine chiropractic care can enhance your general health and improve body function.
IT’S SAFE
Because chiropractic care is non-invasive and natural, it’s considered to be very safe. A chiropractor undergoes years of specific training and is required to adhere to state licensing laws and continuing education. In many cases, children can also benefit from chiropractic care after car accidents.
NO DRUGS
Chiropractic means “by the hand.” It doesn’t use drugs for treatment as it is outside the scope of practice and not within the philosophical tenets. While over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription painkillers may offer short-term relief from discomfort caused by injuries, chiropractic care targets the root of the problem and offers a longer-term solution.
Drugs can also have numerous unwanted and unpleasant side effects, which can range from nausea to neurological and digestive damage. Choosing chiropractic treatment effectively removes these risks because you don’t have to rely on medication to feel better.