Every year on American roadways, statistics show there are six million car accidents, and unfortunately, these accidents result in about 33,000 fatalities. Three million of those crashes result in injuries, which can range from minor to life-threatening and debilitating.
One of the most common injuries from a car accident is spinal injuries. Even an accident that occurs at a low rate of speed can create enough force to cause your spine to become out of alignment and cause a back or neck injury. These injuries also frequently adversely affect the surrounding nerves, which can exacerbate the original injury. And while most people wear seat belts nowadays, which do indeed save lives, the restraint they use to protect you from a fatal injury can still cause non-life-threatening injuries.
Traditional medicine often isn't able to help mild or moderate spinal injuries, and sometimes, their cure can be worse than the injury itself. Millions of people all over the United States suffer from opioid addictions, many who are self-medicating to deal with incessant back, neck, and nerve pain as the result of an accident or injury or surgeries that didn't correct the issue. Thankfully, a Doctor of Chiropractic may succeed where a medical doctor may fail. Here are three areas where accident recovery chiropractic care can be useful.
1. A Chiropractor Can Find Problems Before They Start
No matter how minor the accident, the human body's response to a shock is to flood it with adrenaline. This can help you deal with the trauma of the experience. The adrenaline rush can also temporarily block pain signals.
This means you may be more injured than you first realize, which is one reason you should never refuse medical care at the scene of an accident. It also means you should see a chiropractor as soon possible after the crash. He or she will be able to tell if you have any back or neck issues before the pain even kicks in. Treating the injury right away can also possibly prevent swelling and inflammation, which can make problems even worse.
2. A Chiropractor Can Get You Moving Quicker
If you've been severely injured, it can be a long road to recovery. And while you'll likely have a team of medical professionals helping you, such as a physical therapist, a chiropractor should also play a role. Spinal adjustments aid in keeping everything limber and flexible, and they help keep your circulation flowing, which will aid in faster healing.
3. A Chiropractor Can Help With Other Injuries
While spinal issues are common in car crashes, they certainly aren't the only ones. The fingers, hands, arms, and legs can all suffer as well. Additionally, if a driver foresaw the accident coming, the natural response is to tighten up, which can sometimes compound problems. Regular adjustments can reduce these other problem areas.
Share23 September 2018
After suffering with debilitating back pain for years, I decided it might be a good idea to finally meet with a doctor. I didn't want to beat around the bush with the issue, so I headed straight to a specialist who I thought could help me: a chiropractor. Even though it was my first appointment, my doctor was incredible and got to work right away on my problem. He took images of my spine and then talked with me about the results. I found out that several of my vertebrae were eroding, which was putting a lot of pressure on my spinal column. He made adjustments that made me feel a lot better right away. Check out this blog to learn more about how a chiropractor could help you.