Chiropractor
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Dr. Edwin Juste and Associates
Auto Accident?
Why do Patients Need to See a Doctor Following a Car Accident?
Car accidents can cause injuries which develop into pain, inflammation and arthritis. Sometimes, a person involved in a car accident may not know they are hurt because high adrenaline levels from the accident can mask the pain and hide symptoms of injury. It’s our body’s natural defense mechanism and it gets us through emergencies, even if we have underlying injuries. When the body becomes calm, aches and pains often arise. It is important to consult a doctor to check for internal bleeding, concussion or inflammation around sore spots. If caught early enough, inflammation can be decreased which will minimize scar tissue. Accidents cause spinal misalignments in the body. This distorts your structure and can cause damage to your overall health. A chiropractor can use specific adjustments to restore spinal function. This creates quicker healing time and lasting results.
Types of Injuries Caused by Car Accidents:
Whiplash
Sciatica
Shoulder Pain
Neck Pain
Headaches
Chest pain
Low Back Pain
Pain / Numbness / Tingling in Arms and Legs
Dizziness
Knee Pain
Sprains and Strains
What is Whiplash?
Neck injury due to a car accident, or whiplash is common in car accidents and can happen at high speeds or low speeds. Hyperextension, the abrupt movement of the head backwards, causes most of the damage in a whiplash injury. When the vehicle stops, your body is propelled forward, resulting in hyperflexion of the neck. The spine takes on an unnatural S shape momentarily which results in trauma to the spinal muscles, ligaments and discs. Pain from whiplash is often long lasting and can radiate into the arms and cause headaches. The spine absorbs the majority of impact during a car accident causing bruising, dislocation, or even broken vertebrae. It is important to seek medical attention right away even with the slightest of symptoms.
Fact 1: Almost one third of car accidents are rear end collisions. This type of accident causes most whiplash injuries.
Fact 2: Even minor accidents cause serious injury.
Patient Recovery
Immediately following a car accident, paramedics and medical experts are trained to look closely for head and spinal injuries which can lead to further injury or even paralysis if not handled correctly. Immobilizing the spine can prevent further injury and even save lives.
Within 24 hours of a car accident, swelling and bruising that wasn’t noticed before can become apparent, indicating soft tissue damage. Recovering from a car accident can be slow because soft tissue damage can take a long time to heal. Regular rehabilitation, gentle adjustments by a chiropractor and therapy can help significantly with the healing process and decrease discomfort. At this time, closely following the chiropractor's treatments will offer the best results.