Car accidents are serious, and being involved in one entitles you to medical attention by default. Too often, drivers end up not seeking professional care for injuries that are anything short of critical following an accident. This can lead to a multitude of negative health outcomes and have a major impact on quality of life in the long run. Even if you feel relatively fine and are experiencing minor pain or discomfort, the best thing you can do is get treatment. Pain is something that should never be ignored. Today, we’re examining some of the most important things it could be telling you–and how you can make sure its underlying causes are addressed in order to protect your well-being.
Pain Is an Alarm System
In fact, pain is your body’s most effective alarm system. It hardly ever occurs in a vacuum; pain is always there to direct your attention to an underlying injury or affliction that needs to be treated.
Because car accidents–including even the smallest fender benders–are unexpected, alarming occurrences, they can cause our bodies to enter a state of shock. This can delay pain or other symptoms of injury from appearing for hours or even days. This doesn’t make the symptoms any less pressing or important; it just means that your mind needed a moment to catch up to your body and, now that it has, it’s trying to tell you something.
Unaddressed pain can manifest in a variety of ways, ranging from inconvenient to downright dangerous. Let’s take a closer look at some of the common injuries and afflictions that can go unnoticed after a car accident (and why you should get them taken care of right away).
Common Medical Issues
Suspicions of injury or medical issues should always be addressed by a physician, no matter how unlikely they may seem or how “mild” you think your accident was. If you were in a car accident within the past few hours or days and are experiencing dizziness, confusion, memory loss, trouble staying awake, severe pain, or nausea, see a physician immediately.
Concussions
One of the most common side-effects of minor car accidents, a concussion can be difficult to spot. If you or a loved one were recently in a car accident and are experiencing dizziness, disorientation, nausea, headaches, or memory loss, it could be a sign that you have a concussion. If you suspect this, seek attention from a physician right away.
Internal Bleeding
Like concussions, internal bleeding is a fairly urgent post-accident issue that should be ruled out by a medical professional as quickly as possible. Symptoms of internal bleeding can include shortness of breath, pain or tenderness in a specific area of the body (especially the abdomen), dizziness, abdominal bruising, or nausea.
Common Chiropractic Issues
It’s always a good idea to see a doctor after an accident, if for nothing else than to rule out serious (and potentially life-threatening issues). Once that’s done, you may still be experiencing persistent pain or discomfort–especially in your muscles, joints, or bones. This is where a chiropractor can be a tremendous help.
Muscular Strain
Accidents can easily cause sprains and strains in muscle tissue. The force of even a minor crash can cause a person’s body to be abruptly pulled in a specific direction, causing all kinds of tears and strain. Working with a chiropractor through manual therapy, physical therapy, and targeted exercise plans is an effective way to treat those injuries in order to alleviate pain and bolster mobility.
Whiplash
One of the most common effects of car accidents, whiplash is notorious for the discomfort and limitations it causes. This injury, caused by a severe and sudden jerk of the head, can manifest in neck pain and stiffness, and it can last weeks or even months. Chiropractic care is a great resource to help treat whiplash by targeting the strained neck muscles in order to restore a full range of motion, reduce inflammation, and get rid of pain.
Spinal Compression or Misalignment
Spinal alignment is key to both mobility and holistic health, and it’s a common cause for various kinds of back pain. Car accidents can exacerbate the misalignment of the spine, making back pain and mobility worse. Chiropractors can use a combination of physical techniques and sophisticated machinery to promote spinal alignment and decompression, getting to the root cause of back pain and promoting pain-free mobility that lasts far beyond an accident.
Seeking care for pain or discomfort from an accident is the best thing you can do for your short-term comfort and long-term health. To learn more about how you can benefit from chiropractic treatment, schedule your first consultation with us.
