After a car accident, one of the most important things you can do is make sure your injuries are treated so you can make as complete a recovery as possible and return to your daily life. Even if you don’t feel pain after an accident, it’s still vital to seek care immediately because some injuries are known to remain hidden for the first few days or weeks after an accident. Depending on the extent of those injuries, they may worsen over time or cause irreversible damage. Here’s how a chiropractor can help.

Seeing a Chiropractor after a car accident inforgraphic

Seek Treatment Immediately

It goes without saying that the sooner you seek treatment for your auto accident injuries, the sooner you can begin (and complete) the chiropractic care you need. But in addition to getting better, there are certain insurance requirements with very short timelines and other details that you need to consider before deciding to delay your trip to the chiropractor.

In Florida, you have to seek treatment for your car accident injuries within 14 days in order to have the treatment covered by your PIP insurance. The sooner you go, the better your chances are of having your PIP insurance coverage approved by your insurance provider. Additionally, if you were in a serious accident and plan on suing the other driver(s) involved, your lawyer will have a better chance of getting you the settlement you deserve if you see one or more medical professionals within the first 72 hours immediately following the accident.

Whiplash

Whiplash occurs when your neck experiences strain caused by a sudden force, such as the force you experience if you are rear-ended. In part because the head is not restrained by the seat belt, whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries we see. Symptoms of whiplash can include:

  • Pain and stiffness in the neck
  • Limited motion of the neck and head, accompanied by pain
  • Tenderness around the neck
  • Headaches that extend from the base of the head to the forehead

The symptoms of whiplash can take several days or longer to appear. Even if you are not in immediate pain, it’s important to see a car accident chiropractor within the first few days of your accident so they can assess your injuries and begin your treatment before your pain gets worse.

Herniated Discs

A disc in your spine can become herniated when it ruptures and the soft inner filling of the disc escapes the hard outer case. When this filling reaches a nearby nerve, it causes pain that is often described as severe. The symptoms of a herniated disc can include:

  • Pain in the arm or leg, often severe
  • Shooting pain when you cough, sneeze, or move certain ways
  • Numbness or tingling around the affected nerve
  • Weakness in the muscles served by the affected nerve

If left untreated, herniated discs can cause lingering pain for years—or even a lifetime—after a car accident. If you have back pain after a car accident, it’s vital that you seek chiropractic care as soon as possible.

Other Soft Tissue Injuries

While whiplash and herniated discs are two of the most common injuries caused by car accidents, there are other soft tissue injuries to be aware of as well, such as those of the middle and lower back. In addition to the location of the injury, soft tissue injuries can affect the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that are controlled by the injured area.

Accident and Injury Chiropractic

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s important to seek treatment for your injuries as soon as possible so you can ensure your injuries do not worsen and begin the healing process. The compassionate and experienced staff at Accident and Injury Clinics are here to help. Call 386-492-7931 to schedule your first appointment.