How Massage Therapy Helps With Post Car Accident Recovery

Even if you are not wounded in a car accident, it can be extremely distressing. You have paperwork, repairs, and insurance claims to deal with, and all of that worry might overshadow a little neck soreness or a minor headache. Receiving massage treatment after a car accident may make a big difference in how you feel a week, month, or even a year afterward.

Your insurance company may cover massage therapy.

Personal injury protection may be included in your insurance policy (PIP). This coverage implies that your insurance will pay for a certain amount of medical services to treat your injuries after an accident. Massage therapy may be covered if you haven't used all of your coverage for other services.

Of course, insurance coverage and policies vary dramatically from state to state. If you are in a collision with another motorist and that driver is at fault, their insurance may pay for your massage treatment or other services. If you’re in a no-fault state, then your insurance will likely be the one to cover any massage therapy treatment (and they may seek to be reimbursed by the at-fault party, but we’ll leave that for them to figure out). Contacting your insurance company is the best method to determine if massage therapy is covered. Its staff will be able to inform you if the cost is covered and if any other conditions, such as a physician's prescription, apply.

Emotional stability through massage

Some people have a tough time dealing with a car accident, even if they haven’t suffered any major injuries. The thought of going to a car accident repair shop, dealing with insurance adjusters, being carless for a period of time, or, in extreme cases, going to court to give testimony can be very stressful.

After an accident, the expense, the paperwork, and the insurance companies can create a great deal of stress and anxiety. Massage therapy is a great way to reduce stress and may aid in balancing one’s emotions.

One of the most significant benefits of massage therapy is that it can take the focus away from your physical injuries and onto the physical sensations of touch. Instead of thinking about the stress and pain you're feeling, you get to focus on how your session and the quality of your therapist’s work. 

Physical touch releases feel-good hormones.

Touch stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone of love and bonding, and endorphins, which are called the 'feel good' hormones.

In many ways, stress is one of the most common aftereffects of a car accident. It's no wonder It's difficult to relax - since you're likely dealing with lots of paperwork, doctor's visits, and physical pain from an injury. Massage therapy offers a chance to get the relaxing, caring touch you need to de-stress.

If you've hurt your back in an accident, then massage after a car accident may help with some of the pain and inflammation you may be experiencing. A massage therapist will use a variety of gentle strokes, modalities, and techniques to relax your muscles and help alleviate that tension. 

Massage therapy may help in the treatment of concussions.

Massage therapy may be beneficial if you get a concussion in a motor vehicle accident, either immediately or in the days and weeks that follow. Massage techniques that are meant to enhance your parasympathetic nervous system are especially beneficial for people who have had a concussion or are suffering issues as a result of a concussion.

Massage treatment helps with muscle aches or pains in general

If you're in pain after an auto accident and you're not sure what to do, massage therapy can be a great starting point! Keep in mind though, that some therapists and clinics may require you to be cleared by your doctor first, before receiving any deep tissue or injury treatment massage. While it doesn't take the place of other medical treatments, it sure can help you relax, alleviate some of that stress and pain you may be going through, and even help you recover from your post-MVC injuries. Massage therapy probably isn’t going to be your sole treatment plan if you’ve been injured in a car accident, but it does pair amazingly well with chiropractic treatment.

Massage therapy is one step you can take towards a full recovery. It can help increase blood and oxygen flow throughout the body and provides a therapeutic relaxation that few other treatments can offer.

Conclusion

A massage is a great way to relieve the tension you've built up after a crash. It's also a great way to get some relaxation and put your mind at ease as you deal with injuries, stress, and other aftereffects of the accident.

Are you looking for a car accident chiropractor? Accident and Injury Care Chiropractic and Massage auto accident treatment specialists in Seattle and Portland can utilize chiropractic and massage care. Get in touch with us today!

How Long Should I Wait until I Go to a Chiropractor

There are several first-aid solutions you should do immediately after being in a car accident:

• First and foremost, make sure you seek medical attention. 

• Depending on the apparent severity of the injuries, this may look like:

  • Calling an ambulance if you need immediate medical attention 

  • Going to a hospital/E.R. or urgent care center

  • Following-up with your medical visit by visiting a chiropractic clinic to determine the extent of your injuries and receive proper treatment. 

Many times, after the initial impact of a crash, you won’t feel any pain until after a couple of hours or even a few days following. 

Even the best car accident lawyers say some of the most common injuries are whiplash and internal bleeding, which may not produce immediate pain symptoms, but can still cause severe damage and need immediate treatment. 

Sometimes, it's preferable to visit urgent care rather than the emergency room; urgent care is equipped to treat injuries and will often be the first stop for people who have been in a car accident.

Visiting a chiropractic clinic that specializes in auto accident treatment can always complement other medical treatment plans, because an accident-focused chiropractor can help determine whether you need chiropractic care or injury-treatment massage, and help offer additional guidance and self-care even if chiro or massage care is not indicated for you at that time.

What to Do in a Major Auto Accident

If your injuries from a car crash cannot wait, you can go to the emergency room. You will get immediate care, but the same treatment can be found at a primary care doctor's office in many cases. Call first and make sure they treat your specific injuries before heading over. 

Also, remember that not all primary care doctors can treat auto accident injuries; this is often due to how medical offices are set up and the kinds of insurance they take.

Should You Visit a Chiropractic Clinic Immediately?

You’ll want to visit a chiropractic clinic if you have any kind of back or neck pain following an accident. However, if your injuries or discomfort seem severe enough, and you can’t wait to schedule a chiropractic appointment, visit a hospital, urgent care clinic, or an emergency room as soon as possible. Remember, in all 50 states a chiropractor is a primary doctor and does not need a referral to be seen. So even if you see another medical professional and they don’t refer you for chiropractic care, you can be proactive with your own treatment and come visit for an assessment. 

Now, let’s dig even deeper regarding when to see a chiropractor after your accident.

How Long Should You Take Before Visiting a Chiropractic Clinic?

Don't wait to see a chiropractor if you’re diagnosed with whiplash-related injuries soon after an auto accident. You may wait weeks or months – by which time your symptoms could worsen quite a bit. Some insurance companies cover chiropractic clinic treatment after a car accident, and, if you’re working with an injury attorney, your attorney will handle the paperwork in most cases. 

In any case, having your pain and injuries treated as quickly as possible is most important.

Getting treated for whiplash or receiving any other spinal care from a chiropractic clinic can significantly reduce the chance of further injuring your neck or back later on. The process of healing your back and neck is a slow and steady one. Which is why it's so important to follow a solid treatment plan set forth by your chiropractor. If you don’t, you may experience much worse pain later on.

The synergistic combination of massage therapy and chiropractic treatment often leads to better recovery, lower residual side-effects from your injury, more mobility, and less pain than receiving one of those treatments alone.

What Is Whiplash?

This type of injury is caused by your neck bending forcibly forward and then backward or vice versa. The injury involves the muscles, discs, nerves, and tendons, and even fascial tissue in your neck. 

This often poorly understood syndrome usually causes pain and stiffness throughout your neck region, which is why more specialized care from a chiropractic clinic addresses the entire affected area. As you’ll see in a bit, this syndrome negatively impacts your head and shoulders too, but can ultimately affect your entire body and overall quality of life.

Whiplash symptoms that chiropractors can address in your treatment include:

• Blurred vision

• Burning or tingling sensations in the upper back and neck

• Constant headaches

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Pain in the back, arms, or shoulders

• Stiffness and soreness in the back and neck

Have a Great Chiropractic Visit

Chiropractors are one of the best lines of defense to treat injuries stemming from car accidents. Upon visiting a chiropractor for the first time after your accident, you will receive a physical examination and have X-rays taken, if the exam deems it necessary. You often won’t receive any spinal adjustments until your follow-up appointment; which only contributes to it being a safe way to properly recover from auto accidents, especially when dealing with severe or chronic injuries from an MVA.

Get post-accident care from Accident and Injury Care today! We’re a chiropractic clinic with locations in Portland and Seattle that utilizes chiropractic and massage care coupled with rehabilitation exercises and spinal decompression. Contact us to learn more and schedule a visit!

Why It’s Important to Visit a Chiropractor after an Accident

Most people don’t get a medical check after a road accident. As long as they don’t have any visible concussion or wound, they’d proceed to handle the legal and insurance matters of the collision and not think about their physical well-being.  

The truth is that being involved in a car accident could cause serious injuries, even if you don't show any symptoms of one. Here are a few medical issues that could be brought about by a motor vehicle or bicycle accident:

• Your spine could have taken the brunt of the impact.

• You may have neck, back, or muscle injuries and not even know it.

• You may be suffering from a brain injury in silence. 

With that said, you must visit a chiropractor who specializes in accident treatment as soon as possible. They can make an initial diagnosis and inform you of your injuries. For instance, a thorough check up could help you discover that you have a whiplash injury or a pulled muscle.

An accident-specialist chiropractor will determine whether or not you need further medical care for your injuries. A checkup will also help you rule out any long-term damage you might develop due to the collision. Now, in case you were thinking of brushing off this advice, please take the time to read to the end.

Was the Collision Extensive?

You had a medical checkup, and the physician cleared you from serious injuries, but you still feel pain; what do you do? You should visit an accident chiropractor immediately. Your discomfort may be due to a pinched muscle or sprained joint. In this case, seeing a chiropractor for your accident could help ensure that your injury is treated correctly.

A chiropractor will do a thorough assessment and determine the extent of your injuries and determine an appropriate treatment plan that’s right for you. If they find that you may need additional medical care for your injuries, they can either refer you to someone or give you more info to bring to your medical provider.

How Much Pain Are You In?

This question is essential in determining what to do next. If you are in too much pain to function normally, you should see an accident-focused chiropractor. Please note that pain is your body’s way of telling you that you have an injury. 

Never ignore your body’s warning signs! If you neglect your pain and it gets worse, you may end up suffering from more severe injuries that can lead to chronic aches and pains. The best way to handle this is to get a checkup and follow-up treatment even if you do not have visible injuries.

Have You Seen a Specialist?

Let us say that you had a medical checkup and the physician cleared you from serious injuries, but you still feel pain. That is a prime example of when to visit an auto accident and injury treatment chiropractor immediately. You may have undiagnosed injuries that an accident-specialized chiropractor could identify and make sure they’re properly treated.

Conclusion

Going for a chiropractic checkup after an accident can help you avoid further injury. If a physician has cleared you after a medical checkup, you can still go to an accident chiropractor. That’s because there are instances where you may not have sustained severe injuries, but you may still be feeling pain that the right chiropractor could help you with.

Reach out to us if you need an accident and injury care chiropractor! We are a team of chiropractors and massage therapists that specialize in accident care, so you can depend on us to tend to your medical needs. Send us a message to find out more!

6 Advantages of Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident

Experiencing a car collision and the aftermath that comes with it is excruciating. Aside from the emotional trauma, there are plenty of physical injuries and pain that you can be dealing with, even if you've gone through the accident for what feels like ages ago. It's important to seek the correct type of care that will assist your healing.

Chiropractic care is often a given for many car accident victims to try out, due to its reputation of helping several body issues and providing relief through massages, adjustments, and more. This is done by combining chiropractic techniques with complementary therapies, like massage, and an accommodating treatment plan that targets your pain levels.

If you aren't convinced, here are some good advantages of getting chiropractic care after a car accident:

1) Relieve Neck and Back Pain

One of the most severe effects of car accidents is the tension, pain, and discomfort experienced in the neck and back. Many people don't pay much attention to these parts of the body and just let them get worse.

Chiropractic care helps get rid of pain from these parts of the body. In fact, going through regular sessions with an experienced specialist can help you prevent any future post-accident pains that you'll experience.

2) Minimize Medications

At any rate, chiropractic care is utilized as a form of alternative medicine. Since it doesn't involve the use of medications and or surgeries, chiropractic care is often recommended to those who are suffering intense pain due to a car crash.

Its reputation as alternative medicine is because chiropractic care tends to focus more on taking care of the whole body and promoting better health. This is done by focusing on the parts of the body that are affected by pain.

3) Decrease Inflammation

Chiropractic care can minimize inflammation, which is highly advantageous when dealing with an injury that causes the surrounding skin to swell up and become inflamed. In these instances, a chiropractor can help you decrease the swelling and flush out the affected area. They will provide you with specific relief techniques to execute too.

4) Attain Mobility Again

If your mobility is affected after a car accident, especially if the accident caused any damage to your spine, a chiropractor can assist you in regaining the mobility you once had. They'll regularly examine any existing problems with your spine and other body parts to create a treatment plan for your posture and mobility.

5) Treat Headaches

When you constantly suffer from your neck or back after a car accident, you're bound to lose lots of sleep at night and get headaches during the day. This doesn't just affect your mood, but it makes it harder to go through everyday life. Chiropractic care can help relieve the tension in your body, treating and stopping headaches.

6) Gain Relaxation

Since chiropractic care includes spinal adjustments, some people find that the process of being adjusted and massaged can provide a sense of relaxation and calmness. Thus, it can help alleviate mental stress and even aid those who are going through a lot of emotional stress due to the accident.

Conclusion

As you can tell, chiropractic care is a great way to treat your physical and mental damages after a car accident. It is not just a form of alternative medicine, but it also offers many benefits if you're going through a lot of pain.

Looking for a car accident chiropractor? Accident and Injury Care Chiropractic and Massage  auto accident treatment specialists in Seattle and Portland can utilize chiropractic and massage care. Get in touch with us today!

Congrats to Wendy Rose Acorn on being selected to the Regence Panel!

Very exciting news within the company that our Seattle Massage Therapist, Wendy Rose, has been chosen to be on the Regence Blue Shield of Washington panel. This is an honor as we all know it can be difficult to find massage therapy in Seattle sometimes that can take Regence insurance. Wendy is available Monday through Thursday in our new hybrid facility for Regence insurance and if a referral is needed, patient's can schedule with our Seattle Chiropractor, Dr. Kevin Martin for this. As always, we're excited to continue to grow this facility into one of the premier chiropractic and gym facilities in the Pacific Northwest!

Weekend Seminar Highlights

Dr. Probasco and I spent our Saturday at the Washington Personal Injury Summit 2021 hosted by the Washington State Chiropractic Association ( https://www.chirohealth.org ) and Seattle Injury Law ( https://seattleinjurylaw.com/ ).  These gatherings are always a great way to catch up with peers and touch on advancements in the world of medicine - in this case, related to treating injuries related to auto accidents.  

Not only was it a great reminder of how effective chiropractic care, massage care, and rehabilitation medicine is for these injuries, but we also got to hear what some of our local Medical Doctors are doing to advance the care in the most serious cases.  We spent time listening and talking with the Doctors from Seattle Spine and Sports ( http://seattlespine.com/ ) and Washington Orthopedic Spine & Injury Center ( https://washingtonorthopedicspineandinjurycenter.com/ ) about their treatments related to spinal disc injuries, facet injuries and even diagnosis for chronic pain.  

Current treatments we most commonly refer out for range from regenerative injections such as Prolotherapy or PRP for various sprains to epidural injections for sciatica related pain and even, when necessary, surgery for sprains or injuries such as rotator cuff tears.  Maintaining these relationships is key to referring our patients for any additional care they may need as quickly as possible.  And as always, Center for Diagnostic Imaging ( https://www.mycdi.com/ ) was present with updated referrals pads whenever we need X-rays, MRI’s or other diagnostic or treatment options.  With all the advances continually happening in medicine, it makes us proud to be a part of such a bigger medical ‘team’ that’s been created in the Puget Sound.  In the end, we’re all excited to care for our patients and it’s a great time to be a Chiropractor!

Kevin Martin, DC