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!