Car accidents occur on a daily basis in the U.S. and can cause a wide range of injuries. Some of these injuries are fairly minor while others can be life-threatening and require extensive treatment. Although it’s critical to go to the emergency room after a car accident, your medical care shouldn’t stop there. Many injuries can benefit from treatment from a chiropractor.
Here are several car accident injuries a chiropractor can treat:
Whiplash
Whiplash is an injury that occurs when the head and neck are quickly jolted back and forth in a car accident. This type of injury is most common in rear-end collisions. Common symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness, shoulder pain, headaches and dizziness. However, you might not experience these symptoms for several days after the accident. While whiplash might not be life-threatening, it can lead to severe pain and make it difficult to move around.
Back Pain
A car accident can also cause injuries in various parts of your back. You may experience severe pain in your back, making it difficult to complete everyday tasks. You might even struggle to get out of bed some days. While prescription pain medication can help relieve back pain, the effects don’t last forever. These medications also come with side effects and can be very addicting. Seeing a chiropractor can help treat the root cause of your back pain and help you recover faster.
Herniated Discs
The spine consists of discs that have hard exteriors and soft interiors. In a traumatic event like a car accident, the hard exterior can suffer damage, forcing the softer interior to leak out. Herniated discs can lead to pain and weakness in your arm or leg. Chiropractic adjustments can help treat herniated discs and alleviate discomfort.
Knee Injuries
If your knees hit the dashboard, seats or other objects in a vehicle during a collision, you could suffer knee injuries. These injuries can cause extreme pain in the knees and limit your movement. Without proper treatment, these injuries can lead to long-term pain and difficulty walking. A chiropractor can treat knee pain without surgery or drugs, providing long-term relief.
Chest Pain
It’s not uncommon for airbags to cause chest pain in the event of a car accident. Although this device is designed to prevent life-threatening injuries that result from car collisions, it can still result in bruising, soreness and pain in the chest area. Regular chiropractic treatments can help alleviate chest pain from a car accident.
If you suffered injuries from a car accident, you should make an appointment to see a chiropractor in Gaithersburg, MD. Your health and well-being is of the utmost importance, and a chiropractor can help you get on the road to recovery.
Thanks to AmeriWell Clinics for their insight into chiropractic care and how a chiropractor can treat a car accident injury.