Injuries resulting from auto accidents respond extremely well to chiropractic treatments. There is often a great deal of anxiety and misunderstanding following an accident. Patients typically don’t realize that our office will work with their insurance company or attorney to keep them from having to make out of pocket payments during what is often a financially stressful time.
Hopefully the information below will guide you toward the necessary treatment. Call our office at 281-332-3428 if you have questions about treatment.
When will pain occur
After being involved in a motor vehicle accident there is a misconception that any pain caused by the accident should occur directly after the accident. While this may be true for broken bones or cuts caused by the accident, soft tissue injuries may present differently. Soft tissue includes structures such as muscle, ligaments, fascia, and tendons. Soft tissue injury timelines fall into one of three categories:
- Pain within 1 to 2 hours after the accident typically once the adrenaline rush has subsided
- Pain with 24-48 hours
- Pain and headaches, 1 to 2 weeks after the accident occurs
There can also be neurological side effects from a motor vehicle accident as well. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Trouble Concentrating
- Memory loss
- Dizziness
- Trouble speaking/finding right word
- Feel in a “fog”
- Muscle Weakness
- Numbness
- Light-headedness
- Fatigue
- Headaches
Whiplash or Sprain/Strain
The most frequent injury resulting from motor vehicle accidents are sprains and sprains. Sprains are a tearing of ligaments, and strains are a tearing of muscles in any part of your body. The most frequently torn muscles are those surrounding the neck and low back. However, it is very likely to get sprains in the ankle, knee, elbow and shoulder as a result of motor vehicle accidents. The term whiplash usually refers specifically to the neck and is a hyperextension or hyperflexion injury of neck soft tissue. Depending on how you were hit your neck is thrown forward or backwards at high rate of speed causing injury.
Many patients who receive a sprain/strain are treated initially by their primary care physician, prescribed medication, and advised that pain should resolve within 6 to 8 weeks. While this is often true, frequently a more hands-on approach, like chiropractic, will result in decreased pain at an earlier stage. This can lead to decrease loss of work and a greater ability to function through normal activities such as taking care of your children and taking care of yourself. Active care in the form of specific exercises will also reduce the chance of re-injury at a later date.
Don’t take chances with an auto accident injury, don’t wait, you should get help today. Call our office at 281-332-3428 Today!