When Should You See a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?

If you've just been in a car accident and you're suffering from neck and/or back injury, you may be wondering how soon you can see a chiropractor after a car accident. Keep Reading for more information.

The average person is involved in anywhere from three to four car accidents over the course of their lifetime. While sometimes, these accidents are nothing more than minor fender benders, in other cases, they can be quite serious. Even if you feel like you didn't sustain an immediate injury due to the accident, you might notice that you're feeling pain or strain in the days following the collision. This pain is something that you need to take seriously -- and often, something that you'll need a professional to help you diagnose and manage. So, when should you see a chiropractor after a car accident? Keep on reading this post to find out. Remember that a car accident chiropractor isn't just essential when it comes to putting you on the road to healing. They can also provide valuable medical evidence that you can present in court or to your insurance company. You Notice Persistent Back Pain The first sign that you need to visit a chiropractor after a car accident? If you have persistent back pain that's way beyond what you normally experience on a daily basis. In addition to the severity of the pain, you also need to take its location into consideration. When you're in a car accident, the whiplash from the moment of impact itself, as well as pulling from your seat belt or even an airbag, can actually force your spine out of the proper alignment. In some cases, this whiplash may even result in a pinched nerve. This pinched nerve is likely what's causing the higher level of pain, and it's a sure signal of when to see a chiropractor. The chiropractor can adjust your spine's alignment in order to get your spine back in good health. They may also be able to refer you to a spine surgeon if the injury is especially severe. You Can't Feel Anything Sometimes, you need to make an appointment with a car accident chiropractor because you can't feel anything in your back, neck, and spine at all. You might think that this is a good thing, or a sign that you didn't sustain any injuries at all from your car accident. However, what this really means is that the joints in your back were pushed so far out of alignment at the moment of impact, that they've pressed down the nerves in your spine and joints. While sometimes, these pinched nerves can cause extreme pain, in other cases, they cause you to go numb. If you notice a lack of feeling in your back or neck, you need to seek treatment immediately. Your Back Is Stiff Especially as we age, we all deal with feelings of stiffness in our upper back area. However, if you notice an increased feeling of stiffness after an auto accident -- and if the stiffness doesn't go away after a few days -- you need to visit an auto accident chiropractic clinic. This stiffness, like some of the other issues mentioned in this post, is usually the result of whiplash. While, yes, much of the stiffness associated with whiplash will be located in your neck, many people fail to realize that it can quickly travel to other parts of your body as well. In some cases, this stiffness may even spread to your arms and shoulders. If you don't seek the proper treatment for your whiplash and stiffness, you need to know that it will only get worse over time. If you wait for too long, you could end up doing irreversible damage to your body. So, make an appointment as soon as possible after you first notice the symptoms. You Have Limited Mobility Have you noticed that you seem to have lost some of your range of motion in the days after a car accident? Do you have trouble bending down to the floor to pick up things? Have you noticed that you have pain when you sit, walk, or work out for short periods of time? If so, this is likely due to an injury from your car accident. It's a sign that the alignment of your back and neck has been thrown off by the force of the impact. This happens because the discs within your back and spine have actually shifted -- and it's something that you need to take seriously. In some cases, a serious loss of mobility may mean that your joints have actually become displaced. Other Signs of a Problem Sometimes, the signs that it's time to see a chiropractor after a car accident aren't always so obvious. If you notice that you're experiencing a tingling sensation in your legs and lower back, make an appointment. The same thing goes if you notice that your abs are incredibly sore, or that your legs feel much weaker than usual. If you also have a fever or nausea with your back pain, you may need to see a doctor at once. This could be a sign of a concussion or of something much more serious. Need to see a Chiropractor After a Car Accident? We hope that this post has helped you to understand when to see a chiropractor after a car accident. When you make an appointment with a chiropractor after a car accident, you'll also be able to avoid going to the hospital -- and the hefty fees that go along with it. Additionally, you likely won't need a referral to make your appointment. This means that you'll be able to get treatment and relief much more quickly. Of course, your healing depends on the quality of the care that you receive. When you're ready to work with the best, reach out to us to schedule an appointment. We can't wait to help to put you on the road to recovery.