Automobile accidents are often unexpected events that happen within an instant and can leave lasting impacts. Even in minor accidents, serious injuries can occur such as soft tissue sprains, head injuries, and whiplash. Symptoms and signs may occur immediately or several days after the incident. When your body relaxes from the tense altercation may notice soreness, pain, and discomfort that may not have been present immediately after the accident. Fortunately, chiropractic care has proven effective in helping to restore the function of your musculoskeletal and nervous system without invasive methods or pain medication.
What Happens During an Accident?
During an accident, the musculoskeletal system within your body can be knocked out of alignment by just the force of the impact, causing various symptoms such as neck and back pain. Depending on the severity of the accident, other injuries may occur.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common injury in motor vehicle accidents and occurs when the head is suddenly and violently forced into various directions. The sudden “whipping” motion destabilizes the spine and can injure the surrounding and supporting tissues of the neck and head such as the joints, muscles, nerves, soft tissues, and spinal discs. Muscles react by tightening and contracting, creating muscle fatigue, which can result in severe pain, muscle and joint stiffness, and limited mobility.
Common symptoms of whiplash may include:
- Back pain
- Blurred vision
- Decreased range of the motion in the neck
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Muscle stiffness
- Neck pain
- Numbness that extends from the neck down to your arms and hands
- Poor concentration and memory retention
- Ringing in your ears
- Shoulder pain
How We Can Help
When the body sustains sudden and jarring trauma, soft tissues such as joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons can be violently compressed, stretched, and torn. Though traditional medication may provide immediate pain relief, it does not offer a long-term solution to pain management or help to restore neuromusculoskeletal mobility and function after an injury.
As chiropractic physicians, our goal is to assist your body in healing itself by focusing on reducing inflammation and pain along with especially restoring neuromusculoskeletal function. We can also use massage techniques or machine-assisted methods to help reduce any, inflammation, pain, or discomfort you may be experiencing. We can also recommend certain exercises to help improve mobility, strength, and endurance.
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in an auto accident, it is important to seek prompt care to best avoid any lingering discomfort or damage from the trauma. By seeking early care and treatment, the sooner you can begin the road to recovery and have a safe and full recovery with minimal complications. For more information on how we can help after an accident or to schedule an appointment, contact Westside Chiropractic LLC today.