Modern chiropractic care emerged just over a century ago. Now, nearly a quarter of Americans rely on this treatment, including many recovering from a car accident.
However, is seeking treatment first from a chiropractor for car accident injuries the best idea? Learn what you should consider when seeking treatment and how our experienced car accident attorneys in Riverside, CA, can support you.
What Are the Benefits of Seeing a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?
After an injury from a car accident, a chiropractor might be your preferred form of medical care. Chiropractic remedies offer various benefits.
Relieving pain
The sudden jolt of an accident is likely to throw your bones and spine out of alignment. Seeing what a high-impact crash can do to a car’s chassis, you can imagine the kind of havoc it could wreak on your musculoskeletal system.
Visiting a chiropractor after a car accident for adjustments can alleviate pain, reduce stiffness, and help you regain mobility.
Detecting and correcting underlying issues
The adrenaline surge after an accident can cause a delay in symptoms from certain injuries. Common examples are back, shoulder, neck, and spinal trauma.
A sprain or a strain can be debilitating but not result in clear symptoms to those without appropriate training. Your chiropractor might be able to identify and help you heal from the issue more rapidly.
Since the spine is your nervous system’s throughway for all communications, chiropractic treatment can assist with other health problems. You might even find that it minimizes the need for long-term medical care and the costs that come with it.
How Does Treating an Injury From a Car Accident by Chiropractor Care Compare With Other Solutions?
Seeing a chiropractor after a car accident can be part of a total wellness program for recovery. In some respects, it can be superior to other forms of treatment.
Caring for the whole self
Chiropractors focus on treating the whole body rather than distinct and disparate symptoms. Taking a piecemeal approach to health can leave you with multiple regimens and treatments that might work against each other.
Additionally, chiropractors often pay attention to more than just your physical health. Many of them look at how physical factors play a role in emotional and mental well-being. Treating an injury from a car accident with chiropractic care can lead to a more balanced recovery program.
Avoiding unnecessary medication
Many patients have valid concerns about overmedicating. Common worries are the potential for addiction or side effects that diminish quality of life.
Chiropractic treatment is a method of minimizing pain so that you don’t have to resort to medication. If you have concerns about using pharmaceuticals, working with a chiropractor after a car accident can be a feasible alternative.
Should You Immediately Go to a Chiropractor for Car Accident Injuries?
While chiropractors are trained professionals, they are typically not the best option for immediate medical attention after a crash. Chiropractors are not medical doctors and do not deal with internal medicine; therefore, they have limitations on the services they can offer.
Seeing a physician for your first examination after an accident is the preferred option. That doctor can then advise you as to whether chiropractic care could help. At that point, you could choose to see a chiropractor for additional examinations, a second opinion, or additional documentation to support your case.
It’s important that you work with a medical doctor who respects your right to select your preferred treatments, including chiropractic care. If you need help finding a physician willing to coordinate treatment with a chiropractor after your car accident, talk to us at The JLF Firm for recommendations.
What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash That a Chiropractor Can Treat?
The force of a car accident can cause abrupt back-and-forth movement of your head, overextending the muscles and tendons in your neck. This action causes whiplash, which medical professionals might refer to as a cervical sprain, a neck sprain or strain, or cervical acceleration-deceleration.
Doctors often have difficulty diagnosing this condition because it does not show on imaging tests. Much of their recommendations will stem from the symptoms you report. Be sure to mention any signs of:
- Neck, back, or shoulder pain
- Headaches, dizziness, nausea, or fatigue
- Stiffness in your neck, back, or shoulders
- Numb extremities
Working with a chiropractor after a car accident could directly address these issues and provide relief.
Can You Recover Compensation for Chiropractic Treatment After a Riverside Car Accident?
Yes, you can get compensation for chiropractic treatment after a car accident in California. These services are part of the damages you can recover as long as they are treating injuries you sustained during the car accident.
Carefully document any treatment you receive while settling your claim and obtain reliable estimates for future care.
We’ll help you determine those figures as we negotiate your case with the insurance company or defendants.
Contact Our Riverside, CA, Lawyer for Counsel Before You See a Chiropractor After a Car Accident
You have every right to seek care from a chiropractor after a car accident. Ensure you handle things in the right order and file your claims correctly. Our team at The JLF Firm can assist you, so contact us for a free consultation to learn more.