Being in a car accident is one of the scariest things that can happen to anyone. It takes a toll on your physical and emotional being, and experts say that many people who are injured in an accident don’t know it. There are some injuries that will not affect you right away, and you will feel like you are okay. However, there are some signs that show you need to get checked as soon as possible. A chiropractor can help you after an accident where you didn’t have a noticeable injury.
If you are even in a car crash, then you need to go to the hospital as soon as possible to make sure you don’t have internal bleeding or a concussion. When you get out of the hospital, even if you feel like you are fine, you have to pay attention to the signs your body is showing. Check out this list and if you notice any of these symptoms, you have to book an appointment with a chiropractor right away.
1. Pain
If you were in a crash, it is expected to be in some pain the first days after the accident. If you were wearing a seatbelt, that saved your life, but sometimes they can cause bruising on your upper body.
So, even though some moderate pain is normal after an incident, that pain should get better by the day. If you notice that you are feeling worse and that things are hurting more every day, you need to book an appointment as soon as you can.
No matter where the pain is located, you should not risk things and take OTC medicine to make yourself feel better. The medications are just a temporary solution, and your pain will get worse, so you should get checked. The chiropractor can examine where your pain is coming from, and sometimes, if you have pain in one region of your body, it may mean that something else has been injured. Don’t wait until it is too late, and if you are in pain more than a few days after the collision, book an appointment.
2. Stiffness
Stiffness is one of the most common occurrences after a collision. But it is definitely not something that should be ignored. If you notice that your upper body is stiffed, especially your neck, upper back, or shoulders, you need to contact a professional right away.
Sometimes that stiffness can occur just a day or two after the incident, and in some cases, it can occur after a week or two. Just because some time has passed since the accident, it does not mean that your pain or stiffness is not related.
When the chiropractor works with and on you, they will be able to realign the spine and help you out with any possible discomfort or pain you are feeling. This will help you sleep better, work without being in constant pain and you won’t feel like you are carrying the world on your shoulders all the time.
3. Inflammation
Inflammation is the most common occurrence after a collision. The reason for this is that the body sends the white cells to the place that was injured. Even though this will help you get better, the whole process is painful and uncomfortable. According to hinojosachiropractic.com, an accident chiropractor can help with your whole state of wellbeing, and they can help you recover fast after the collision.
The professional will help reduce the inflammation and they will help you heal faster without putting pressure on your body and organism. A part of the treatment involves stretching the ligaments that will help them heal better and relieve soft tissue pain.
4. Numbness or Tingling
When you are in an accident, no matter how small or big it is, some of the impact is absorbed directly by your body. When the collision is harder and faster, then some of your joints may be moved out of place, which can cause the nerves to compress.
When a nerve is pinched, it may lead to feelings of pain, numbness, or tingling. In some rare cases, these things will pass on their own when you move your body, however, more often than not, you need a professional who will help you out with that numbness.
You should not ignore these symptoms, because they can lead to serious nerve damage. On the same note, you should not try to realign joints on your own or put pressure on your body by working out and hoping that everything will fall back into place. You may do serious damage to yourself and your body, so it is better not to risk it.
5. Headaches
This is another symptom that you should never ignore. If you have constant headaches, or if they occur more often after you experienced the car collision, then you should get checked right away. The reason for this may be a pinched nerve in your neck, and sometimes it may mean that you injured your spine. In most cases, this is something that can be fixed without an issue, but if you ignore the sign, it may lead to serious complications.
The professional will be able to diagnose you and see if you are in need of medical help, or if things can be fixed by the chiropractor. They will realign your spine, or they will do a treatment that will help ease the nerves.
Experts suggest that you should see a chiropractor after an accident, no matter if you are in pain or not. Sometimes you may miss the signs, and when they appear, it may be too late. Even if you have an injury, everything can be fixed with ease if you act as soon as possible. So, no matter how serious the accident was, you should contact a professional. Sometimes even the lightest crashes can lead to serious injuries, so it is better to stay safe than to risk your overall health, wellbeing, and productiveness.
