If you have ever been involved in an automobile accident, even a minor fender bender, you know that the worse of the pain doesn't hit you until the next day. You may walk away from the accident thinking nothing is wrong, only to discover that you can barely move when you wake up the next morning. The initial shock can sometimes numb the body so that you don't really know the extent of your injuries until after the adrenaline has worn off and your body begins to return to normal.
At Sycamore Chiropractic our highest goal is to see patients of ours move easily without any sign of pain. Relieving our clients of back or neck pain is the greatest accomplishment we can succeed in. We offer high quality care for auto injury victims and long term wellness care. Additionally, to the care we provide to accident victims we also create alternatives to surgery by offering spinal decompression therapy for neck and low back injuries. At Sycamore Chiropractic, we separate ourselves from other chiropractic services by working closely with our clients to offer them our knowledge, expertise, and skills in creating a plan specific to their situation. Not all accident pain and chiropractic needs are created equal and this is why we approach each case distinct to each patient. Before making any decision come visit us for your Free Consultation and see first hand why our clients praise us!
What Happens to the Body After a Car Accident?
After an automobile accident, the body is flooded with adrenaline that can actually block pain signals to the brain. The adrenaline causes the body to prepare for a “fight or flight” situation in which it may need to use all of the energy it can muster to get out of harm's way. The muscles become extremely tense and are ready to take immediate action. This type of reaction can prevent a person from feeling the full extent of their injuries. The muscles tense, the heart races and certain bodily functions slow down to conserve as much energy as possible. It may take several hours for the body to begin functioning normally after such a traumatic experience.
What Should You Do If You Are Involved in a Car Accident?
In most cases, it is important to go to the emergency room to ensure nobody involved in the accident received any type of head trauma or internal injuries. Even if the accident was minor, it may still be beneficial to get a thorough once over at the ER. Once you get home, however, you will want to closely monitor any potential symptoms that begin to appear over time. These can include, but are not limited to:
- Headaches
- Stiff neck
- Whiplash
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Increased muscle tenderness
- Aching in the joints
- Neck and back pain
- Inflammation
Many of these symptoms may not appear for at least 24 hours after the accident. Once the shock has worn off and the nerves and other bodily functions begin to return to normal, the pain you feel may be quite severe.
Certain injuries, especially those that have to do with the musculoskeletal structure of the neck and spine may not respond to treatment immediately after an accident. Waiting one or two days until the body has had a chance to fully relax will allow you to feel the full extent of the trauma. It will also make it easier for the chiropractor or other health care professional to accurately determine the amount of extent of your injuries. It is important to closely monitor every reaction in your body after a car accident. Giving the doctor this information will help him determine what treatment options will be most beneficial for your injuries.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help with an Auto Accident Injury?
Chiropractic care treats both the muscles and the skeleton in an attempt to bring the structure of the body back into balance. An automobile accident can cause bones to shift and muscles to be pulled or overextended. When these types of injuries occur, inflammation can put pressure on the musculoskeletal structure, forcing the bones to remain out of place. Chiropractic adjustments combined with massage therapy helps to reduce inflammation and allow bones to return to their natural position. The manual manipulation of the soft tissues during a massage, strengthens and tones the muscles and provides the resiliency that helps to hold the bones where they belong. This prevents them from slipping out of place and causing more pain and discomfort. In cases, where the injury was severe, it may take two or more chiropractic adjustments to restore the bones permanently to their natural position.
What Types of Treatment Options Are Available?
Chiropractic care includes many different types of treatments. Deep tissue massage is one of the most common and goes hand in hand with adjustments to support both the muscle and bone structure. Physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises help to strengthen the body as the injury heals. These types of exercises improve range of motion, increase mobility and improve flexibility. Along with maintaining an exercise regimen to strengthen the body, vitamin counseling is also offered to make sure the patient has all of the nutrients they need as their body continues to recover. Weight management programs are also available to help the patient to control their weight during their healing period. During recovery, patients tend to not put excessive amounts of stress on the body. This can lead to weight gain, especially if they are down for several weeks.
Chiropractic care offers help to patients who may have not found success anywhere else. We treat a wide range of health conditions including headaches, chronic heart disease, poor sleep patterns, sports injuries, stroke, depression, bad posture, arthritis, and many other chronic and acute issues. We also treat chronic health conditions like arthritis, COPD and Parkinson's Disease. Residents of Hercules, California can call Sycamore Chiropractic at 510-313-4142 if they have any questions about how chiropractic care can help with injuries sustained in an automobile accident, or any other type of health problem. Call us today! We have state of the art diagnostic tools to help provide you with the most accurate diagnosis possible. Along with chiropractic adjustments, we offer a wide range of services that we can use to effective treat many of your injuries. We are here to help you get back on the road to a full recovery.
