Charlotte drivers ask: I have been in an accident, now what

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You have been in an accident, now what

If you have been in an accident and are wondering what to do next, a good idea is to get checked out by your Charlotte NC chiropractor. Research over the past several years has shown that low impact collisions can, and often do, cause debilitating injuries. The most common auto accident injury is whiplash, or neck injuries. Tests showed that whiplash can result from sudden changes of speed as low as 2.5 mph. Minor back injuries also can be sustained in low impact collisions.

Your cervical spine is not a car bumper

Thanks to industry standards, car bumpers are made to withstand collisions at 5 mph without damage. The human body, however, can sustain serious damage at any speed. Whatever impact the car bumper does not absorb in a car crash, the occupant inside the vehicle does. Many forms of neck, back, and other spinal injuries can cause problems for years to come if left unidentified and untreated. While some injuries do heal with scar tissue on their own, most result in recurring headaches, neck pain, stiffness, chronic muscle tension and spasms, lower back pain, or spinal disc degeneration from damages from the collision. Old back injuries are known to contribute to arthritis and to sore, tight or inflexible muscles. Untreated damage regularly leads to poor posture or improper use of biomechanics, thereby creating a greater risk of repeat back or neck injury.

Why seeking chiropractic care helps with auto accident injuries

Consulting a chiropractor is always a smart move after having a car accident. Be sure to listen to the advice your chiropractor gives you. You have already taken the first step in healing: seeking healthcare from a musculoskeletal expert who is best able to determine how much damage your body has sustained, and design an effective treatment for a full recovery. Healing can often be a time-consuming process, and your treatment plan will likely include multiple visits. Be sure you do not miss any of your treatments!  An important aspect of the treatment design is re-establishing conditions for healing within your body. It is vital that you not stop treatments as soon as immediate pain has been relieved.

Whiplash a deceptive accident injury

Whiplash is caused by an abrupt backward -forward or side-to-side jerking motion of the head, often as a result of a car accident or unexpected blow from behind or the side. Tissue damage from this type of injury is easily missed or underrated in a routine emergency room examination. However, whiplash symptoms of neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, fatigue, anxiety, lower back pain or jaw pain can take days or weeks to develop fully. The best solution is to see a well-qualified chiropractor in Charlotte NC to help restore normal movement in your spinal joints, relieve muscle spasm, and encourage proper healing of tendons and ligaments to prevent long term consequences of whiplash.

So, you have been in an accident, now what? Contact your Charlotte chiropractor to make sure your body has its best chance to heal. In addition to obtaining drug-free pain relief after your accident, you can restore your body to full motion, which is the key to a healthful life. Call today. Answer your own question: I have been in an accident, now what.