Even though you may feel fine following a car accident, you could have sustained injuries such as whiplash that may not surface for hours or even days after the crash.

Chiropractors specialize in addressing the pain and discomfort that often stems from a car accident. Even relatively minor, low-speed collisions can create long-term damage if left untreated.

Here are some reasons why visiting a chiropractor after a car accident is a good idea.

Insurance Usually Covers Your Visit

Following an accident, it’s a good idea to get checked out by a chiropractor even if you do not feel any pain.  Even if your medical insurance doesn’t cover the visit, automotive insurance probably will.

Although it is impossible to know whether your insurance company will or will not cover chiropractic visits without speaking with them, the benefits of chiropractic care are often much less expensive for insurance companies than years of prescription medication and possible surgery.

Chiropractors specialize in realigning bones that may have moved or slightly misplaced due to injury to muscles and ligaments attaching to them during your accident. Chiropractic care can help injuries to ligaments and muscles heal as best possible, leaving you with the best chance of a full recovery.

Safety

Chiropractic care is a 100% natural and noninvasive medical treatment. Professional chiropractors go through years of training and must abide by state licensing requirements to practice legally.

As long as your chiropractor is a licensed professional, there is little risk when visiting your chiropractor after an accident. Even children can benefit from a chiropractic exam following an accident.

No Medications or Potential Side Effects

The word chiropractic means “done by the hand.” It is a manual therapeutic treatment that does not rely on medication for effectiveness. Although painkillers (OTC or prescription) can provide temporary relief of symptoms caused by whiplash or other accident related injuries, chiropractic care addresses the cause instead of simply covering up the pain.

Many medications can also have adverse side effects ranging from an upset stomach to much more serious conditions. Chiropractic care eliminates the possibility of these side effects to you or members of your family who experience pain or discomfort after an accident.

Traditional Medicine May Miss an Injury

Following your accident, you may experience pain immediately. However, even if you feel fine, you may have been injured by the impact.

There could be underlying soft tissue damage that may manifest itself as a painful ailment down the road. Current x-ray technology cannot detect soft tissue injuries. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be used, but this is expensive and often not practical if a patient is not complaining of pain.

A chiropractor can often uncover soft tissue injuries that may go unnoticed by medical doctors because of the specialized training in finding these spinal injuries and misalignments.

Less Invasive

You won’t have to worry about surgery when you visit the chiropractor. Instead of using scalpels, chiropractic professionals use the precision force of their hands to properly align joints following an automobile accident.  No patient should ever undergo surgery for a back or neck complaint without first consulting with a qualified chiropractor

Unlike conventional doctor visits which can be uncomfortable (especially if you are in pain), a visit to your chiropractor is usually an enjoyable experience and the benefits can be felt immediately.

The benefits of chiropractic care extend far beyond post-accident treatment. Studies have proven that regular chiropractic care can improve overall health and bodily function. However, if you are involved in an auto accident, a visit to your local chiropractor should be at the top of you to-do list!

Dr. Joshua McDowell

Fayetteville Accident & Injury Center