Auto & Work Injury

Auto accidents are a very common occurrence, and can cause far more damage to you than initially thought. If you are in an auto accident it is absolutely vital to see your primary care physician or chiropractor as soon as you are able. Even if it is a minor accident you should still seek medical help to have your body checked out as even the slightest accident can cause injury, worsen existing medical conditions, or cause damage that may not be felt for days, weeks, or even years.

It is estimated that over 30,000 people die annually from auto accidents, and a great many more are injured. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates there are over 5.5 million accidents every year. The good news is that this means that the vast majority of people in an auto accident are not killed. The bad news is that even a minor fender bender can lead to lifelong medical problems. The average cost for an auto accident including property damage and non-disabling injuries is over $7500 dollars, with a disabling injury increasing those costs to over $61,500.

Immediately following an accident most people are unsure of what to do. Auto accidents often come out of nowhere, and your body kicks into high gear to protect itself. Adrenaline begins to flow as your body responds to the sudden stress, and while you may be injured you are unlikely to feel it. This is your body’s natural response to help you get away from what you have perceived as a dangerous, if not deadly situation. The time immediately following an accident is vital. Do a quick self-check to see if you can determine any injuries you are not noticing, check your passengers as well, and if you see any injuries call 9-1-1. Afterwards call your local police and if possible head to the hospital to have a medical evaluation performed. This will be vital when you contact your insurance company and potentially your lawyer. Your insurance company and your lawyer will be in a much better position to help you financially recover from an accident if any and all injuries are documented.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I am not hurting and feel perfectly fine after my auto accident. Why should I make an appointment with my Natural Health Chiropractic, P.C.?
It is incredibly common for you not to feel the beginning effects of your injuries for several hours. Many people do not begin to feel sore until the next day, and by then could find themselves to sore to get out of bed. Other symptoms may not appear for days, weeks or even months. Symptoms that are left untreated may worsen over time. Auto accident injuries are much easier to treat when they are new before scar tissue has begun to develop, and by pinpointing the areas of injury early your chiropractor can advise you on how to speed healing. This is vital as Chiropractors can identify underlying injuries in a patient and prevent future complications or worsening injury.

What types of symptoms should I be looking for after an auto accident?
The most common symptoms are minor aches and pains, although they may not be fully felt for hours and days. Other symptoms such as dizziness or vision changes should have you immediately seeking medical care. The most common signs of injury are:

• Muscle stiffness
• Headache
• Neck and Back Pain
• Reduced or Impaired Range of Motion
• Arm, Shoulder, Knee or Joint Pain
• Dizziness
• Vision Changes

How will a our chiropractor’s document and treat my injuries?
At Natural Health Chiropractic we take your personal injury case seriously. We document all of your symptoms, not just those that are chiropractic related. We work closely with your legal team to make sure they are updated and that we are all managing your case together. Our doctors will refer out for advanced imaging and often will refer out to other specialist including neurologist, orthopedist, and surgeon as needed.  Our skilled Chiropractors are familiar with a wide variety of non-invasive techniques to help realign the spine and joints into their ideal position. These treatments can reduce tension, stress, and promote faster healing. Over time treatments can help to lessen or eliminate pain, reduce inflammation and empower the body to heal itself which prevents the injury from worsening or leaving you with long term damage. Chiropractic treatment focus on treating the underlying causes of pain, rather than just the symptoms. Treating the symptoms may make you feel better for the short term, but can leave you permanently reliant on those treatments. Moreover underlying conditions if not treated will worsen, making treating just the symptoms even harder. Many patients who seek chiropractic help early are able to spare themselves years of future pain or disability simply by seeking treatment for auto accident injuries as soon after the accident as possible..