Should You See a Chiropractor After a Personal Injury?

A personal injury can happen at work, on the road, or while out in the community. If you’re injured, a visit to a chiropractor may not be the first thing you do, or even think about. After all, other things may need your attention first, like seeing a doctor or submitting insurance claims. Depending on the nature of your injury, you may even need to contact a lawyer or file a police report.

But in our experience at Village Chiropractic, the sooner a person comes to see us after their personal injury, the better. Our custom treatment plans promote natural healing and benefit mental as well as physical health. Plus, our friendly front office team can help you handle the paperwork and claims with ease.

Read on to see why visiting a chiropractor after your personal injury can be such an important step in your recovery.

5 Reasons to See a Chiropractor After Personal Injury

1. Following a Personal Injury, Your Pain Isn't Getting Better

A personal injury often causes neck pain, back pain, and other uncomfortable issues. If your pain doesn't get better after a couple weeks, even with rest and/or medication, chiropractic care can help.

The reason is, medications may temporarily make you feel better. But they don't always work, and they can come with unpleasant side effects or even addiction concerns. Research proves chiropractic care relieves neck pain, shoulder pain, and other conditions. Plus, it can address the root cause of your pain, instead of just providing temporary relief. This can help you avoid long-term use of over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

2. You Have Impaired Function After a Personal Injury

Ask yourself:

Have I had to avoid certain activities since my personal injury?
Is it harder than usual to perform daily tasks, like getting out of bed or making it through a full day at work?
Am I fearful of moving?

If you've answered yes to any of these questions, call a chiropractor. Our services can help you regain the range of motion, posture, strength, and tissue health needed to participate in all your daily activities safely and with less pain.

3. You Notice Unusual Signs and Symptoms Following a Personal Injury

A personal injury such as whiplash or a mild concussion can lead to unusual issues that you may not associate with your accident. These issues include:

Brain fog
Trouble sleeping
Headaches
Jaw pain
Ringing in the ears
Irritability and depressed mood
Forgetfulness
Fatigue

These issues are often related to dysfunction and irritation of your nerves which influence multiple areas of the body. Chiropractic services like spinal adjustments restore balance in your nervous system and alleviate these non-pain-related problems.

If you feel "off" after any kind of accident but can't put your finger on why, it may be time to see a chiropractor.

4. You're Concerned About Hidden Problems

Sometimes, signs and symptoms of a personal injury don't show up right away. This is because your body launches a "flight or fight" response after trauma, which releases hormones and other molecules that can mask pain. Until these molecules return to their pre-accident levels, you may not notice anything wrong. But there still could be underlying tissue damage and inflammation going on!

A chiropractor can detect these hidden issues even if you're not having pain by evaluating things like posture, abnormal movement patterns, muscle tension, and nerve function. By detecting these issues early, a chiropractor can prevent small problems from getting worse over time. Plus, we can provide you with valuable documentation that can help with future litigation or insurance needs.

5. You Want Drug-Free, Non-Invasive Healing

Let's face it: the human body can heal itself, but after trauma it may need a little help. This is exactly what chiropractic care can provide. Our services and innovative technologies work with your body's regenerative and restorative processes, not against them. For example:

Cold laser therapy uses light to stimulate cellular repair and metabolism
Massage therapy stimulates your lymphatic system and increases blood circulation to boost tissue healing
Spinal decompression alleviates mechanical pressure on injured discs and nerves while reducing uncomfortable muscle spasms

A chiropractor can identify the areas of your body that need healing and enhance the healing mechanisms already going on. This gives you longer-lasting relief and can help you avoid future issues, like surgery or chronic pain.