Many car accidents may seem benign. For example, a little fender bender. No big deal. Everyone walks away and carries on.
Sometimes a car accident can be life-altering, for example, rolling your truck on the interstate at 80mph. Broken bones, concussions, or even brain damage can occur. Either way, there is likely some degree of whiplash that is involved.
Traditional medicine will focus on the patient’s emergent needs. The broken bones, the scrapes, and the bruises that result from the car accident. Oftentimes, they ignore the underlying damage caused by a car accident.
Medical providers all too commonly overlook soft tissue damage, subluxations, and joint dysfunction after a car accident. These injuries may not be symptomatic for several days or weeks after an accident. As the body settles back down and the adrenaline subsides, symptoms such as stiffness, soreness, weakness, and reduced range of motion may begin to appear.
Chiropractic care and ancillary therapies allow the body to heal properly after a car accident. Many times, a patient who has been in an accident will be prescribed anti-inflammatories, pain killers, muscle relaxers, or maybe even given steroids to help them handle the pain. But none of these pharmaceuticals actually help the body heal; they just cover up the symptoms.
When someone is involved in a car accident, time is of the essence. Obviously, emergent care should be administered immediately, if necessary. Next, injuries like fractures should be ruled out. Then, it is important to address the likely soft-tissue and nervous system injuries. The sooner these injuries are addressed, the more likely you are not to have long-term symptoms. However, the longer that you wait to care for your injuries, the more likely it is for you to have symptoms that affect you for the rest of your life.
Chronic injuries are more complicated to treat because your body has become so accustomed to the injury that it thinks that the injury is normal. The fact is that the injury is far from normal. The injured tissue has been altered neurologically and no longer functions normally. Chronic injuries from car accidents can be very frustrating for the patient because their recovery time is much longer.
$49 New Patient Special
First visit includes a consultation, case review, careful exam, X-rays (if necessary) and initial adjustment. Second visit includes a doctor’s report of findings, care plan recommendations, and treatment if you decide to move forward. Not valid with any other offers or promotions. Restrictions apply. Must mention this coupon at the time of scheduling.
How Our Care Protocol Works
First, we perform a thorough chiropractic exam and x-rays to determine exactly where the lack of proper movement is in your spine and which specific vertebrae need to be addressed.
Second, we restore proper motion to your spine and take stress off of the nerve by performing biomechanically and neurologically correct chiropractic adjustments.
Third, we teach you specific exercises to strengthen and stabilize your spine. These exercises are carefully designed to get you great results and NOT aggravate your condition.
Fourth, as clinically indicated, we perform non-surgical spinal decompression to take pressure off of the disc and off of the nerve giving you relief like you haven’t felt in years!
Common Car Accident Injuries We Treat In Centennial, CO
Whiplash and Neck Pain
Whiplash occurs when the spine, especially the neck, experiences a sudden deceleration or acceleration. Think of it like a whip. The crack of a whip happens when the whip suddenly goes from moving in one direction to going another direction. This is common in the neck after a car accident. Whether the impact is on the front of your vehicle, the rear of your vehicle, or even the side of your vehicle, there is likely a degree of whiplash that occurred during the collision.
Whiplash can cause neck pain, headaches, ringing in the ears, facial pain, jaw pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms, and even upper back pain. These are all common symptoms of whiplash injuries.
Whiplash is so quick that it can put excessive strain on tissues that are not designed to withstand these loads, and therefore, they get injured. Chiropractic adjustments, cold laser therapy, and custom rehab exercises help the body to heal and prevent scar tissue formation after a car accident.
Upper Back and Shoulder Pain
Upper back & shoulder pain are so common after a car accident because these structures are controlled by the nerves that come from the neck. Therefore, when there is a whiplash injury, as is common in car accidents, the neck nerves are affected, which, in turn, affects the structures they innervate.
Also, seat belts can put significant strain on the body during a car accident. The way they cross one shoulder over the chest to the opposite hip can put the body under very unusual stress during an accident. Chiropractors are uniquely positioned to help patients with upper back and shoulder pain after an accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does car insurance pay for chiropractic care after an accident
In Colorado, most drivers have Medical Payments coverage. This coverage provides at least $5,000 in medical care for each person in the vehicle after a car accident, whether you are at fault or not. This coverage can be used for all types of providers, like hospitals, imaging centers, chiropractors, and physical therapists.
If a patient does not have Medical Payments coverage, it can complicate payment reimbursement for their care.
Sometimes, patients are scared that utilizing their MedPay coverage will affect their premiums. Nothing could be further from the truth. Filing a medical claim through the Medical Payments coverage on your auto policy DOES NOT affect your car insurance premium. Colorado State Law actually dictates this.
Should I go to a chiropractor after a car accident?
Yes, you should absolutely go to a chiropractor as soon as possible. The longer that you wait to be seen, the more likely it is that your injuries will become long-term problems that affect you for the rest of your life. I see it in my office, week after week. People telling me that they never had neck pain or headaches until “I was in that car accident” 2, 5, or 10 years ago. Don’t let your unwillingness to get care promptly be the reason that you have neck pain or headaches for the rest of your life.
Do I have to pay out of pocket for chiropractic care after a car accident?
Usually, you do not have to pay for care out of pocket after a car accident. This means no copays, no deductibles, etc… But it all depends on whether you still have MedPay coverage. MedPay coverage will typically cover your out-of-pocket costs so that you can focus on healing and not have to worry about the financial burden of receiving care after an accident.
Is chiropractic care safe after a car accident?
Absolutely. The chiropractor will thoroughly assess your condition and injuries to determine the best type of treatment for you after a car accident. When performed promptly after a car accident, chiropractic care helps reduce scar tissue formation, thereby limiting the long-term consequences of a car accident.
How soon after a car accident should someone see a chiropractor?
It is recommended that you see a chiropractor as soon as you can after a car accident. Obviously, life-threatening and emergency-type injuries should be addressed first, but shortly after those have been addressed, a thorough chiropractic exam and x-rays should be performed to determine the extent of your injuries. Sometimes, that can be the same day as the accident. This quick turnaround helps the body heal more quickly and reduces the likelihood of long-term symptoms.
Check Out Our Location Near You
12201 E Arapahoe Rd B10, Centennial, CO 80112
$49 New Patient Special
First visit includes a consultation, case review, careful exam, X-rays (if necessary) and initial adjustment. Second visit includes a doctor’s report of findings, care plan recommendations, and treatment if you decide to move forward. Not valid with any other offers or promotions. Restrictions apply. Must mention this coupon at the time of scheduling.