If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s highly likely you’ve had some degree of damage to your body (even if you’re not aware of it immediately). It’s important that you get yourself checked out, especially if you’re planning on accepting a settlement from an insurance company or negligent driver — you should know the full extent of your injuries before you make any financial decisions.
Where should you go to get checked out? If your injuries aren’t obviously serious (bleeding, broken bones, a concussion, etc.), then you don’t want to jam things up at the emergency room. Your first thought might then be to make an appointment with your primary care physician, but there’s another choice you might not have considered: your local chiropractor.
Here are a few important things you might not know about car accident chiropractic care:
- Chiropractors Are Doctors, Too
The major motivation to see a chiropractor, instead of a regular M.D., is that chiropractors resolve pain in the musculoskeletal system by actually figuring out the underlying cause (usually poor alignment, strained muscles or pinched nerves) and treating it, rather than simply masking pain using painkillers. Remember that, aside from some mild inflammation, painkillers don’t treat much. They simply interfere with your ability to perceive pain. But if you’ve never been to a chiropractor before, you might be worried about entrusting your care to one — even if you like the idea of being treated more naturally. There’s no need for concern, however, because chiropractors are doctors, holding the doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) degree. They go through a similar amount of schooling as general physicians and have to take exams and be licensed, too, just like medical doctors.
- Chiropractic Can Prevent Chronic Pain
Another reason to consider car accident chiropractic care is that it can prevent worse problems from popping up down the road. It’s actually extremely common for car accident victims not to feel extreme pain immediately, but that doesn’t mean no damage has been done. Chiropractors can assess the entire body after a car accident and recommend preventative care that can keep the minor aches and pains associated with common car accident injuries such as whiplash from becoming serious or even debilitating.
- Chiropractic Is Covered by Insurance
One extremely common concern about chiropractic care is that it will turn out to be very expensive. But it’s extremely likely your chiropractic treatment plan will be partially or fully covered by your health insurance, just like any other kind of medical treatment. In fact, studies have shown that overall, chiropractic care can treat common issues such as back pain for less than traditional medical interventions.
Do you have any other questions about car accident chiropractic care? Ask or share your thoughts in the comments.
