One of the most common times a person considers seeing a chiropractor is when they've been in a car accident and have suffered a whiplash injury. Getting into a chiropractor as soon as possible is one of the smartest things you can do if you have been the unfortunate one to have had an accident. Even if little or no pain you should get checked out to make certain that you are okay. Quite frequently people experience pain and headaches for a number of months.
Some people have pain for the first week and then it dissipates and they think their okay. Wrong. What this usually means is that initial really acute pain is going away and the body is beginning to heal, but it is actually healing wrong and eventually, be it in several months or even years, the fact that the neck is healing in the wrong place is going to be a big problem. The sooner you can address the issue, the quicker you’re going to heal and the better for your case, if you should have one. Quite frankly, each week you wait to seek treatment is going to make your healing as well as your case more difficult.
First of all thorough documentation with regards to an injury is always important but it is even more so in a motor vehicle accident case. This documentation is followed by a very thorough chiropractic, neurologic, and orthopedic examination. X-rays if they have not been done yet are very appropriate at this point and usually ordered. Finally, the actual treatment, depending on the severity of the symptoms and the results of the findings, the accident victim will typically be treated with one or more of the following modalities: chiropractic manipulation or an adjustment, massage, electric stimulation or cold laser, exercises, and traction.
Again, there are so many variables, the obvious ones being how severe was the accident, what kinds of vehicles were involved and what was the speed they were traveling. But other factors include the age and prior health of the individual involved. Most people will begin to experience some and possibly even significant relief anywhere from the first visit to a dozen visits. The full course of treatment usually takes one to six months. Most people experience a full recovery, but unfortunately, many never return to their pre injury health status.
You can expect to be given instructions for home and work. This includes when to use moist heat and when to use ice. You may be given supplement recommendations to speed up the healing process. You may be given devices such as cervical whiplash collars or home tens units. You will be given exercises and stretches appropriate for your injuries. And finally, you may be given referrals for an MRI or to a allopathic doctor for pain management and or consultation.
The key is to make you the priority. Please, do not shrug the pain off and just wait for it to go away. See a professional and make certain that you are on the path to recovery.
Dr. Michone Ouellette is a licensed Mesa chiropractor practicing in the Mesa, AZ area for nine years. She specializes in the treatment of whiplash injuries, as well and neck and back pain relief care. Dr. Michone is a female chiropractor well versed in traditional chiropractic care as well as the use of instruments such as activator method and arthrastim. Chiropractic manipulation is also augmented with the use of exercise and massage.