One moment you’re cruising the streets of San Antonio headed to your favorite Chiropractor then, … Screech. Bam. Uh-oh… you’ve been involved in a car accident. Immediately your mind begins to race with questions such as: how damaged is my car, will it be expensive to fix, who’s at fault, what if they are angry, will I need a lawyer? The shock and stress of being in an accident can cause a delayed reaction in pain, if you don’t have immediate pain.
In this article we are going to discuss
- The most common injuries after car accidents
- What do do to heal after a car accident.
Whiplash:
Whiplash occurs when the body is forced through backwards and forwards motions rapidly. This trauma to the body typically happens during any big or small auto accident and specifically could damage your spinal discs, tendons, ligaments and bones. Symptoms of whiplash can include: neck pain, back pain, headaches, confusion, and even depression. Due to all of the adrenaline pumping, you may not notice any pain immediately. Symptoms may develop over hours or even a few days after the initial car accident. Injuries associated with whiplash are ligament tearing and mild brain injury. Ligament tearing takes an average of 6 weeks to heal with proper care and treatment. However, a non-healed ligament can result in osteoarthritis. Mild brain injuries have symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or impaired memory and the majority of people recover within 3 months.
Shoulder Injuries:
If you’re driving and have your hands on the steering wheel at the time of an accident, the sudden forces created by the event can result in a torn rotator cuff. The rotator cuff in your shoulder is a ball and socket joint made up of three bones, supporting muscles, ligaments, and tendons all designed to help you lift and rotate your arm. Shoulder injuries have been estimated to occur in 10% of people in car accidents. It is hard to ignore a torn rotator cuff because it really hurts! Signs of a tear include shoulder pain when lifting your arm, weakness, pain when lying down, or limited range of motion. Ignoring injury can result in frozen shoulder, which are adhesions in the joint due to lack of movement. This can cause severe pain and takes months to heal.
Finding Relief Without Drugs or Surgery:
Trying to live around your injuries or hoping they will go away with time can cause undue stress on other parts of your body. This can lead to additional injuries due to compensation. To avoid surgery, or worsening of your condition, you should take the following steps to ensure proper healing:
- Get an evaluation, by your trusted Chiropractor, to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
- Begin active care involving range of motion, mobility, and strengthening exercises.
- Stay consistent with your care so you can heal as quickly as possible
Your health is important to you and we would be honored to help you get in your best shape even if you were not involved in an accident. Give us a call at 210-920-4958 or choose our online booking option to schedule your appointment today. Your future self will thank you!