There’s nothing like a car accident to wreak havoc on your body. This is especially true as you get older. As you likely know, aging bodies’ aren’t as resilient as they once were. This means you might feel the effects of an accident in a way you wouldn’t have when younger.
For example, if you’re in a fender bender, you may think your car got the worst of it and your body is fine. However, it’s pretty common not to feel pain right away. It can take six weeks or more for you to feel the effects of whiplash or to start feeling back pain after an accident.
In fact, one study from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine showed more than 70% of people felt muscle soreness and neck and back pain after an accident even six weeks later.
So, if you were in an accident a few weeks ago and you’re only now starting to feel soreness or pain, that could be connected. Additionally, it makes sense to see a medical professional right away. That way, you can be checked for a concussion or whiplash. Sometimes, it can take weeks for inflammation to set in. That inflammation causes pain and it may be more than a couple of ibuprofen can easily handle.
In fact, this study shows motor vehicle accidents are a big reason people have spinal injuries and seek chiropractic help. Of course, there are a lot of factors that go into injuries – from the type of vehicle to the speed of impact. So, it makes sense to get checked out to make sure you’re ok.
Why Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident Makes Sense
Dr. Jeff McQuaite in Doylestown, Pa. will x-ray you to see if there are any red flags. An x-ray, of course, will show the alignment of your body and where potential problem areas exist. For example, you could damage your neck if you slung it forward and back. Commonly known as whiplash, neck injuries are common after accidents. Or, if an airbag inflated, you might have some internal damage to your organs.
So, having an x-ray is a good idea. Next, Dr. Jeff will give you a treatment plan for your follow up care. He may also recommend a massage to relieve any stiffness.
Even if it was a simple rear-end at a stoplight, the jolt to your body (no matter if you’re on the receiving or not) is traumatic. You don’t want to neglect your health because it can be problematic later.
