When it comes to car accident injuries, it’s important to get the treatment that will help you to fully recover. Car accident injuries can be tricky and symptoms can last for days and even weeks after the event. You want to find a doctor who you will feel comfortable with from diagnosis through treatment and who will put you first. Whether you are looking for an orthopedic specialist, neurologist, or chiropractor in Tucker, here are a few things you should know about car accident injuries and how different types of doctors can help.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Whiplash
Whiplash is the most common car accident injury and it can affect your bones, nerves, muscles, and other soft tissues. Because all these parts of your body can be affected it can lead to complicated symptoms and require a complex treatment. When the force of the accident causes your head to snap forward and backward, your spine can get injured and your muscles may strain out of their normal range of motion. Misplaced vertebrae and discs can put pressure on nearby nerves and cause tingling and pain. Common symptoms of whiplash include sore, stiff muscles, tingling nerves, and pain when turning your head.
Back Pain
A number of car accident injuries can have back pain as a symptom. Back pain in itself is also a form of car accident injury and requires careful treatment to help you feel comfortable again when completing your regular routine. The force of the cars colliding can jostle your whole body and lead to muscle strain and spinal injuries. You may experience pain in your back muscles when you try to bend, stretch, or pick something up. You may even experience muscle spasms in your back, which can be incredibly uncomfortable. Spinal injuries in your back can also put pressure on nearby nerves and cause additional pain, tingling, and numbness that can even affect your arms and legs.
Types of Car Accident Doctors
Orthopedic Specialist
Orthopedic doctors who specialize in car accident injuries can help with a variety of broken bones, joint injuries to the shoulders, knees, and hips, and muscle sprains and strain. Orthopedic doctors focus on the musculoskeletal system and how your bones, muscles, and soft tissues are impacted by a car accident.
Neurologist
Neurologists are medical doctors who specialize in the nervous system. Neurologists can help with car accident injuries like whiplash when you experience a pinched nerve or tingling and numbness sensations. Injuries to your spine can put pressure on nearby nerves, restrict blood flow, and even lead to nerve damage. A neurologist will use diagnostic tools and neurological exams to identify areas of weakness.
Physical Therapist
Physical therapists can help with a variety of injuries where pain and discomfort keep you from being able to complete tasks or go about your routine the way you used to. They may recommend stretches and exercises to help strengthen your muscles as they heal. Physical therapists help you transition through treatment and into recovery.
Chiropractor
Chiropractors treat car accident injuries by looking at how your whole body is affected, from bones and muscles to nerves and joints. Chiropractic care may offer you the most comprehensive approach to your care and offers a natural, non-invasive approach to your treatment.
Chiropractic Treatment for Car Accident Injuries
There are several things that a driver should do after a car accident and one of them is visiting a chiropractor. A car accident chiropractor will take a look at how your spine was affected by the event, as well as supportive and surrounding muscles and tissues. Instead of looking at your symptoms and pain first, chiropractors want to get right at the root cause by identifying ways in which your body isn’t functioning at its best. Misalignments in your spine can cause vertebrae to put pressure on nearby nerves, leading to pain, tingling, and numbness. Your chiropractor will use gentle, safe chiropractic adjustments to realign all the vertebrae in your spine and relieve pressure on your nerves.
Chiropractors also focus on how your muscles and soft tissues may be affected by the car accident. When your muscles are sore, stiff, or otherwise damaged from the accident, it can be harder for them to do their job of supporting your spine. Massage and other chiropractic therapies can help restore blood flow to your muscles so they can begin healing. Your chiropractor may also recommend specific stretches and exercises you can even do at home to help strengthen your muscles so they can help prevent future injuries.
When you’ve been injured in a car accident, look no further than AICA Orthopedics to see a chiropractor in Tucker for all your treatment needs. The team at AICA will develop a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan for your specific injuries and symptoms so you can experience full healing and recovery.