If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may be dealing with chronic pain and trying to find the best approach for relief from this physical pain. Common injuries that may need ongoing treatment include back pain, neck pain, disc problems, whiplash, headaches, and joint pain.
In order to heal from these injuries, you may need rehabilitative treatments. If you know there’s a good chance you need long-term rehabilitation, how do you know whether physical therapy or chiropractic care is the best choice in your particular case?
Chiropractic Care
Certain injuries that you may sustain in an auto accident may benefit from chiropractic care. It’s a natural method of treating pain that doesn’t involve drugs or surgery. Treatment by a chiropractor may help your body naturally reduce inflammation and speed the healing process.
Manipulation of the spine can relieve tension, which can help your body to relax. Even if you are experiencing debilitating pain after a car accident, a chiropractor may be able to realign your spine and give you pain relief without the use of dangerous and potentially addictive medications. Drug-free techniques used by chiropractors include:
- Spinal adjustments
- Electric muscle stimulation
- Rehabilitative exercises for improved flexibility
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is another form of treatment that may help you to get on the road to recovery after a car accident without the use of drugs. A physical therapist will create a treatment plan that is designed specifically to treat your unique injuries. The goal is to improve your ability to move while at the same time reducing pain and restoring your normal flexibility and strength.
Physical therapists are experts in working with the musculoskeletal system. After a car accident, they will work with you to strengthen damaged tissues and muscles. They will also help you relearn everyday activities if your injuries are more serious. Some techniques they may use include:
- Manual therapy to promote tissue healing and joint mobility
- Custom exercises to strengthen damaged muscles and help relieve pain
- Hydrotherapy
- Heat therapy
- Electric stimulation
Which Form of Treatment is Right for You?
There are many possible types of injuries after a car accident, and in order to find out exactly what type of treatment you need, it’s important to undergo a thorough evaluation by your own doctor or an emergency room physician after your accident. Once the exact nature and extent of your injuries has been determined, your doctor can help you choose between chiropractic care and physical therapy, or the doctor may suggest a combination of both types of therapy.
In general, you may be referred to a chiropractor if your spine is out of alignment or if you have an injury to your head or neck. Under the care of a chiropractor, you may find that spinal manipulation may relieve headaches or chronic neck pain. You may be referred to a physical therapist for muscle and joint strengthening and rehabilitation after breaks, fractures or dislocations. Either type of therapy may work for different purposes and can help to promote healing.
Obtaining Compensation for Accident-Related Injuries
Many of the injuries that happen as the result of car accidents lead to the necessity of months and years of rehabilitation by a chiropractor or physical therapist. This can cause financial losses along with physical pain.
If your accident-related injuries occurred because of the negligence of another driver, you may be entitled to receive compensation. Get in touch with Taos Injury Lawyers by filling out the form on this page. We will get back to you soon to talk about what happened and how we can help.