Chiropractic care has long hovered between being considered standard health care to alternative medicine. This article in Time discusses some of the benefits and why its struggled with acceptance. But is it helpful for car accident victims? Here are a few things to consider if you have been in a car crash in Bellingham:
- Chiropractic care can help accident victims avoid surgery. Surgery is expensive and doesn’t guarantee no pain afterwards. Some research has indicated 90% of disk surgeries are ineffective. Though usually covered by insurance, the price tags can number more than $25,000. The sooner you go in for a spinal adjustment after a crash, the less time injuries have to turn chronic. Realigning the spine when it has been thrown out of whack has been shown to significantly reduce pain and promote healing.
- Chiropractic care can prevent accident victims from reaching for pain pills. These are highly addictive substances that also mask injuries, which delays healing at best and at worse creates more problems. Medication can be helpful for short term use for such things as inflammation. But long term? Not a good solution.
- Chiropractic care can feel good! It can involve techniques such as stretching, spinal manipulation, and massage. These reduce pain in the long and short term, heal your body and strengthen your muscles.
- It can help increase your chances of being paid a fair insurance settlement on your claim. Why is this? If you see a chiropractor to help with that stiff neck or back pain you’re newly experiencing, it is easier to link the pain to the incident in the claim. Insurance adjusters have a harder time arguing that you didn’t walk away with a hurt back if you’ve never been treated for a hurt back before.
With all these considerations, time is of the essence. And this is a point I stress again and again on this blog. If you’re in an accident, don’t wait until your injuries worsen. See a doctor right away, and get help from me in filing your claim. Focus on getting healthy and let me negotiate with people paid to keep payouts on the low end.
Not yet convinced? Here’s one more article on why it is important to see a doctor after your car accident.