The National Safety Council estimated that in 2019, 3,100,000 car accidents led to injuries for 4.5 million people. Back injuries are a common outcome in an auto accident, and they can range from minor, to disabling, to life-threatening injuries. Even mild back pain can disrupt your life, making it difficult to sit, sleep, or move in the ways you are used to. When you are in pain, it can impact your mood, concentration, and overall quality of life. A car accident doctor may be able to alleviate your pain and get your life back. Here is why it can help to seek treatment from a chiropractor after a car accident.
What Kinds of Injuries Does a Chiropractor Queens NY Treat?
Chiropractic treatment may help car accident victims who have both soft-tissue damage and spinal column injuries. Many car accident injuries can lead to stiff and sore muscles, a back injury, neck pain, or even broken bones. One of the most common auto accident injuries is whiplash. People who have this injury not only feel pain in their necks but may also experience pain that radiates into the back.
Reasons a Car Accident Causes Back Pain
When you get into a car crash, your body responds to the change in movement that occurs at the time of impact. You may also experience a second impact from an airbag, a seat, the dash, or another part of the vehicle. All of these factors can result in spinal injuries and varying degrees of back pain.
Back Pain Symptoms After a Car Crash
Back pain can range from mild to excruciating. You may feel the pain immediately, or it may take a couple of days. Back pain often radiates to the extremities. Car accident victims commonly experience the following symptoms after a crash:
- Stiffness and soreness: Your back may feel stiff and sore, making it difficult to move, walk, or sit. The soreness may be localized to a specific region, or you may feel it across your entire back and into your neck, shoulders, and arms.
- Spasms: People often have muscle spasms after a car accident because their muscle fibers get damaged and inflamed. A back pain chiropractor can help with muscle spasms. Spasms can be unnerving, and they may also be quite painful, making your muscles sore to the touch.
- Burning pain: You may experience burning pain in your back and buttocks. The pain may be continuous, or it may only occur sporadically and briefly.
- Sharp pain: Sharp pain often occurs with movement. You may notice it when you shift your position when laying or sitting or going from a seated position to a standing one.
You may also experience accompanying numbness or tingling sensations in your extremities. Seeing a chiropractor after a car accident may provide you the pain relief you need and speed your recovery.
Back Injuries a Chiropractor in Queens NY Can Treat
Chiropractic treatment or physical therapy can help back pain caused by common car accident injuries. These injuries can occur in the soft tissues, such as your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. You may also have nerve injuries and spine injuries. Likely injuries include:
- Sore, stiff, stretched, or torn muscles
- Strains and sprains in back tendons and ligaments
- Thoracic or lumbar fractures
- Herniated discs
- Misaligned vertebrae
Back pain can turn into a serious and chronic issue when left untreated.
How Can a Back Pain Chiropractor Help?
An estimated 35 million adults and children in the U.S. receive chiropractic treatment every year. Many patients find it more effective to treat injuries than prescription and over-the-counter medications, deep tissue massages, and other back pain treatment approaches. Chiropractors have the training to treat musculoskeletal and nervous system injuries and disorders in the back as well as in the neck and joints.
Chiropractic doctors are qualified to both diagnose and treat back pain. They utilize numerous methods to address the issues that cause back pain and can provide recommendations for therapeutic exercises to do at home and a diet that promotes healing. The doctors at Chiropractic Approach may use one or more methods to treat your back pain.
Manual Manipulation of the Spine
When most people think of chiropractic treatment, they think of spinal manipulation. Spinal manipulation is the classic method chiropractors use to address common spine issues. Chiropractors receive training in safe manual manipulation methods. Research finds that this approach is effective for treating back pain.
Manual manipulation refers to a set of techniques doctors use to adjust the spine. Practitioners may use gentle stretching and thrusting techniques to ease the vertebrae back into alignment or a controlled, forceful thrust. They may use tables that adjust your body position to encourage adjustment in a specific direction.
Heat and Ice Treatment
Your chiropractor may also use heat and ice therapy to treat your back pain. The coldness of the ice slows down the blood flow to the injured area, so the doctor uses it to help with inflammation and reduce pain. On the other hand, heat stimulates blood flow, which encourages soft-tissue healing.
Electrical Stimulation
When you see a chiropractor after a car accident, you may receive electrical stimulation therapy. Electrical stimulation is an effective treatment method that promotes nerve and soft tissue healing and reduces pain and inflammation. A back pain chiropractor uses a device to send small electrical pulses to the injured area. Many patients don’t feel much, though sometimes the muscles may twitch a little. The chiropractor chooses the pulse strength appropriate for your injury and where you are in the healing process.
Why Should You Visit a Chiropractor?
Many patients seek chiropractic care after a car accident as the first approach to treatment. A primary care doctor familiar with your medical records may recommend it as a primary or supplemental treatment plan for back pain after a car accident. Chiropractic treatment provides numerous benefits for those who experience back pain.
It Is a Non-invasive Approach
One of the great benefits of getting chiropractic care is that it is a non-invasive treatment approach. If you seek medical care early, you may be able to heal your injuries without surgery. Chiropractic methods may also alleviate many types of back pain without the need for medications.
It Promotes Your Body’s Natural Healing Processes
Your body has innate systems designed to heal itself from injuries. While treatment is often necessary to prevent chronic issues, chiropractic methods work with your body’s natural healing mechanisms to promote a quicker recovery.
It Reduces Inflammation
Several of the methods chiropractic doctors use can reduce inflammation. When you get into a car accident, it can lead to tissue damage that causes inflammation. Some swelling is good for healing, and it’s a sign that your body is working to heal itself. However, when there is too much of it or it lasts for too long, it can increase your pain and can damage soft tissues.
It Improves Your Range of Motion
Stiff and sore muscles and inflammation contribute to a restricted range of motion. The condition may be long-lasting if you don’t get treatment. When you receive treatment from a certified back pain chiropractor, it can improve and restore your range of motion.
It Reduces the Likelihood of Scar Tissue
Getting treatment from a chiropractor may reduce scar-tissue growth. Often, car accidents that cause muscle, tendon, and ligament damage lead to scar tissue development. This buildup of collagen frequently results in chronic pain and stiffness.
Though scar tissue is one of your body’s many healing mechanisms, it can make it more uncomfortable to participate in activities that did not cause you trouble before the accident. Seeing a chiropractor after a car accident can decrease the likelihood that you experience significant scar-tissue development.
It Reduces the Risk of Opioid Dependency
When back pain is severe, it can be debilitating. It interferes with every aspect of life, and research finds that it can result in sleep deprivation and mental health issues, including stress, depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Doctors frequently prescribe opioids for severe back pain.
Opioid addiction is a serious problem in the U.S. An estimated 2 million Americans are addicted to prescription opioids, and more than 42,000 people died from opioid overdose in 2016. A 2020 study found that patients who received chiropractic care were significantly less likely to use prescription opioids to alleviate back pain than those who did not go to a chiropractic doctor.
It Is Often Covered by Insurance
When you receive chiropractic care for your back pain, neck injuries, or soft tissue injuries, your insurance may cover your treatment. Depending on what kind of insurance you have and your coverage options, you may only have to pay copayment or coinsurance costs for an injury doctor. Though many plans don’t require a referral, some do, so it’s a good idea to investigate the specifics of your plan.
Where Can You Find a Back Pain Chiropractor?
At Chiropractic Approach, we have more than 70 years of combined experience providing chiropractic services. When you schedule an appointment with a back pain chiropractor, you can expect to receive comprehensive care designed to meet your specific needs. We listen to you and create a plan to help you return to a pain-free life. We accept no-fault insurance, workers’ compensation, and other health insurance plans. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
When To See a Chiropractor for Back Pain
IIf you have been experiencing back pain from an accident or sports injury, it’s difficult to know when things are bad enough to seek treatment from a chiropractor. You might feel like the pain will go away if you just take it easy for a while.
However, seeing a chiropractor can help prevent the development of further injuries. The team at Chiropractic Approach is here to talk about when you should see a chiropractor for back pain.
Contact us to schedule chiropractic care in Queens, NY.
Signs You Need To See a Chiropractor
If you notice any of the following signs, we highly recommend you schedule an appointment with a local chiropractor:
- You have difficulty sleeping because of pain
- You have a pinched nerve in your shoulder
- You feel tightness in the muscles and joints in your back
- The soles of your shoes are showing uneven wear and tear
- You experience reduced flexibility and range of motion
If your issue persists for over a week, we highly recommend you seek treatment. Often, these conditions can worsen if you neglect to address them. Regular chiropractic appointments may alleviate these symptoms and prevent further complications from developing.
Nearly 65 million Americans report some kind of back pain, and over 8% of adult Americans report chronic back pain. Chiropractic care exists to bring relief and improve functioning so that you can focus on the important things in your life.
Chiropractor Back Pain FAQ
Below is a list of some of the most common questions we receive regarding our chiropractic care for back pain.
When Should You Not Go to a Chiropractor?
You should not consider seeing a chiropractor if you have severe osteoporosis, numbness, or tingling in your spine. You should also not see a chiropractor if you have received a spine cancer diagnosis, have nervous system problems, or are at an increased risk of stroke.
What Is the Success Rate for Chiropractic Care?
It depends on the scope of the treatment option, but generally, 80% of chiropractic patients seeking relief achieve a total or near-total reduction in pain, while about 10% experience moderate improvement. The remaining 10% receive little to no improvement after receiving chiropractic adjustments.
How Long Does It Take Back Pain To Go Away After Seeing a Chiropractor?
It depends on the severity of the pain and the quality of the chiropractic sessions. However, 40% to 80% of chiropractic patients report some kind of improvement in their symptoms after the first session.
Are There Any Cons to Chiropractic Care?
Like all treatments, chiropractic care has risks. Spinal adjustments can risk slipping a disc, and joint manipulations can damage cartilage.
