If you are injured in a car accident, you must seek medical attention right away. Even if you do not feel that you are injured, stress, shock, and adrenaline can mask pain and injury.
Many car accident injuries, like traumatic brain injuries (TBI), certain soft tissue injuries, broken bones, neck injuries, and herniated discs, if not treated immediately, can lead to higher medical bills down the road. A hospital or urgent care center can determine if you are injured, and the extent of your car accident injuries; once you have a diagnosis, you must decide on a treatment plan.
If you, like many car crash victims, have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, you will want to make an appointment with a herniated disc chiropractor who knows how to deal with these injuries and with your insurance company.
Are you asking yourself, can a chiropractor fix a herniated disc? Learn why a chiropractor provides treatment for these auto accident injuries.
What is a Herniated Disc?
A spinal disc is a rubbery cushion that sits between each of the vertebrae that make up your spine. A bundle of nerves also runs throughout the spine and transmits motor and sensory information to the rest of your body.
A herniated disc, also called a slipped disk or a ruptured disk, happens when the interior cushiony material pushes out through a tear in the disc’s outer shell. This often occurs in the lower back, where it can pinch the spinal nerves and scramble the nerve’s transmissions. This can result in significant pain, numbness, or weakness.
A herniated disc chiropractor may be able to help relieve these symptoms and speed the healing process.
What are the symptoms of a Herniated Disc?
If you are experiencing discomfort in your lower back or legs, you may have a disc in your lower spine that has bulged or has been torn: a herniated disc.
There are three distinct symptoms of a herniated disc for you to look for to help determine if it is the cause of your pain:
Pain When You Are Sitting Down
Sitting puts a great deal of strain on your lower spine and discs. If you experience worsening pain when you are in a seated position, this may be an indication of a herniated disc injury.
Sciatica Pain
If you feel pain, weakness, numbness, burning or tingling along the front or back of your thigh, leg, or foot, you may be suffering from sciatica. Herniated discs in the lower back usually occur at the nerve roots which can result in sciatica.
Sudden Pain With Certain Movements
Herniated discs often cause rapid onset of pain when you perform certain activities:
- Bending forward
- Bending down
- Lifting heavy objects
- Pushing or pulling heavy objects
- Coughing
- Sneezing
Do Car Accidents Often Result in Herniated Discs?
In 2019, the NTSA reports that there were 6,756,000 police-reported motor vehicle crashes, including 1,916,000 crashes involving injury. The most common injury statistic stemming from a car accident is neck pain and back pain. This type of spinal pain can be caused by a herniated disc, making it a very common injury after a car accident.
Will You Need Surgery to Fix a Herniated Disc?
No evidence shows surgery provides a better result than non-surgical interventions regarding herniated disc care. Additionally, back surgery has serious risks, including infection, permanent nerve damage, and the chance that the surgery will not improve your pain.
Non-surgical treatments provide just as good, if not better, results without the serious risks posed by surgery. The types of treatment that you can receive from a herniated disc chiropractor can provide relief and healing without jeopardizing your overall health.
How can a Chiropractor help Herniated Disc?
Chiropractic focuses on healing the body naturally, without the use of drugs or surgery. Instead, chiropractors use gentle manipulation to restore mobility to joints and tissue that have suffered an injury caused by a traumatic event.
A chiropractic treatment plan may involve one or more manual adjustments, in which the doctor manipulates the joints and injured tissue to improve range and quality of motion, as well as possible nutritional counseling and rehabilitative exercise.
In addition to treating a current injury, chiropractic care includes treatments to prevent future injuries by protecting your mobility, balance, and overall wellness.
Can a Chiropractor fix a Herniated Disc?
When there are misalignments or injuries to the spinal bones, they cause the nerves to compress. A herniated disc may push the nerves out of alignment entirely. This nerve interference may result in a variety of symptoms, including tingling, decreased range of motion, muscle tightness, and pain.
Experienced chiropractors have extensive training on how to detect areas of misalignment and adjust the bones back into their proper position. Through spinal manipulation and other chiropractic treatments, herniated disc chiropractors work to relieve pain in their patients, take the pressure off of the nerves, and restore function.
How Do You Find an Experienced Chiropractor?
Choosing chiropractic care should begin with a thorough search for the most experienced car accident doctors in your area. Some techniques you can use to find the right doctor for your needs are:
- Ask your primary care physician or spinal specialist for a recommendation
- Ask family and friends for referrals
- Read online patient reviews
For instance, if you are in Queens, New York, and looking for the best chiropractor Queens has to offer to treat your herniated disc, you will find the board-certified specialists at Chiropractic Approach, P.C. can provide the most expert care in the area. With a combined 40 years of experience and excellent online reviews, Chiropractic Approach can ensure a positive experience in the office and the latest proven treatments to alleviate pain and expedite healing.
How Long Should You Wait Before Seeking a Car Injury Doctor for Treatment?
Once your primary physician has diagnosed your herniated disc, there is no advantage to waiting before seeking medical treatment. The longer you wait before seeking treatment after a car accident injury, the worse your injury may become – and the harder it is to file a car accident claim.
Most people who suffer a herniated disc in a car accident should be diagnosed and see a chiropractor within the first 72 hours after the accident. If you have been in a car accident and have suffered a herniated disc, you should not hesitate to call a chiropractor and schedule an initial appointment today. We accept no-fault insurance, workers’ compensation, and other plans. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
