The Myths and Facts of Automobile Accidents

Although many patients have embraced the numerous benefits chiropractic care offers to people who have recently been involved in an auto accident, there are still a lot of skeptics. Unfortunately, myths about post-collision care still exist and discourage people from seeking the proper treatment after they’ve been hurt.

1.Myth: If your vehicle isn’t significantly damaged, you cannot be injured.

Fact: Even the most seemingly minor fender-bender can cause whiplash, sprains, or strains of the neck, back and extremities. Even the slightest jolt from another vehicle can cause enough forceful movement to significantly injure these sensitive tissues. You could still be injured internally even though your car is not totaled and your bones aren’t broken.

2. Myth: If you don’t feel pain within the first 72 hours after an automobile accident, you have not suffered any injuries.

Fact: While most people start to feel pain or discomfort within the first 72 hours of being in an accident, this is not always the case. In some patients it can take up to two weeks before starting to feel the effects of the accident. Injuries that can occur in a collision often cause inflammation, which builds up over time. Meaning, while you’re “taking it easy” after an accident, you may actually be giving your body time to increase inflammation, causing you to feel pain well after your accident has occurred. It’s possible for even the slightest injuries to have long term effects on your mobility.

3. Myth: Most automobile accident injuries are minor and should heal on their own.

Fact: Though some injury-related pain will subside with time, your body cannot fully heal itself if your spine or joints have been knocked out of alignment. Some insurance adjusters may try to convince you of this in order to sway you from seeking out a physician’s opinion, but the fact of the matter is, we see many cases where a minor accident causes long term pain.  This pain usually takes longer to treat after the fact than it would take had it been treated immediately.

Straight Up Chiropractic

If you’ve been in an automobile accident, take the time to get evaluated by a physician who knows not only how to diagnose, but how to treat your injuries.  Schedule today by calling us at 503-716-8281 or online at Straightup-chiro.com