Being in a motor vehicle accident is often like nothing else you’ve ever experienced. The violent, shocking event may leave you dazed and disoriented.
Whether it’s a minor fender bender or something more severe, taking certain steps immediately can help you stay grounded and protect your health. And if you’re in the Murfreesboro, Tennessee area, Dr. Ryan Key at Key Chiropractic can also aid your recovery with a personalized care plan.
Here, he outlines the steps you should take right after an accident and how expert chiropractic care can address serious injuries like whiplash, herniated discs, and musculoskeletal discomfort later on.
If you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident, what you do next is critical. Take these three steps to ensure your well-being and set the stage for healing:
Are you bleeding? Is anything broken? Can you move? Is anyone else injured? Safety comes first, so if you can, move to a safe location and call emergency services.
Even if injuries aren’t immediately apparent, seek medical attention anyway. Some injuries, like soft tissue damage or whiplash, can take hours or days to show symptoms.
Details matter when it comes to insurance claims or potential legal issues. Remember to exchange contact information with all others involved in the accident, including passengers and witnesses, and document the scene. Take photos of any damage to your vehicle, injuries, and the area where the incident occurred.
Many people avoid getting a medical evaluation after an accident because they feel fine. Yet adrenaline and shock can mask injury symptoms, and many issues, including sprains, strains, and whiplash, can develop later.
Seeing a healthcare provider, such as an experienced chiropractor like Dr. Key, shortly after your accident can help you identify hidden injuries.
At Key Chiropractic, we evaluate your musculoskeletal system to identify subtle injuries that could impact your recovery. Addressing these issues early can help reduce pain and prevent long-term complications.
We know every patient has different needs after an accident, so we tailor your treatment to your specific injuries and goals. Here’s how we help you heal and get back to feeling like yourself again:
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries following a car accident, caused by the sudden jerking motion of the neck. Symptoms can include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and even dizziness.
Our chiropractic adjustments gently realign your spine and surrounding tissues to reduce inflammation, improve your range of motion, and alleviate pain in your neck and shoulders. These treatments, paired with massage therapy and rehabilitative exercises, help address both the pain and the root cause of the problem.
The impact of an accident can stress your spine, causing spinal discs to bulge or herniate, which results in persistent back pain, tingling, or numbness.
With spinal decompression therapy, we use controlled, nonsurgical techniques to relieve pressure on your discs. This method creates space for the discs to heal while reducing pain and improving mobility.
Wrist sprains, lower back strains, and other soft tissue injuries are common after car accidents. These can result in pain, swelling, and a limited range of motion.
Our approach combines massage therapy, which increases blood flow and reduces tension, with therapeutic exercises tailored to strengthen the affected muscles. Together, these treatments speed up your recovery and help you avoid recurring pain.
It’s not uncommon to feel general aches and pains in your back, shoulders, and neck, even if nothing appears to be broken or torn. These discomforts often result from spinal misalignments caused by the accident's impact.
Our spinal manipulations and rehabilitative care restore proper alignment and function in your body. This allows your musculoskeletal system to heal naturally and effectively.
Chiropractic care is a holistic and noninvasive approach to recovery after an accident. Unlike simply masking your symptoms with medication, we treat the root causes of your pain to help your body heal naturally.
At Key Chiropractic in Murfreesboro, we’ve treated countless patients with accident-related injuries, helping them regain comfort and confidence in their day-to-day lives. If you’ve been in an accident, don’t wait for pain to set in before seeking care.
Call Key Chiropractic or book an appointment online today to start your recovery.
