Why you should see a chiropractor after a car accident even if you don’t have pain

Car crashes are tragic; it is a very stressful time in your life. There is so much adrenaline mixed with thoughts racing through your mind. It is easy to get lost in the craziness of it all. In the mix of the madness, it is important to make time to see a chiropractor so they can support you through this difficult time.

Why should you see a chiropractor after a car accident even if you have no pain? Well, it is very common to develop symptoms days, weeks, or even months after an accident. Structural changes that occur during the crash may not lead to pain right away but can cause issues down the road. When a car accident happens, the neck goes through an aggressive flexion-extension motion called “whiplash” which damages the muscles and ligaments in the neck area. The symptoms of whiplash don't always develop right away. Due to the soft tissue damage, the curve in the neck is often lost which places more pressure on the bones and discs. Over time, this causes degeneration. Again, the symptoms may not be felt for days, weeks, months, or even years. Once the degenerative changes occur, there is no “undoing” them. We can still support you in relieving pain and improving function but those structural changes will be there forever.

In the state of Minnesota, your auto insurance will cover medical expenses after an accident for the first 6 months. After that threshold, they start to deny coverage because too much time has elapsed. Getting in for care early is important for helping you make a full recovery and for taking advantage of your auto insurance benefits. So, my biggest piece of advice if you have been in an auto accident is to get in and see a chiropractor ASAP.