Call NowCan a Chiropractor Make My Accident Injuries Worse?
If your neck or back is out of alignment or you have been in an accident, you may feel neck or back pain. Thankfully, chiropractors can help treat back pain with a variety of therapeutic techniques.
One of the misconceptions that we often hear about going to the chiropractor is that chiropractic adjustments can make your pain worse. This just isn’t true!
Learn how visiting a chiropractor for an injury can foster healing that lasts from our team at Impact Medical Wesley Chapel.
What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is a form of treatment where a licensed chiropractor uses their hands or special instruments to manipulate the joints in your body to foster pain relief. This treatment is also often called spinal manipulation or joint manipulation.
Chiropractic adjustments can:
- Help reduce pain
- Correct body alignment issues
- Help heal injuries
- Help combat chronic pain
- Eliminate frequent headaches
Chiropractors not only ensure that your joints are moving properly and that everything is in alignment, but also that the surrounding muscles are functioning as well.
What to Expect After a Chiropractic Adjustment
If you are recovering from a car accident injury, a chiropractor can help reduce pain, especially in the neck and back. Though you might feel some discomfort after an adjustment, this does not mean that your injuries are worse. Some slight muscle soreness can occur after a chiropractic adjustment, which we will explain more in detail in a moment. Remember, it will take time to heal from a car accident injury.
Here are a few examples of how chiropractic adjustments can affect you and what that can mean for your healing journey:
Muscle Soreness
When you get a chiropractic adjustment, your chiropractor is moving your vertebrae back into healthy alignment. The nearby muscles that support your spine must also move due to this adjustment, which can often lead to muscle soreness. This is a natural response to the healing process.
For example, think about when you first start working out again after a hiatus. You’re likely to be sore for a few days as your muscles adjust to these new movements and start to gain strength.
Similarly, when you get a chiropractic adjustment, your muscles are re-learning health habits to support your spine more healthily.
The more often that you get adjusted, the faster your body will get used to being adjusted, and the longer it will hold the adjustment. This eliminates or greatly reduces the post-adjustment soreness period.
Cold Symptoms
You may be surprised if your nose starts to run, or you have a cough after a chiropractic adjustment. Believe it or not, some people experience cold and flu-like symptoms after a chiropractic adjustment because of how these treatments kickstart the body’s immune system.
Chiropractic adjustments and even manual can flush toxins out of your body that shouldn’t be there, often reducing the length or severity of an illness like the flu or cold.
You may also get a mild headache after a chiropractic adjustment or feel tired. These side effects are temporary.
Digestive Irregularities
You might experience digestive issues after a chiropractic adjustment since your digestive system is connected to the vertebrae in your lower back. Adjustments in this area can cause some surprising fluctuations in your bowel movements.
People with irritable bowel syndrome or constipation may experience more regular bowel movements after a chiropractic adjustment or brief irregularity than those who generally have normal bowel movements.
How to Reduce the After-Effects of a Chiropractic Visit
Just like a new exercise routine, chiropractic adjustments can cause soreness in your back or neck as you heal. This is a normal response to chiropractic treatment, so there is usually no need to worry unless the pain is severe.
To minimize feeling worse after a chiropractic visit, we recommend that you drink ample water before your adjustment, which can help flush toxins and hydrate your muscles and joints. Also, make sure to drink water after your adjustment as well.
Your body is in ultra-healing mode after a car accident and a visit to a chiropractor, so give yourself plenty of time to rest and get plenty of sleep.
Post-Accident Chiropractic Adjustments
If you have been in a car accident and are experiencing back or neck pain, visit our chiropractic team at Impact Medical Wesley Chapel for a consultation! We will help you on your path to healing!
Call Impact Medical Wesley Chapel for a chiropractic consultation today: (813) 953-1002!
