You’d think anyone injured would know it, right? This MN Chiropractor has seen the results of enough personal injury accidents to know it isn’t always that simple.
It is possible, and even common, for the victim of a low-speed automobile accident to walk away from the crash and feel only “shaken up,” sensing only relief that nothing is broken. Attention goes immediately to any damage done to property, filing insurance claims and getting on the road again.
Odd that we often check out the condition of our autos more thoroughly than the state of our own bodies.
Bodies are wonderful things. They work hard to adjust to shocks and shake off trauma. They may go for days before finally warning, through pain, that the impact suffered has caused an injury with lasting effects, something the body has tried to, but cannot fully handle on its own.
Obviously, no one but the most foolish stoic would ignore severe pain once it shows. However, it can be just as dangerous to ignore a body that has just suffered an accident, whether pain is present or not. Potential neck, shoulder and spine problems can arise as a result of delaying rehabilitation that should have been started immediately after an impact. Even crashing at a speed of 15 miles an hour can put traumatic stress on muscles and ligaments.
You may have heard conflicting advice regarding how much movement is okay for an accident victim. You may know someone who seemed to do just fine for a few days, and then suddenly was stopped by severe pain.
How do you know, under those circumstances, what you should do?
The obvious answer is to seek advice and help from someone who understands what your body has been through. A person walking away from an accident is not necessarily in a position to accurately assess his condition. There is no need to take the chance that an untreated condition will grow into chronic pain.
Your chiropractor understands personal injury, and can teach you what you need to know to make the safest and most responsible decisions about your body. You can learn what combinations of adjustment, exercise and therapy will aid healing, and help avoid unnecessary complications.
You’d do as much for your automobile. You’d better do as much for your body.
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in even a minor accident, don’t put off calling us. We understand personal injury, and we’re here to help.
