A car accident can happen in seconds, but the effects on your body may last much longer. Even a relatively minor collision can place significant stress on the neck, back, muscles, joints, and surrounding soft tissues.
One of the biggest mistakes people make after an accident is assuming that because they do not feel severe pain immediately, they were not injured.
If you were recently involved in a car accident in Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, or the surrounding Placer County area, here are some important steps to consider.
1. Get Medical Attention When Necessary
Your health and safety should always come first.
If you experience severe pain, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, significant bleeding, weakness, numbness, confusion, or other concerning symptoms after an accident, seek appropriate emergency medical attention.
Not every car accident injury requires an emergency room visit, however. Some people walk away from an accident feeling relatively normal and begin developing soreness, stiffness, headaches, neck pain, or back pain later.
That does not necessarily mean the injury happened later. Symptoms can become more noticeable as the initial stress of the accident wears off.
2. Don’t Ignore Neck or Back Pain
During a collision, the body can experience rapid acceleration and deceleration.
Your head and neck may move suddenly while the rest of your body is restrained by the seat belt. This can affect muscles, ligaments, joints, and other structures of the cervical spine.
Common complaints following car accidents include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Lower back pain
- Headaches
- Shoulder pain
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Muscle tightness
- Reduced range of motion
- Tingling or numbness
- Pain traveling into an arm or leg
- Sciatica-type symptoms
The severity and cause of these symptoms can vary considerably from person to person, which is why an appropriate examination matters.
3. Get Evaluated After the Accident
At Disc Wellness Chiropractic in Rocklin, we evaluate patients following motor vehicle accidents to better understand how the collision may have affected their musculoskeletal system.
An evaluation may include reviewing how the accident occurred, discussing symptoms, assessing range of motion, performing orthopedic and neurological testing when appropriate, and examining areas of tenderness or restricted movement.
Our goal is not simply to ask, “Where does it hurt?”
We want to understand what has changed since the accident and determine an appropriate course of care or referral.
4. Imaging May Be Appropriate
Not everyone who gets into a car accident needs imaging.
However, depending on the history, examination findings, symptoms, and clinical presentation, X-rays or MRI studies may sometimes be appropriate.
X-rays can provide information about the bones and alignment of the spine, while an MRI can provide additional information about soft tissues and structures such as spinal discs.
For example, someone experiencing radiating leg pain, numbness, weakness, or persistent symptoms may require additional evaluation to determine whether a disc or nerve-related problem could be contributing.
At Disc Wellness Chiropractic, we can help coordinate imaging when clinically appropriate.
5. Document Your Symptoms
After an accident, keep track of how you feel.
Write down symptoms you experience and activities that have become more difficult.
For example:
“Turning my head while driving hurts.”
“I can’t sit at my desk as long as I normally can.”
“My lower back hurts when I get out of bed.”
“I’ve started getting headaches since the collision.”
“My leg feels numb when I sit.”
These details can help your healthcare providers understand how the injury is affecting your daily life.
6. Follow Your Treatment Recommendations
Recovery is rarely about what happens during one appointment.
Depending on the injury, your provider may recommend chiropractic care, therapeutic exercise, activity modifications, imaging, massage therapy, medical evaluation, or referral to another healthcare professional.
Following the recommended treatment plan and attending scheduled appointments can help your provider monitor your progress and modify care when necessary.
7. What If You Don’t Have an Attorney?
Some patients already have an attorney when they arrive at our office. Others have no idea what to do after an accident.
Our primary role is your healthcare.
However, if a patient asks for help locating legal representation, our office works with personal injury attorneys in the area and may be able to provide resources.
Whether you need an attorney depends on the circumstances of your particular accident and claim. Legal questions should ultimately be discussed with a qualified attorney.
Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident
At Disc Wellness Chiropractic, our approach begins with an evaluation.
We commonly see patients experiencing neck pain, back pain, headaches, sciatica, stiffness, and other musculoskeletal complaints following motor vehicle accidents.
Depending on the patient’s condition, care may involve chiropractic treatment and other conservative therapies, with additional referrals when appropriate.
We also believe communication matters.
When patients are working with other healthcare providers or attorneys, appropriate documentation and coordination can help everyone better understand the patient’s treatment and progress.
Recently Injured in a Car Accident?
If you were recently involved in a car accident in Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Loomis, or the surrounding Placer County area, don’t ignore new or worsening symptoms.
Disc Wellness Chiropractic is located in Rocklin, California, and provides evaluations and chiropractic care for patients with musculoskeletal injuries following motor vehicle accidents.
Every accident and every patient is different, so treatment recommendations depend on your individual history and examination findings.
Disc Wellness Chiropractic
3706 Atherton Rd., Suite 100
Rocklin, CA 95765
Contact our office to schedule a car accident injury evaluation.
