TLDR
Spinal decompression can help relieve pressure on spinal discs and nerves and may be an option for certain disc injuries after an accident. Our trusted chiropractors in Steele Creek provide compassionate care to ease accident-related pain and help you get back to doing what you love without unnecessary medications or surgery.
Neck or back pain that lingers after a car accident can make recovery more difficult.
When the discomfort involves the spine, spinal decompression may be used to provide relief by reducing pressure on affected structures.
Our auto accident chiropractor in Steele Creek, Charlotte, NC, can assess your injury and determine whether this approach may be suitable as part of your care.
How Can a Car Accident Injure Your Spine?
A car accident can place sudden stress on the neck and back. During a collision, the body may move abruptly, causing the head and spine to shift forward, backwards, or sideways. This sudden movement can damage the structures that support the spine.
Some ways you may have injured your spine during an accident include:
- Straining or tearing the muscles and ligaments that support your neck and back. Such injuries can cause neck pain after a car accident, including whiplash when your neck snaps back and forth during the collision.
- Damaging the spinal discs between the vertebrae, causing them to bulge or herniate. This may irritate nearby nerves and contribute to pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.
- Fracturing one or more vertebrae in a severe collision, which may cause significant pain and require prompt medical evaluation.
Why Do Accident Injury Symptoms Sometimes Show Up Days Later?
Not every car accident injury causes immediate pain because your body releases adrenaline and endorphins as part of the body’s stress response, which can mask the pain you may feel. As this response subsides, pain and stiffness may become more noticeable.
Whiplash, for example, may not cause noticeable symptoms immediately. As the injured muscles and ligaments become inflamed, pain and stiffness may develop gradually, sometimes taking hours or days to become noticeable.
If discomfort develops after a collision, seek an early assessment, especially if symptoms worsen or affect normal activities.
Is Spinal Decompression Right for Your Accident Injury?
We can perform chiropractic spinal decompression, which uses controlled traction to gently stretch the spine and relieve pressure on affected structures. This may be an option for some people with disc-related problems, such as bulging or herniated discs, that contribute to back pain or nerve irritation.
But the right treatment depends on the injury. For example, a spinal fracture or unstable spinal injury may need medical evaluation before traction or other conservative care can be considered. We have on-site X-rays to help evaluate your injury. We can also help determine whether you need an MRI or CT scan or a medical referral.
X-rays can show fractures and other bone changes. An MRI can provide a closer look at discs and nerves, while a CT scan may be needed to get a more detailed picture of the bones. After evaluating your injury and reviewing any necessary imaging, we can determine whether spinal decompression may help relieve your pain and support your recovery.
How Does Decompression Fit Into a Full Accident Recovery Plan?
Spinal decompression therapy is not necessarily a standalone solution. Recovery from an accident-related spinal injury may involve several forms of care depending on the diagnosis and symptoms.
A treatment plan may include:
- Physical therapy: Guided exercises can help restore movement, improve flexibility, and strengthen supporting muscles.
- Rehabilitation: As you recover, you may need help getting back to everyday activities, such as sitting, bending, and lifting, with support that helps you practice these movements.
- Medical follow-up: Regular assessments help healthcare professionals monitor your progress and adjust treatment when necessary.
Accident Injury and Spinal Decompression Care in Steele Creek
If you are feeling pain in your neck or back after an accident, don’t ignore it.
At Urgent Chiropractic of Steele Creek, we provide rapid same-day and scheduled chiropractic care after an auto accident at our Steele Creek, University City, Matthews, and Dilworth offices.
Our experienced chiropractors provide auto accident care and spinal decompression to help address a range of spinal and musculoskeletal conditions, including disc problems.
We begin with an evaluation to understand your condition and determine the appropriate care. When an injury requires medical assessment or testing, we help ensure that is the next step.
If you are dealing with a personal injury claim, we can also help you understand how insurance may apply to your chiropractic care.
Schedule an appointment and take advantage of our $95 first-visit special, which includes a consultation, examination, therapies, and adjustment.
Key Takeaways
- Accident-related symptoms may take hours or days to appear. Get evaluated as soon as possible.
- Spinal decompression may help with certain disc-related conditions, but it is not appropriate for every accident injury.
- A proper assessment helps determine whether chiropractic care is suitable or further medical evaluation is needed.
- At Urgent Chiropractic of Steele Creek in Steele Creek, Charlotte, Dr. Poloyen and Dr. Mozing provide chiropractic care to help you recover from your accident-related injuries.
Sources
- https://chiropractorsteelecreekclt.com/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/back-pain/low-back-pain-after-car-accident
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23040-endorphins
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22611-epinephrine-adrenaline
- https://chiropractorsteelecreekclt.com/disc-and-spine-decompression/
- https://chiropractorsteelecreekclt.com/same-day-vs-scheduled-chiropractic-care-how-do-you-know-its-time-to-see-a-chiropractor/
- https://chiropractorsteelecreekclt.com/auto-accident/
