AUTO INJURY RELIEF IN Eagan

Car accidents can be one of the most frightening and confusing experiences that a person can go through. Often the first thing that a person is concerned about following an automobile accident is the damage to their vehicle or their insurance coverage. This results in them neglecting the most important part, which is their individual health. Seeking proper care in a timely fashion is the most vital aspect in determining the overall outcome of your condition. This article is here to help you understand how chiropractors help car accident patients in Eagan. We hope it helps you to avoid the long term problems we so often see.

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Automobile Accident Injury Facts

• Automobile accidents are the leading cause of injuries and are responsible for 40% of spinal injuries every year.
• Over 5.6 million car accidents were reported in the United States in 2012.
• It is more common to not have initial symptoms. Symptoms usually don’t show up for days, weeks, or even months.
• It takes a rear end collision only 5 mph to cause a neck injury.
• Minimal or no damage to your vehicle does not mean you were not injured. Collisions in the 6-12 mph range cause the highest percentage of whiplash injuries. Many vehicles will not show any damage in that same range.
• Females, the elderly, and people with a pre-existing condition such as arthritis are more likely to have greater injuries with less force than the rest of the population.
• Early active intervention gave whiplash patients more relief (within 4 days versus 14 days).

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Causes of Automobile Accident Injuries IN Eagan MN

As stated above, many different injuries can occur during an automobile accident, even if no pain is present immediately following the accident. Whiplash is caused by a sudden movement of the head, either backward, forward, or sideways, which results in damage to the supporting muscles, ligaments, and other connective tissues in the neck and upper back.

The spine is not built to withstand the impact of an automobile accident so many misalignments of the spine can appear after any amount of impact. The extra force put on the spine from the impact of an accident can cause not only whiplash but also disc herniation, compression fractures, and spondylolisthesis.

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COMMON INJURIES AFTER CAR ACCIDENT

Unfortunately, many people believe that the most serious injuries sustained following car accidents are immediately noticeable. There is also a misconception that only high speed or hard impact collisions can cause serious damage to a person’s body. It has been found that these two beliefs are largely responsible for the vast number of injuries that fail to receive treatment following automobile collisions. Therefore, the first thing to remember when making the decision to seek appropriate care is to understand that a large number of injuries can occur following many different types of collisions.

Following a car accident, a person must keep in mind that many factors such as the placement of a cars headrest, the size of both automobiles involved in the collision, and the speed that they were traveling prior at impact all play an important role in determining the injuries sustained. To help understand this concept, it has been shown through research that a car traveling only 5 mph at the time of impact is capable of producing the forces necessary to cause whiplash injuries. While injuries such as fractures, cuts, concussions, and dislocations are immediately noticeable, other forms of damage to musculature, blood vessels, and nerves may not become evident for months or even years. Unfortunately when these injuries become evident months and years down the road, insurance companies are often not held liable for reimbursement. Therefore it is important that you undergo a complete evaluation immediately following your accident by a health care professional familiar with these injuries. Your doctor at Cornerstone Family Chiropractic is here to help you in this process.

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What Can I Do to Correct and Avoid Automobile Accident Injuries?

Here are a few things that you can do immediately:

• Do simple exercises, such as stretching, daily.
• Ice spine in area of pain daily.
• Use a firm pillow that is designed to support the curvature of your neck.
• Never sleep on your stomach.
• Do not lift heavy objects.
• Avoid twisting and bending motions.
• Get a massage weekly.

While all these tips will help you reduce pain, the only true, proven way to correct misalignments in your spine is to be checked and adjusted by a chiropractor.

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HOW CAN MY CHIROPRACTOR HELP?

As mentioned previously, chiropractors are one of the few primary health care providers who specialize in treating the musculoskeletal system. Just as a person consults with a cardiologist for concerns about their heart, many people seek care and advice from chiropractors regarding musculoskeletal injuries. While whiplash injuries are not always immediately evident, they are actually considered one of the most common injuries sustained during car accidents. The strain that the forces causing whiplash injuries place on the spine are capable of causing damage to the muscles, ligaments, and nerves responsible for supporting your head and neck. If these seemingly minor injuries are not corrected, they often produce a waterfall affect leading to multiple neurological and musculoskeletal symptoms. In fact, it has been found that whiplash injuries are often responsible for early degeneration of the vertebrae throughout your spine, as well as a multitude of symptoms such as pain and headaches. Since automobile injuries can involve many systems throughout the body, finding a doctor who is able to address each area is important. Our team at Cornerstone Family Chiropractic in Eagan will create an individualized treatment plan that encompasses chiropractic adjustments, active and passive physical therapy, exercise programs, and possibly nutritional modifications to help speed up the recovery process.

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As you can see, seeking care immediately after an automobile accident in Eagan can mean the difference between recovery and a lifetime of pain. If you have been in a car accident or know someone who has, please contact our team at Cornerstone Family Chiropractic as soon as possible to schedule a consultation.