Chiropractic Treatment for Accident Victims
Victims of motor vehicle accidents and other traumatic incidents often struggle with chronic pain from their injuries. Chiropractors are just one of the many types of health professionals who help accident victims deal with their pain and move forward on the road toward recovery. Chiropractic treatment consists primarily of adjustments to the spine, which are believed to be effective in reducing back pain, neck pain and headaches in many patients.
Unfortunately, chiropractic adjustments and other post-accident rehabilitation services can be quite expensive. If you or a loved one has suffered soft tissue injuries, traumatic head injuries or other bodily harm in an accident that was caused by another person's negligence, you may be able to reach a settlement with those responsible — or receive compensation in the form of a court award — to offset your medical bills, pain and suffering and other expenses. Contact a personal injury lawyer for more information and injury legal help. To learn about drunk driving accidents and other related topics such as DUI bail cost, visit our DUI section.
Chiropractic and Soft Tissue Injuries
Fender benders and other traumatic incidents can cause a variety of injuries, from broken bones to serious head trauma. Another common injury is damage to the body's soft tissues, which often requires significant rehabilitation. While some injuries, such as broken bones, eventually heal and cause no further pain, soft tissue injuries often lead to chronic pain. If you are suffering from this type of injury and pain, your doctor may recommend you seek the help of a chiropractor and/or other rehabilitation specialist.
Chiropractics is a form of complementary healthcare focusing on the relationship between the structure and function of the body. Broadly speaking, chiropractors treat issues related to the musculoskeletal system, but chiropractics mainly focuses on the spine.
Chiropractic treatment of soft tissue injuries mostly involves manual spinal adjustments (the main type of treatment chiropractors perform). These adjustments, or "manipulations," are meant to address any interference the spine may be causing with the healing of soft tissue injuries. The principal theory behind chiropractics is that misalignment of the spine can interfere with the body's healing processes.
In addition to chiropractic treatment you may want to seek out other forms of pain management. It may be a good idea to contact a personal injury or car accident lawyer to learn more about reaching a settlement with those responsible for your pain. Personal injury attorneys have the experience necessary to fight for your rights and obtain compensation for your injuries.
Chiropractic Diagnosis and Treatment
Chiropractors use a number of methods to diagnose patients prior to treatment. This may include:
- Reviewing the patient's medical history
- Physical, orthopedic and neurological exams
- Lab tests
- X-rays
- Analysis of posture
If a patient's symptoms can be linked to the musculoskeletal system, the chiropractor will likely recommend spinal adjustments or other chiropractic treatment.
Chiropractors also make use of other forms of therapy. Many chiropractic offices employ or have relationships with other alternative medicine practitioners, some of whose services may be recommended by the physician directing an accident victim's rehabilitation. This may include, among others, physical therapists, masseurs and acupuncturists. In addition to these specialists, an accident victim's rehabilitation team may include psychologists and counselors.
Compensation for Your Injuries
Chiropractic treatment is one of the many forms of therapy accident victims may benefit from. While insurance may cover some of the expense associated with these treatments, oftentimes much of the cost is left to the patient. If you have been injured in an accident that may have resulted from another party's negligence, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible so that you can attempt to arrive at a settlement with the responsible parties. You may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other issues that come about as a result of your injuries. 