- I’m not bleeding so I am not hurt.
We are all accustomed to the TV shows that display characters that have been in an auto accident as a bloody mess. The fact is most auto accidents don’t result in such gore, which leads people to believe that they are not injured. How you feel immediately after a collision is by no means an accurate indicator of the extent of trauma your body has suffered. And it is only after an objective evaluation by a qualified and specially trained accident doctor, will your condition and state be verified. The most common injuries are not externally apparent in the manner of cuts, bruises, and blood; but rather, they are what are referred to as “soft-tissue injuries”. These consist of your ligaments, muscles, tendons, and nerves. Injuries in these areas are just as serious, and often, have lifelong consequences if they are not properly addressed and treated.
- My pain will go away on its own with time.
No, no, no! If you have noticeable discomfort or pain of any kind, no matter how mild, after you’ve been in an accident, this means that there has been significant enough of injury to an internal structure. Unless that specific injury is treated and corrected, the pain and symptoms actually only worsen with time. You put yourself at risk for exacerbating the injury and causing permanent damage. Moreover, the longer the gap from the time of the accident and your first doctor’s visit, the more you hurt your case against the insurance companies.
- I can just deal with the pain with medication.
Pain medication, whether over-the-counter or prescription, don’t treat your injury. Again, they don’t treat your injury. This goes hand-in-hand with the notion that injuries will just resolve on their own, but as previously discussed this is not the case. Medication works to address only the symptoms of a deeper cause, which is why your pain and other symptoms are still there once the medication has worn off. Long-term use of painkillers has also been shown to have adverse effects of their own, including organ and intestinal damage.
- Seeing only your primary care physician.
Seeing your primary care physician is a good idea in general for your immediate pain and symptoms after a car accident. Generally, they will do a preliminary examination and evaluate your symptoms, which are often accompanied by a prescription for pain medication. You should keep in mind, doctors have specialties that they are trained for in recognizing, diagnosing, and treating the ailments accurately. Auto accidents have a particular pattern of injuries that also require a specialized physician who looks out for these patterns for accurate diagnosis. Chiropractors are the experts in the field of auto accident injuries, and they are trained to administer therapies on the actual injury and facilitate rehabilitation according to your state of recovery.
- Electing surgery and more invasive procedures too soon.
Pain is not an accurate indicator of the extent of your internal injury. You should always begin with more conservative and less invasive treatment options that may reduce your probability of undergoing surgery. Surgery itself does not guarantee a full recovery and may even prolong your recovery period. Chiropractic care is proven to be effective in treating auto accident injuries, thus reducing your pain and symptoms. It drastically minimizes the likelihood that you will need surgery in the long-term. Your chiropractor may refer you out for further evaluation and other treatment options with an orthopedic doctor in rare cases when the injuries are truly severe and unresponsive to standard adjustments and manual therapies.
- “Soft-tissue” injuries are not serious.
The phrase “soft-tissue” already lends to the misconception that these injuries are not acute and urgent. Part of the reason for this is that they are not as easily diagnosed. They don’t show up on x-rays, and the symptoms resulting from this particular kind of injury vary in both type and intensity. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves are categorized as “soft-tissue”. Damage to any one of these components affects every other structure, as they work together in all aspects to achieve the necessary bodily function and movement. The insurance companies have also done a great job in diminishing the seriousness and value of these injuries, but the best chiropractors are able to diagnose and present your injuries in a manner that will ensure you do not fall victim to this tactic.
- I have to pay for treatments out of pocket.
There are a lot of cases where people choose to not get treated for their pain and injury after an accident because they don’t have health insurance or income to cover the bill. If you are not at fault for the accident, the other party’s insurance is responsible for the accrued medical bills. If you are the at fault party, check your auto insurance coverage for MEDPAY. MEDPAY is a type of auto insurance that covers the medical and funeral expenses of the policyholder. MEDPAY provides coverage regardless of who is at fault. It should be noted that by law, using your MEDPAY will not increase your insurance premiums. In any case, speak with your chiropractor about your options.
All of these points discussed tie together to determine your condition and outcome after your auto accident, both physically and, in most cases, legally. Unfortunately, this isn’t as common knowledge as one might be inclined to believe, among both patients and doctors alike. How knowledgeable your chiropractor is in how auto accidents are dealt with on the whole is just as important as how skilled and resourceful the chiropractor is in actually diagnosing and treating you.
Your Suwanee chiropractor at Sugarloaf Pain & Rehab are the trusted experts with auto accidents. Trained especially for auto accident injuries and with over 13 years of experience, your chiropractors at Sugarloaf Pain & Rehab will identify and effectively the injuries that are often overlooked or missed by those that are not well-versed and trained in this area. As a patient, you benefit from the most advanced techniques and procedures performed by your chiropractor and the varying advanced therapies that are unique to this clinic.
For more information about our clinic and the ways we can assist you with your auto accident ordeal, contact us at (770) 817-3399 or check us out on our website for more information.
7 most misunderstood factors about auto accident injuries.