After getting in a car accident, even long after repairs for the car are completed, it's not unusual to feel lingering physical effects. For example, people who are involved in a collision that impacted the rear of the vehicle often experience symptoms of whiplash. These symptoms may not begin right away, which is why it's important to understand what to look for and when to seek medical help.

Whiplash is a very common car accident injury that occurs when the neck takes the brunt of the force that strikes the car. Because your body is held in place by the seatbelt but your head is not, your body will stay in place as your head keeps moving forward for a split second after the collision. As your neck brings your head back, this sometimes strains ligaments in the neck.

The most common complaint patients have is neck pain. Because it is a direct result of the car accident injury, it is fairly easy to recognize as something that requires treatment. However, other symptoms go beyond this, into territory that is more difficult for patients to link with the accident. For example, the neck pain may travel out to the shoulders, or even result in tingly sensations in the arms and legs due to nerve damage.

Headaches and migraines are also common symptoms, but patients may not link those with the car accident injury. Massage therapy and other treatments are effective at alleviating pain and reducing further headaches and migraines. Other symptoms may include sleep problems and moodiness, which are even harder to link to the accident.

It's important to watch for symptoms in the days, weeks, or months following your accident. When you discover problems, remember that chiropractic care not only eases pain, but can also help prevent future pain. In particular, massage therapy is an effective way to loosen tense muscles and help support the other chiropractic adjustments in the spine.

Here at PSS Injury & Wellness Center, we have helped patients recover from car accident injuries of all types. The injuries that happen during a car accident can range from minor to severe, so it is important to seek medical attention including chiropractic care immediately after you have been involved in any auto accident, regardless of whether you think you have a serious injury or not. Often, injuries resulting from a collision may not develop immediately. 

Common Injuries Following a Collision

Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries. Whiplash happens when the impact of an auto accident forces your neck into an unnatural movement, hyperextending it. During this movement, the muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the neck can be strained to the point that severe pain can result. Whiplash can include neck pain, headache, and back pain and it may be evident in the time immediately after the accident or it may take a few days to surface.

Back pain is another common result of car accidents. Back pain can happen due to the accident impact, and can include damaged vertebral discs, muscle strains, and issues with the vertebrae. Back pain generally begins soon after an accident, and it can become much worse -- even permanent -- if you don't seek treatment.

During accident impact, injuries to the limbs (the arms and legs) are common. Broken bones are not the only injury: Muscle strains and sprains in the arms and legs can severely impact mobility and can cause great pain. These injuries can be resolved with the help of a good chiropractic plan.

Our chiropractic care plans include a range of care options that are designed to help patients following their auto accident. Our care options may include a combination of spinal adjustments, therapeutic rehabilitation and massage therapy, but also an evaluation for the sake of preventative care.

Welcome to PSS Injury & Wellness Center’s new blog about chiropractic care! We’ve started this blog in order to inform our patients, as well as the general public, about issues pertaining to chiropractic and wellness. We know that many of our Atlanta patients would welcome the opportunity to ask their chiropractor questions about health conditions, pain management and treatment options. That’s why this blog will feature not only general information about chiropractic treatment, but also focus on how chiropractic can help conditions such as allergies, chronic pain, recurring headaches, mood and sleeping disorders, and much more. We encourage you to post your feedback on the site and ask our chiropractors any questions you might want answered.

Back Pain, Neck Pain and Other Injury and Wellness Topics

We will discuss how we can help back pain, neck pain and other symptoms and conditions you might experience as a result of a car accident injury or a sports injury. We’ll also explain how good posture and a healthy lifestyle can assist you in not only maintaining a healthy weight, but also a stronger and pain-free body; and how to adjust your exercise and nutrition for different stages of life such as pregnancy or old age. 

We’ll also use the blog to inform you about how supporting therapies such as massage therapy, physical therapy and acupuncture can enhance your healing process and quality of life. And, of course, we’ll dedicate some blog posts to how continual chiropractic treatment can help strengthen your body, prevent certain injuries from occurring and increasing your body overall body wellness. Visit our blog regularly for news and updates about our wellness center, as well as the latest developments in our field!