There is no doubt that cars are a vital part of our daily lives, from taking us to and from school, work and for entertainment. However, it is also a fact that cars can be quite dangerous, and millions of people suffer from auto accident injuries every year. Auto accidents are especially perilous when they occur at high speeds and people have to put up with numerous auto accident injuries like back pain, whiplash or broken bones. Moreover, patients are more likely to develop chronic pain, which can last longer than three months. Thus, prompt treatment of auto accident injuries is important for minimizing the pain and other issues.
Luckily, a variety of treatments can be used for helping people manage auto accident-related pain and resume their normal activities. The likelihood of successful treatment depends on seeking medical help right away. Some of the common treatment options that can be used are:
- Physical therapy
The type of injury and the condition of the patient will determine exactly what kind of physical therapy will be provided. Some of the auto accident injuries that can be helped with physical therapy include whiplash, neck pain, back pain or any other kind of musculoskeletal discomfort. The treatment may comprise of a combination of strengthening or stretching exercises, heating and icing and other techniques. Therapists help in developing a customized set of exercises for every patient in order to help them gain flexibility and muscle strength.
- Chiropractic care
This treatment option can be immensely helpful for patients because it allows their body to regain optimal spinal alignment, which suffers during auto accidents. When providing treatment, chiropractors often use a method known as spinal adjustment or manipulation. These treatments can often help patients feel better just after a single treatment, but patients with severe injuries may require several sessions before they feel better. Lots of centers offering chiropractic care also provide comprehensive group practice for auto injury patients to help in the recovery process.
- Injections
There are a number of injections that are available for alleviating persistent pain that can often develop after auto accident injuries. Regardless of the specific type of medication, all injections are aimed at targeting the nerves that cause pain. In contrast, pills are known to impact the whole body and are systemic. Nonetheless, injections are a bit more invasive because they involve the use of powerful medications and needles. Therefore, they are recommended according to the case.
- Non-surgical therapy
There are some auto injury patients who may actually benefit from a procedure referred to as cervical facet radiofrequency neurotomy. This technique sounds a bit fancy, but its job is to interrupt problematic nerves from sending any pain signals to the brain. This particular procedure takes up about an hour and damages the offending nerve with the use of heat. The pain relief can last anywhere between a few months to a couple of years.
A combination of these treatments can be used for helping patients recover from auto accident injuries quickly.
