Car Accidents/Whiplash Lethbridge
If you’ve been involved in an automobile accident, it’s critical that you seek care right away. At Parascak Family Chiropractic, we use Kinetisense, Insight nerve scans and digital X-rays to provide the most objective data to quickly determine the diagnosis for patients. We then can devise an effective treatment plan to ensure their success in getting better long term.
What Is whiplash and How Is It Caused?
The most common type of injury associated with car accidents is whiplash. Whiplash occurs when a sudden, jarring movement of the head is sustained backward, forward or even to the side. You don’t need to be travelling at high speeds to experience whiplash. Whiplash, which can occur in sudden changes of speed of only four kilometers per hour, destabilizes the spine and causes severe pain, as well as these other indicators:
- Blurred vision
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Shoulder pain
- Reduced range of motion in the neck
- Arm pain
- Neck stiffness
- Low back pain
As the effects of whiplash aren’t always felt immediately following an accident, it’s essential to see your chiropractor as soon as you can after a car accident. If left untreated, whiplash can evolve into long-term pain.
FAQ
How can my chiropractor help with whiplash?
- Adjusting the spinal joints, muscle relaxation or stimulation
- Exercises designed to reduce disc derangement or train the nervous system to better coordinate and control movement patterns
- Ergonomic and lifestyle changes to limit habits or activities that may be amplifying the effects of whiplash
Does insurance cover chiropractic care?
Your auto insurance covers you for a minimum of 10 chiropractic treatments for minor injuries under the Alberta Diagnostic Treatment Protocols Regulation. So, you are entitled to see your chiropractor at no charge to you regardless of who was at fault in your accident. More information about your coverage for treatment after a car accident is available here.
What happens to your body (neck/spine) in a car accident?
Why is it essential to seek chiropractic care for these injuries?
We have seen hundreds of patients over the years that have come in later on in life suffering from whiplash complications that were not detected, managed properly or were just simply minimized by the patient at the time thinking if the pain goes away then the problem is solved. Unfortunately, with whiplash injuries, the pain goes away in most cases with time, but unless you are properly assessed at the time of the accident, then it is difficult to be aware of what impact the accident may have had on your body. You can’t base your health on your symptoms alone.
How long can the patient expect to be in the office for the initial appointment?
The initial appointment is about an hour and similar to what is done with all new patients who come to the office except there is more paperwork. We complete this together to be sure the insurance companies have all the proper documentation to open a claim and provide coverage for everyone depending on their diagnosis.
We do spinal X-rays, nerve scans, and Kinetisense functional movement testing.
Do you bill insurance directly?
How long does it take to recover from an auto accident?
Healing takes time. Auto accidents provide initial coverage for the first 90 days from accident date. Our goal is to provide a program that helps our patients heal as quickly as possible in hopes that full recovery happens. If full recovery hasn’t happened in the first 90 days, then Section B benefits provide support, and the insurance companies will continue to assist the patient with ongoing treatments if necessary.
Yes; we also strongly recommend massage therapy, acupuncture and physio in conjunction with our chiropractic adjustments but we decide this with patients depending on what they have tried in the past and what has worked for them before. We also offer at-home exercise programs to improve functional movement.
If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, please seek care right away. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.