Have You Been in a Car Accident?
It is no secret that winter driving conditions increase the likelihood of Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA’s). If you have been injured in an MVA, following these simple steps goes a long way towards preventing long-term pain.
What should I do?
You were involved in a car accident and now have neck pain, back pain, headaches or concussion. Research shows that you should receive a timely proper assessment as soon as possible after the accident. Diagnosing your injuries and arranging for proper treatment, including things you can do to help yourself speeds recovery. It also significantly reduces the chances of longer-term, persistent pain. Your insurance company knows this so they provide the coverage to make this happen. You won’t need to pay out of pocket for most injuries associated with car accidents in Alberta. Their protocols will fully cover the cost of a chiropractor or physiotherapist doing this assessment. There is no up-front cost to you.
Here is what to do:
1. Contact your insurance provider to notify them you have been in an accident
2. Contact Us ASAP to get assessed sooner rather than later.
What if I need treatment?
If your assessment determines that treatment is necessary to speed your recovery, our chiropractors or physiotherapists will let your insurance provider know. Your insurer will work with your health care team to cover the cost of any treatment you may need. Treatment for common injuries such as whiplash, headaches, back pain and concussion are typically fully covered. Most of the time, your insurance allows us to direct bill them or any costs associated with the treatment. This means no upfront or out-of-pocket costs to you.
Will I have permanent damage or pain?
It is common for you to worry that your car accident injuries might be permanent. We have good news for you! Research has shown that it may take a while to fully recover but early assessment and proper treatment, including things you can do to help yourself significantly improve your chances of full recovery and a normal life. Getting started on the right track soon after the accident significantly reduces the chances of developing chronic, ongoing problems. This is the reason the rules were changed a number of years ago to allow insurance to cover all of the up-front costs of early assessment and treatment.
What if I’m not getting better?
Research tells us that the vast majority of injuries from car accidents heal and you are back to normal within 2-3 months. Unfortunately, a small number of people continue to experience ongoing problems even 6-12 months after the accident. An even smaller number can go on to have recurrent problems for years.
Our clinic was involved in a Research project that showed there is hope if you have persistent neck pain, headaches, back pain and/or shoulder girdle pain. This research showed that these ongoing problems can be the result of undiagnosed underlying
neck weakness.
Traditional treatment, rehabilitation methods and home exercise programs may be ineffective in specifically targeting your injured neck.
Does this sound like you?
We know if you are in pain, it is natural not to properly move and use the painful area. Our bodies follow the “Use it or lose it” principle. Disuse leads to atrophy and weakness which makes you vulnerable to further injury and pain.
If your neck still hurts months or even years after your injury, a quick and easy test with one of our expert chiropractors or physiotherapists on our neck machine (the MCU), will diagnose whether ongoing weakness may be contributing. We measure and compare your neck strength to normal. If your neck is weak, the MCU is also the answer. Under our supervision, the neck machine allows for a customized specific rehabilitation strengthening program. Rebuilding your neck strength and mobility in this safe and controlled fashion can significantly reduce your pain so you can get back to your normal life! Watch this feature that a Calgary news program did telling Cathy’s experience:
If you’ve fallen victim to the winter weather and have been injured in a car accident, contact us today!
