Car Accident Injury Treatment Options & Time to Recover
After an accident, you may be confused about what type of doctor to see and how long it takes to recover.
Dr. Barry Marks, Chiropractor and Car Accident Injury Specialist
ORANGE, CA
“What kind of doctor should I see after a car accident?”
You might be confused by choices — ER vs. urgent care vs. primary care vs. chiropractic. You’re not alone. Unless you have severe pain, loss of consciousness, bleeding or suspect a fracture, stay out of the Emergency Dept. Presenting to an Urgent Care is a good choice the day of the accident or the next day, if you cannot make an appointment with a proper car accident specialist. A chiropractor who specializes in car accidents would be superior to your family primary care physician because they are well versed in these types of injuries.
“Can chiropractic treatment help with headaches, back pain, or nerve symptoms?”
Many studies over the years have shown that chiropractic treatments provide quicker relief, less side effects, less exposure to addictive drugs and results in less disability compared to standard medical care consisting of physical therapy and/or pain pills and muscle relaxers. If you are hesitant because you’ve never been to a chiropractor, an experienced car accident specialist chiropractor will provide gentle pain-relieving treatments like heat, stretching, electrical stimulation and more to relax muscles and calm nerves.
“How long will it take to recover from whiplash after a car accident?”
Recovery time is a big concern. You are probably wondering how long it will be before you can get back to work, driving, and normal life. Whiplash treatment times depend on how much damage you have suffered and how quickly your body heals. Everyone is different. A trained specialist will assess your injuries and use an objective set of guidelines to determine how long it may take.
In general very minor injuries may heal in a month or so. Mild whiplash can take up to 2 months. More moderate damage can take between 3 and 6 months, while severe injuries may take a year or longer. In the majority of cases you will begin to notice relief within days of beginning care, but will take some time for your body to heal and stabilize.
