After an auto accident, you should see a primary care doctor, if you have one. If not you should see a doctor who can assess your injuries and will provide follow-up if necessary. If you have injuries that are moderate to severe, a visit to the emergency room is recommended before you see a primary care doctor. Always visit a doctor following an auto accident. Even if you think that you have not sustained any injuries, a doctor will take be able to determine whether you are okay.
 
You may also want to visit a chiropractor following an auto accident. Many times the injuries that are sustained will not be evident immediately. Sprains, strain, and whiplash can take days to manifest symptoms. A chiropractor has the training and experience to check on these injuries and even provide preventative care if necessary.
 
It is also a good idea to see a personal injury doctor as soon as you can. A personal injury doctor will help prevent injuries from getting worse and drive medical bills higher.

For most people, rest will be the most important treatment after an auto accident. You will need to talk to our doctor about your injuries to find out what treatment is needed for the injuries you have sustained.
There is a range of treatment options that are recommended regardless of the types of injuries you have sustained and they include:

• Good exercise and nutrition to help your body’s natural healing
• Acupuncture
• Medication management for pain
• Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen
• Hot and cold therapy to reduce inflammation
• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic care

How long it takes to heal from an auto accident will depend on the severity of the injuries that you have sustained. For a severe accident, injuries can take months or longer. After a serious accident, you could face excruciating pain and have ongoing medical care for the rest of your life.
 
For an accident that is considered minor, you can expect soreness and healing to last up to eight weeks. The pain you encounter after an auto accident can include minor soreness. It is common for people to have back and neck pain after a minor car accident. Minor whiplash can last for weeks after an accident, making it difficult for you to move your head and neck.
 
Minor injuries will usually heal in six to eight weeks after the accident. When treated promptly and properly broken bones will heal in eight weeks, but symptoms from that injury may last longer. Strains and sprains that are caused by the accident will take just as long to heal as broken bones, and can often be more painful.
 
The time that you will need to heal from an auto accident will depend on many factors. There is no such thing as an average kind of accident. The length of time needed to heal will depend on the kinds of injuries you have sustained, your health, and your body’s ability to heal.

Some injuries from an auto accident can be identified as serious quite easily. Any time that your injuries can be considered life-threatening or have a need for a visit to an emergency room, your injuries are serious.

There are also injuries that may not seem to be serious at the time of the accident that truly is serious. The things that can indicate that your injuries are serious include:

• You have ongoing headaches after the accident.
• You experience sharp pain when you move.
• You have lost strength in your extremities.
• Your pain continues to get worse and not better.
• You are experiencing confusion or disorientation.
• You have abdominal or chest pain.
• You have difficulty with hearing or seeing.
• You find yourself getting drowsy, frequently.

Auto accidents can cause long-term pain and health problems. Max Center for Health has a team of specialists that can help ease that pain and get you back to work and play. If you have had an accident, give us a call and we will be glad to help. We are conveniently located at 240 N Liberty St Suite R Powell OH 43065. For more information, please call us or request an appointment online. We serve patients from Powell OH, Dublin OH, Worthington OH, Westerville OH, Hilliard OH, and Delaware OH.