Motor Vehicle Injuries

Treatments for motor vehicle injuries depend on both the extent of your injury and the injury itself. The best course of action after an accident is to see your doctor immediately. Following an accident, the body provides a surge of adrenaline and cortisol that can mask injuries.

And don’t avoid the doctor if you think it was a small crash. Serious injuries, including whiplash, are possible at speeds as low as eight miles per hour.

After treating acute injuries like broken bones and cuts, other motor vehicle injury treatments include:

1. Rest: Usually rest is prescribed for just a day or two after an accident. Much more than that can lead to stiffness, soreness, and problems with range of motion.
2. Medication: If you have prescription medications, take them only as prescribed. For minor inflammation and pain, over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be useful.
3. Hot/cold treatments: Alternate these to relieve inflammation and reduce muscle soreness.
4. Chiropractic care: Chiropractic care has been proven to relieve the discomfort of whiplash and to help the spine return to proper alignment.
5. Acupuncture: Acupuncture is used not only to relieve pain but also to counteract the stress and anxiety that may come after a motor vehicle injury.
6. Physical therapy: Physical therapy helps with a variety of conditions, including muscle sprains, strains, and whiplash.
7. Diagnostic blocks: If neck pain persists after the above treatments, medial branch blocks can be done to determine where pain is originating.
8. Radiofrequency ablation: If pain is relieved with medial branch blocks, radiofrequency ablation can help disrupt pain signals from the nerves. This may provide long-lasting pain relief when conservative measures have failed.