A car accident can leave you with neck pain, back stiffness, headaches, or soreness that does not show up until hours or even days later. Serene Healing Chiropractic works with patients from Deer Park, Lake Zurich, and the surrounding Northwest Chicago suburbs who are looking for a chiropractor after a car accident. Dr. Serena Salerno reviews what happened in your accident, your symptoms, and your health history before building a treatment plan specific to you.
Hurt in a car accident near Deer Park or Lake Zurich?
What to Expect After a Car Accident
Even a low-speed collision can strain muscles, ligaments, and joints in ways that are not obvious right away. Adrenaline from the accident can mask early pain, which is one reason some people feel fine on the day of the crash and then wake up stiff and sore the next morning.
Whiplash is one of the most common results of a rear-end or side-impact collision, and its symptoms do not follow the same timeline for every person. Our whiplash symptoms timeline page walks through how neck pain, headaches, and stiffness can develop over the hours and days after a crash.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help After an Auto Accident
A Personalized Evaluation First
Before recommending any treatment, Dr. Serena reviews what happened in the accident, where you feel pain or stiffness, and your health history. No two accidents affect the body the same way, so the evaluation comes before the plan, not after.
Treatment Techniques We Use
Depending on what the evaluation finds, care may include spinal adjustments to restore alignment, soft tissue therapy for tight or strained muscles, and rehabilitative exercises to rebuild strength and range of motion. The goal is to address the cause of the pain, not just mask it.
Common Accident Injuries We Help With
Car accidents can affect the neck, back, shoulders, and head all at once. Patients come to our Deer Park and Lake Zurich-area practice with a range of accident-related complaints, including:
- Whiplash and neck stiffness
- Upper and lower back pain
- Headaches that start after the impact
- Reduced range of motion in the neck or shoulders
If neck pain is your main concern after the accident, that page covers how we approach it in more detail.
Still dealing with pain after a car accident? Call 224-848-6003, text us, or book your evaluation online.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Chiropractic care is not the right first step for every accident injury. According to the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, neck pain caused by a fall, blow, or injury needs emergency attention if you cannot move your arm or hand, and numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or hand should be checked by a medical provider.
If you notice any of those signs after your accident, seek emergency care first. For ongoing stiffness, soreness, or pain without those warning signs, a chiropractic evaluation can help identify what is causing your discomfort.
Why Patients Choose Serene Healing Chiropractic After an Accident
Recovering from an accident is not the same as a routine wellness visit. Dr. Serena builds a plan around your specific injury, not a standard routine applied to every patient, and adjusts it as your recovery progresses.
We also try to make it easy to reach your chiropractor between visits: call, text, or book online, whichever is easiest for you. Serene Healing Chiropractic works with patients throughout Deer Park, Lake Zurich, and the Northwest Chicago suburbs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Auto Accident Chiropractic Care
What if I feel fine right after the accident?
Feeling fine immediately after a crash does not rule out an injury. Adrenaline can delay pain for hours or even days, which is why our whiplash symptoms timeline page is worth reading even if you feel okay today.
How does chiropractic care help with whiplash?
Whiplash affects the muscles, ligaments, and joints of the neck. A chiropractic evaluation looks at alignment and range of motion, and a treatment plan is built around what that evaluation finds. Our chiropractic care for neck pain page covers how we approach the neck specifically.
What does a first visit involve?
A first visit starts with a conversation about the accident and your symptoms, followed by an evaluation of your spine and range of motion. From there, Dr. Serena discusses a plan based on what she finds, rather than a one-size-fits-all number of visits.
Do I need to see a doctor before visiting a chiropractor after a car accident?
If you have any of the warning signs listed above, seek emergency care first. Otherwise, many patients come to us directly after an accident to have their neck, back, and range of motion evaluated.
Schedule Your Car Accident Chiropractic Evaluation
If a car accident near Deer Park or Lake Zurich left you with neck pain, back pain, headaches, or stiffness, Dr. Serena Salerno can evaluate what is going on and build a plan around it.