Car, sports, slip-and-fall, and workplace accidents can cause injuries. The symptoms of an injury are not always obvious. Most people forgo medical care when their injuries appear minor or are not visible. Ignoring those signs can lead to chronic pain or long-term complications.
After an injury, you may need various treatments for full recovery. They could include surgery, medication, physical therapy, and sometimes chiropractic care. A chiropractor specializes in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal issues related to the spine. After you seek medical care for your injury, your primary physician will determine whether you need chiropractic care.
You can receive compensation if you suffer an injury and require chiropractic care due to another person's negligence. When pursuing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for chiropractic care expenses, you will need the guidance of a reliable personal injury lawyer. Your attorney will help you gather evidence and advocate for maximum compensation.
Signs You Need Chiropractic Care After an Injury
After an injury, you could experience lingering pain or discomfort. Some people experience pain even after taking medication or undergoing surgical procedures. Specific symptoms may indicate deeper issues with the spine or joints. Chiropractors specialize in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal problems related to spinal alignment.
Recognizing the signs that you may need chiropractic care helps prevent long-term complications. Additionally, it promotes a quick recovery. Common symptoms that indicate you need chiropractic care after an injury include:
Persistent Neck or Back Pain
A common reason people seek chiropractic care is ongoing neck or back pain. If you suffer from trauma like whiplash from a car accident, your spine or surrounding muscles might be misaligned. Chiropractors use manual adjustments to restore proper alignment and reduce pain.
If you notice your discomfort does not go away with rest or over-the-counter medications, you will need immediate care. After assessing your condition, your physician can determine whether you need chiropractic care.
Limited Range of Motion
Difficulty moving your neck, shoulders, or arms can indicate deeper injuries. You might notice stiffness when you try to turn your head or bend over after an injury. The restrictions can stem from joint or soft tissue damage. Under these circumstances, you will need chiropractic care. A chiropractor will identify the source of the problem and help you regain mobility.
Headaches or Migraines
You could experience frequent headaches after an injury involving the neck or spine. These headaches are a result of reduced blood flow to the brain. Chiropractic adjustments relieve headaches caused by tension and even help prevent migraines. A chiropractor might offer a better solution for your headaches if your body does not respond to painkillers after an injury.
Tingling or Numbness
A tingling sensation or numbness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet could indicate nerve compression. The symptom often results from spinal misalignment or herniated discs. You could experience numbness or tingling sensations after traumatic back or neck injuries.
Your physician can recommend chiropractic care if you experience tingling or numbness after your injury. Chiropractors relieve pressure on the nerves by correcting misalignments and improving spinal health. For individuals with lingering numbness, chiropractic care can reduce the uncomfortable sensations.
Pain That Radiates Down Limbs
You may have a severe spinal issue if your pain radiates down your leg or arm. Radiating pain means that a nerve root is being pinched or irritated. You may need chiropractic care if you experience this type of pain. The chiropractors can assess the spine and surrounding muscles to determine the source of your pain. Additionally, they will apply gentle manipulations to ease the pressure that causes pain.
You Feel Out of Alignment
After an injury, your body could suffer an imbalance. It causes you to experience an uneven posture when you stand or walk. The imbalance is often a result of spinal misalignments or joint dysfunctions caused by the injury. A chiropractor will evaluate your alignment and make the necessary adjustments. Chiropractic helps prevent further strain or injury.
Recurring Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms after an injury are your body’s way of protecting the injured area. Tension and spasms are often signs of underlying joint issues or nerve irritation. Chiropractors address these spasms' root causes, allowing your muscles to relax and heal properly.
Slow Recovery from Your Injury
If your pain and discomfort persist for weeks or months, you may have severe underlying issues. You may experience mild soreness during recovery from an injury. However, prolonged pain or dysfunction may suggest your body is not healing efficiently.
Chiropractic care focuses on improving nervous system function and spinal alignment to enhance overall body performance. For many patients, chiropractic treatment speeds up healing and restores the quality of life.
Chiropractic Techniques for Injury Recovery
When recovering from an injury, chiropractic care offers a non-invasive approach that focuses on:
- Restoring function
- Relieving pain
- Supporting the body’s natural healing abilities
Your chiropractor will use the following techniques to deliver the desired results:
Spinal Manipulation
Spinal manipulation is a basic chiropractic technique. It involves applying controlled force to restricted or misaligned spinal joints. These adjustments restore mobility, reduce nerve irritation, and improve spinal function.
Injuries to the neck and back often lead to joint dysfunction. By correcting these misalignments, spinal adjustments reduce pain and muscle tension.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Soft tissue therapy focuses on muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Chiropractors may use trigger point therapy and myofascial release to deliver soft tissue therapy. After an injury, the surrounding soft tissues often become tight or inflamed. These therapies help break up scar tissue, release muscle knots, and improve circulation.
Active Release Technique (ART)
ART is a movement-based massage technique. The chiropractor uses their hands to evaluate and treat tight muscles, fascia, and nerves. They combine pressure with specific patient movements. ART breaks up adhesions in the tissue and restores range of motion.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation (E-stim)
E-stim uses mild electrical pulses to stimulate muscles and nerves. The chiropractor places pads on the skin near the injured area, and the stimulation helps relax your muscles. E-stim promotes healing by increasing blood flow, reducing muscle spasms, and relieving pain.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Injury Recovery
The following are some of the benefits of chiropractic care for your injury:
Pain Relief Without Medication
Chiropractic care provides effective pain relief without the need for medication. Chiropractors focus on treating the root cause of pain. Most issues that need chiropractic care result from misalignments in the spine. Instead of masking the symptoms, chiropractic adjustments focus on addressing the root cause of the pain.
The chiropractic approach is valuable for individuals who wish to avoid the potential side effects of painkillers. Chiropractors use the following techniques to promote the body’s natural healing abilities:
- Spinal adjustments
- Soft tissue therapy
- Rehabilitative exercises
Restored Mobility and Function
Injuries from accidents, sports, or overuse can often result in limited range of motion and decreased function. Chiropractic adjustments help realign the spine and joints. Targeted strengthening exercises also help loosen tight muscles and restore flexibility.
The combination helps restore standard movement patterns. Additionally, it allows individuals to return to their daily activities. Regular chiropractic care can also support better coordination and balance during recovery.
Faster Healing
Chiropractic care creates an optimal environment for healing. It enhances blood flow, reduces inflammation, and promotes proper alignment of the musculoskeletal system. The nervous system functions better when the spine and joints are correctly aligned. Many patients who incorporate chiropractic treatments into their recovery regimen report shorter healing times.
Preventing Future Injuries
Besides treating current injuries, chiropractic care helps prevent future issues. Chiropractors identify muscular imbalances, postural problems, and improper movement patterns. They address the root causes of your pain and eliminate factors that may increase your risk of reinjury. Chiropractors provide personalized advice on posture and exercises to support long-term health.
Personalized Approach
Chiropractors customize each patient’s treatment plan based on their unique condition, activity level, and health goals. The professional will consider your lifestyle to create a comprehensive recovery plan that supports your physical healing and well-being.
Paying for Chiropractic Care After an Injury in California
Seeking chiropractic care might be a key part of your recovery process after an accident. You may need the treatment if you have suffered an injury from an auto accident, workplace accident, or another personal injury incident. How to cover the costs of such treatment is a significant concern for many victims.
There are several options for paying chiropractic bills. Whether you can use either of these methods depends on the factors of your case. They include:
Auto Insurance (MedPay Coverage)
If your injuries occurred due to a car accident, you could explore the medical payments coverage. MedPay helps with medical expenses after an accident, including chiropractic care. A significant advantage of MedPay is that it operates on a no-fault basis. MedPay coverage can pay for your chiropractic treatments, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. Therefore, you must not wait for a liability determination before receiving treatment.
Most MedPay policies include necessary chiropractic care. For this reason, it is a suitable option for those experiencing back, neck, or musculoskeletal pain after a car crash. MedPay can help you avoid out-of-pocket expenses for your chiropractic care.
Despite its benefits, MedPay comes with coverage limits. Policies often set payouts at $1,000 to $10,000, depending on your plan. If you reach your limit, you must explore other payment options to continue the treatment. If you have MedPay coverage, you should submit your chiropractic bills to your auto insurance provider. You must have detailed records of your visits. They include:
- Dates of treatment
- Types of treatments received
- Notes from your chiropractor
The information will help you prove the necessity for chiropractic treatment. Documentation is crucial to ensure the smooth processing of your claim.
Health Insurance
If you do not have MedPay coverage, you can use your health insurance for chiropractic care. Many health insurance policies cover chiropractic care, among other treatments. However, there are restrictions and requirements that you must navigate. These restrictions include:
- Copays and deductibles. Even when your insurance covers chiropractic services, you must pay the copayments and deductibles to your insurance. These out-of-pocket costs can cause financial strain when you need multiple chiropractic sessions.
- Referral requirements and visit limits. Some health plans require a referral from your primary care physician before seeking chiropractic care. Other covers limit the number of chiropractic visits you can make per year. These limitations could restrict your ability to receive what you need for complete recovery.
- Treatment restrictions. Some health plans exclude certain services provided by chiropractors. For example, some insurance providers may not cover spinal decompression therapy or specialized diagnostic tools.
Before beginning chiropractic treatment, you must review your insurance policy details. Additionally, you must check what your insurance covers. It helps avoid surprises and ensures your care is paid for appropriately.
The At-Fault Party’s Liability Insurance
Your injury could result from another person's negligence if you suffered:
- An auto accident
- Workplace accident
- Slip and fall accident
Under these circumstances, you can recover your chiropractic expenses from the at-fault party’s liability insurance. However, you must file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit to recover these expenses.
When you file a lawsuit against a negligent party, you must prove their liability for the accident and injuries. Under California personal injury law, liability is based on negligence. The elements of negligence that you must prove to recover compensation for chiropractic bills, among other medical expenses, include:
- Duty of care. The duty of care is that each person has the responsibility to ensure they do not cause harm to others. For example, a driver on the road owes you a duty of care to ensure they do not cause an accident that can result in your injuries or death.
- Breach of duty. A person breaches their duty of care towards you by putting you at risk of injuries or death.
- Causation. When filing a personal injury claim, you must prove that the defendant's actions caused your injuries.
- Damages. The final element of negligence that you must prove is the damages you suffered. It includes presenting evidence of injuries that need chiropractic care. Additionally, you can show evidence of the cost of your chiropractic care.
Compensation for your chiropractic bills is not automatic. Therefore, you must wait for a determination of liability and the completion of your personal injury case. To build a strong case, you will need the following documents:
- Detailed medical records from your chiropractor
- Itemized bills showing each service and its cost
- A written treatment plan that connects your care to the injuries sustained in the accident
This evidence is critical during negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company or, if necessary, in court.
Lien Agreements with Chiropractors
You can explore a lien agreement for your chiropractic care if you do not have immediate insurance coverage. Under a lien agreement, there are no upfront costs for your treatment. Instead, a chiropractor agrees to provide treatment, and you will pay them from your personal injury settlement proceeds.
Lien payments allow you to receive the necessary treatment without financial strain. A lien agreement provides a practical solution when your case is pending. If you are pursuing a personal injury claim, your attorney will help you coordinate the lien agreement with your chiropractor.
You will sign a formal document stating that you will compensate the chiropractor for your future recovery. Lien agreements can provide a lifeline for accident victims who need care but cannot pay until their legal case concludes.
Workers’ Compensation
Another way through which you can pay for your chiropractic care after an injury is California’s workers’ compensation system. You could explore workers' compensation if your injury occurred at work. The system covers medical expenses for work-related injuries, including chiropractic treatment.
You must report the injury to your employer as soon as it happens. Delays in reporting can complicate your claim or even result in a denial of benefits. In most work-related injury instances, you must consult a chiropractor authorized by your employer's insurance. Seeking the services of an independent chiropractor can result in the denial of compensation.
California workers’ comp law limits chiropractic visits to 24 per injury. Unless there is an authorization for additional treatment, you may need to cover the extra sessions. Workers’ compensation is a reliable way to receive the care you need after a work-related injury. However, you must follow the proper procedures for maximum and prompt payments.
Find a Reliable Personal Injury Attorney Near Me
When you suffer an injury from an auto accident, workplace accident, or other types of injuries, finding the proper treatment is crucial for full recovery. You may need chiropractic care for spine, neck, and back injuries.
If you have suffered an injury in an accident involving another person's negligence, you are entitled to compensation for all your medical expenses. After the initial treatment, your primary physician will determine whether you need chiropractic care. When you consult a chiropractor, you must ensure they document all your chiropractic care.
The records are critical evidence when you claim compensation for medical expenses related to the injury. Hiring and retaining a personal injury lawyer is crucial if you seek compensation for chiropractic care expenses after an injury. At San Diego Personal Injury Law Firm, we offer expert legal insight for clients battling compensation claims in California. Call us at 619-478-4059 to discuss your case.