Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Call Now. Se Habla Español.

Can a Chiropractor Help With Inflammation? – A Car Accident Guide

Table of Contents

Do you need the best car accident injury treatment in Newark, NJ? Contact our experts today! Your body’s natural response to a sudden injury is to release inflammatory cells throughout the system to help start the healing process. Car accident injuries trigger the release of inflammatory cells and may leave collision victims wondering: Can a chiropractor help with inflammation? The chiropractors at Mount Prospect Health Center specialize in auto accident injury treatment in Newark, NJ. We are ready to help you recover from pain or lingering injuries following a car accident, including inflammation. Discover how we tackle inflammation with this in-depth guide.

What Is Inflammation?

Inflammation is a common immune response to help your body ward off harmful bacteria, viruses, or toxic chemicals attacking healthy tissue. The process involves your body releasing inflammatory cells and cytokines (which help stimulate inflammatory cells) toward the infection to trap it from spreading. Once the cells trap the infection, they start healing the damaged tissue, which presents as redness, swelling, bruising, or pain (a.k.a. acute inflammation). Your body may also release inflammatory cells when it isn’t under attack, resulting in chronic inflammation. The symptoms of chronic inflammation are more concerning and accompany serious diseases like diabetes, cancer, and other conditions that make up 50% of deaths worldwide. Symptoms include:
  • Joint pain or stiffness
  • Chest pain
  • Skin rash
  • Fever
  • Fatigue

Car Accidents and Acute Inflammation

An auto accident can trigger significant inflammation since your body undergoes sudden physical trauma that it must respond to. Whether you suffer from whiplash, a broken bone, or muscle strains, your body will go into fight-or-flight mode and scramble to heal damaged tissue. Legions of inflammatory cells will penetrate your body and cause intense discomfort or swelling as part of the healing process. Since your body is unaccustomed to the shock that follows a car accident, it’s common to experience severe inflammation during recovery. In many cases, the sudden jolt of your neck or upper body may result in small muscle tears that diagnostic imaging can’t identify. These injuries force your body to release inflammatory cells to compensate for the damaged tissue.

How Chiropractors Help Treat Inflammation

Let’s dive into the main question surrounding this topic: Can a chiropractor help with inflammation? Visiting a chiropractor specializing in post-car accident injury treatment can drastically reduce your body’s inflammation. At Mount Prospect Health Center, our experienced team relies on five distinct methods to relieve pain often caused by auto accidents and other conditions:
  • Activator Method: A chiropractor activates the affected area by sending quick impulses to the site and adjusting the back as needed.
  • Spinal Mobilization: This technique involves manipulating the spine to realign the vertebrae into the correct position.
  • Flexion Distraction: A pain-relieving technique that boasts immediate results after the chiropractor taps and bends the vertebrae in short intervals.
  • Gonstead Method: This method requires patients to lie on their sides while the doctor applies pressure to their pelvis and back.
  • Thompson Method: A popular treatment that utilizes gravity and low-pressure force to improve posture or correct spinal curvature.
Explain to your chiropractor where you feel pain so they can determine the best course of treatment for you. You may benefit from one specific chiropractic method or a combination of methods to reduce inflammation.

Other Ways To Combat Inflammation

Can a chiropractor help with inflammation? Absolutely, but there are steps you can take to reprogram your immune system and provide relief if you suffer from chronic inflammation. Making certain lifestyle changes can improve your body’s inflammatory response and your overall health. The link between obesity and chronic inflammation is a major concern for doctors since 13% of adults worldwide are obese, while 39% are overweight, with the potential to become obese. Losing weight is one of the best ways to reduce inflammation and improve long-term health. Doctors recommend eating a nutrient-dense diet of vegetables, lean meat, and fish since foods high in sugar and fat can trigger inflammation. Staying active can also regulate your body’s inflammatory response. Recent studies show that 20 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity exercise can help your immune system reduce inflammation.

Why See a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?

Chiropractors not only reduce inflammation but also provide holistic and long-term pain relief after a car accident. Half of all whiplash injuries lead to chronic pain, but early treatment from a chiropractor can make for a successful recovery. In addition, this treatment is a natural way to relieve pain, so there is no reliance on addictive medications. You may suffer from injuries an X-ray or MRI can’t detect, but a chiropractor can realign your spinal cord to improve your injured muscles and ligaments. If you’re unsure what to expect at the chiropractor, our helpful and compassionate team will explain the process and put you at ease.

Find the Right Doctor After an Accident in Newark, NJ

Can a chiropractor help with inflammation? Now that you have an answer to this question, reach out to the experts at Mount Prospect Health Center. We specialize in chiropractic care that targets specific joints and muscle groups to reduce inflammation. Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available. Call our clinic in Newark, NJ, at (973) 485-2332 to schedule an appointment with one of our reputable chiropractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does inflammation last after a chiropractic adjustment?

Soreness is possible for 24 to 48 hours after a chiropractic adjustment.

How can I tell if chiropractic adjustments are working?

You’ll experience less pain, have more energy, and even notice changes to your immune system.

How often should I get a chiropractic adjustment after a car accident?

Multiple times a week until your body fully heals, then you can reduce it to once or twice a month.

How can a chiropractor help with inflammation not caused by a car crash?

All chiropractic methods can reduce inflammation no matter what triggers it.