Recovering from an injury might not always be easy, many people are worried about the risk of suffering from chronic pain and how it can be reduced or prevented completely. Often our patients have questions such as: “What if my pain increases?” or “How long will the pain last?” This is common and it is normal to worry about chronic pain.
Acute pain that becomes chronic pain can have a negative lasting impact on your life. People often worry about long term pain. In our experience, there have been many times a person has waited to get treatment and they recovered from an injury, but there was still chronic pain because they didn’t get treatment soon enough or for long enough.
The question is: How can you reduce the risk of chronic pain after an injury?
Each of us responds to pain in a different way. The way our bodies react to pain and medication makes our experiences unique. Chronic pain can impact our quality of life in many ways, however here are a few ways you can help reduce your risk.
Here are a few suggestions to reduce long term pain risks, particularly after a car accident or injury.
Get the Right Treatment at the Right Time
When you are first injured in a car accident or any other injury your body will typically go into shock. When your body is in shock it is trying to compensate and protect your body from feeling acute pain.
This rush of adrenaline will help mask pain, discomfort, or stiffness. Many times we also try to be tough and try to shake off the injury. THIS IS NOT HELPFUL AND CAN CAUSE CHRONIC PAIN.
Often times internal injuries, twists, sprains, whiplash, headaches, strains don’t seem like that big of a deal — but they actually can impact you for the rest of your life if you don’t seek appropriate care.
Ignoring your pain will not help you get better, it can actually increase your chances of long term problems. Getting into see a chiropractor within the first 48 hours after your injury will give you the best chance of making a full recovery without the risk of chronic pain.
Meditation and Deep Breathing to Relax
Meditation and deep breathing techniques are age-old techniques that have been proven helpful in healing and relaxation. These techniques relax the body which helps ease physical pain. Meditation can be done in different ways and one easy and effective way to start is by focusing the brain on a mantra. You can repeat a word or phrase such as “I am at ease,” “I am peaceful” or “I am calm.” Focusing on a mantra allows you to set aside other stressful thoughts which helps your body to relax.
Deep breathing is another easy relaxation technique. All you need to do is find a quiet place and sit in a comfortable position. Then take a deep inhale of and count to 5 as you do so. Then pause for a count of 5 and then exhale to a count of 5. This also helps block distracting thoughts and allows you to focus on the simplicity of the breath in the body.
At Axcess, we have a treatment called Alpha-Stim that can also help calm the mind to help you relax and heal.
Reduce Stress
Did you know that stress can actually intensify chronic pain?
Another way to reduce the risk of chronic pain is to reduce your stress and minimize the occurrence of feelings such as anger, stress, anxiety, and depression. These feelings and emotions can increase the body’s sensitivity to pain. There are many ways to promote relaxation and reduce stress. One simple way is to listen to soothing or calming music throughout the day. You can also limit the amount of television that you watch and increase your level of physical activity. Overall, the key factor in reducing stress is to find activities that hold your attention and helps you forget about other life stressors.
Massage therapy, which is part of our integrative care approach, can also help to reduce stress. Massage can also improve blood flow which can help the body and muscles to recover.
Integrative Chiropractic Care Can Help Reduce the Risk of Chronic Pain
Another good option for managing chronic pain is to visit a chiropractor. Research shows that integrative chiropractic care is effective in managing any type of pain. Our experienced chiropractors at Axcess Accident Centers can help reduce the risk of chronic pain after an injury. We have a full integrative care approach that is designed to address your unique areas of pain and your unique injuries.
How a Chiropractor Can Help
Our chiropractic care focuses on the structure of your body, especially the spine. Our Axcess chiropractors align your back, neck, shoulders, hips, and other joints in your body to relieve your pain. All to promote healing, and recovery after an accident or injury.
Our chiropractors will work alongside your doctors to effectively minimize your pain, and reduce the risk of chronic lasting pain.
When you get started in chiropractic treatment after an injury, one of our chiropractors will give you a thorough examination to determine the cause and the areas of pain. After determining the cause of pain, we will prepare a treatment plan which may include therapeutic exercises, massage therapy, relaxation exercises, strengthening exercises, and chiropractic adjustments.
A chiropractic adjustment is the most effective nonsurgical treatment for pain relief. In addition to realigning your spine, your chiropractor can provide massage care to relieve muscle tension and enhance blood flow.
Those who have suffered an injury and are worried about chronic pain should visit their Axcess chiropractor regularly. Regular visits will empower you to make and take steps in your recovery to help you achieve the best recovery possible.
As you work with our chiropractic team, each chiropractor will assess your body’s progress and determine if there are any serious complications and mitigate any long-term physical ailments.
At Axcess Accident Center, it’s our job to make sure you get the treatment you need and deserve. We are here to help you recover, and get back to living your life without any additional stress or hassle after a car accident or injury. Learn more about our integrative approach and how we support our patients throughout the recovery process.
It’s easy to get started. Also if your injury was caused by a car accident, we can help you get better without any out of pocket expenses. Contact Us and pick the nearest location to you to schedule your examination.
