If you have been the victim of an auto accident, you may think you can take a "wait and see" approach when it comes to treatment, hoping that your pain and other symptoms will get better over time.
But research shows that injuries from collisions can have lasting effects. In one such body of research, scientists from France evaluated 886 patients initially after an auto accident and conducted a follow-up survey a year later. The participants were divided into two groups: those with mild to moderate injuries and those with severe injuries.
Among those with mild to moderate injuries, less than half had fully recovered a year after the collision. Approximately 22% of them said that the crash impacted their daily lives. This group also reported an average of 75 days off work due to their injuries.
And those initially diagnosed with severe injuries fared even worse. Only 20% of this group had fully recovered. Over half of them assessed their injuries as having a lasting impact of their daily lives, including their relationships, family life, leisure activities, and sex life. Additionally, their working lives suffered greatly. The year after their severe injury had resulted in an average of 245 sick days, with 32% quitting work completely because of difficulty with recovery. Researchers of this study also found that auto collision resulted in post-traumatic stress for many patients. Among those with severe injuries, they found 46% suffered from chronic PTSD.
If you have been in an auto accident, how can you avoid the negative impacts to your life demonstrated in this study? At Oregon Medical Centers, we help crash victims in Aloha and Beaverton with the healing process, so they can get back to their lives and work. Many auto injuries originate from the spine, which is the reason our chiropractic care is so beneficial. Our chiropractors work with patients to locate and treat the underlying trauma causing the pain. The benefits are natural on the body and long-term.
References
Hours M, et al. Outcomes one year after a road accident: Results from ESPARR. Accident Analysis a& Prevention 2013; 50: 92-102.
Dr. Bhasin grew up in Southern California and did her undergraduate work in pre-med at California State University Northridge, as well as Humboldt State University in California. Dr. Bhasin attended the University of Western States in Portland Oregon where she earned her Doctor of Chiropractic Degree. Dr. Bhasin has passed her National boards and her State Boards. Dr. Bhasin loves helping people and finds great joy helping injured people get out of pain and get their life back again. She has helped thousands of patients.
