Medical Care After a Car Accident: Who Should You See?
Two of the most urgent questions you likely have after a car accident is whether to seek medical help and, if you decide you do want medical attention, what type of provider to see. In this blog, I will break down the most common treatment options you have to help you decide which one is best for you. The four most common options after a car accident are an emergency room, urgent care, chiropractor, and physical therapist.
Emergency Room
Regardless of the type of car accident you are in, it is appropriate to go to an emergency room. Whether you were in a head-on collision on the highway or were rear ended by someone going 15 mph, an emergency room has the expertise to handle your injuries.
There are times when going to an emergency room is strongly recommended. If you have signs or symptoms that we call “red flags”, including vision changes, difficulty swallowing, numbness, lack of muscle function, chest pain, or sensitivity to light/sound, you should go to an ER. The medical team at the ER may want to perform advanced imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI, to rule out an injury that requires immediate intervention.
Urgent Care
Urgent cares are another common option for receiving treatment following a car accident. Urgent cares are staffed by licensed providers (MD, DO, PA, or NP) and provide basic medical services after an accident. One main difference between an urgent care and ER is that urgent cares typically do not have advanced medical screening technology, such as MRIs or CT scans, or quick access to specialists. If you are concerned that you will need access to either of these options, you are better off going to an ER.
One idea worth mentioning here is that it is common for pain from a car accident to not begin until several days after an accident, so it is very possible that you will begin to experience some or all of the pain from an accident after you go to the ER or urgent care. While you can certainly go back, you can also decide to see a physical therapist to further examine your injuries. Physical therapists are trained in the assessment of the “red flags” mentioned above, and if they find any concerning signs or symptoms, they will send you for a follow up with the appropriate medical professional.
Chiropractors and Physical Therapists
Many people decide to go to a chiropractor or physical therapist after an accident. Chiropractors and physical therapists have similar skill sets (one main difference is that chiropractors perform x-rays while most PTs do not), but the major difference is in the treatment approach. Chiropractors typically focus more on manual techniques, such as traction and adjustments, whereas physical therapists focus more on exercise and movement for recovery. Both disciplines typically obtain good results, and the choice of which one you see should be based on the quality of the individual clinician, not the discipline they are in. It’s much better to have a good chiropractor than a bad physical therapist, and vice versa. As a physical therapist, I am biased towards my profession, but I have also known plenty of good chiropractors that I am happy to refer patients to.
Western Slope Rehab and Performance is Here to Help
If you are struggling with injuries or have recently been in a motor vehicle accident, we can help. We are a physical therapy company that provides home-based orthopedic services in the Grand Junction, CO, area, as well as telehealth appointments throughout Colorado. If you would like to schedule a free consultation, you can call us as 970-462-9177, or fill out our contact form here.
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