Sustained an injury in a road accident? Here’s what to do next!

A vehicle accident can put you under a lot of stress, from the physical toll it can take on your body to the overwhelming nature of the encounter, which may need you to communicate with doctors, insurance companies, and others. It doesn’t matter if you were involved in a little rear-end collision or a major collision; the event might have long-term consequences that you may not be aware of immediately.

When you’re looking for a vehicle accident doctor near you, you want to locate a compassionate group of highly knowledgeable and skilled experts who can guide you through the entire process. Car accident doctors know better than others how much being involved in a collision can result in long-term detrimental consequences. Look out for a clinic that offers MVA in Calgary as well.

Negative impacts that a car accident can have on yourself. 

Scrapes, bruises, fractured bones, and other visible injuries are the most obvious ways a car accident can affect you. What is less clear is how being in a car accident can negatively impact your physical and emotional health. Here are some of the ways a car accident can harm you.

Emotional strain. 

Anyone involved in a car accident may experience mental discomfort. Even if you were not at fault and did not suffer significant harm, the event may have traumatised you. Due to the stress, a car collision can send people into shock or even activate a fight or flight response. You may find yourself more irritated than usual in the hours and days following the accident. Some people are even hesitant to ride in a car again, attempting to avoid the same route as the tragedy.

Physical injuries and pain. 

Because your body is pounding with adrenaline as it reacts to this unexpected scenario, you may not realise you were hurt shortly after a vehicle accident. However, once your adrenaline wears off, you may begin to feel pain and suffering that was previously unnoticed. Many typical car accident injuries are referred to as hidden injuries since the signs and symptoms of such a stressful incident can take time to manifest.

Extreme fatigue.

Following a vehicle accident, the physical and mental impacts might result in severe exhaustion and lethargy. This is often your body’s way of advising you to take it easy and give it time to recover. Making time for deliberate rest might assist your body in beginning the healing and recovery after a car accident. After a car accident, you may notice that you are more easily weary or sleep for longer periods than usual.

How to take care of yourself for a quick recovery after a car accident?

The good news is that there are numerous strategies to care for oneself following a vehicle accident to heal and recover fully. Here are some ways to practice self-care and prioritise your health and well-being.

Take enough rest to relax.

When you feel overly exhausted and tired after an accident, this is your body’s way of requesting rest. It can be tough to get time to unwind completely as all of us are leading busy lives. On the other hand, relaxation is frequently exactly what the body requires to effectively recover from a stressful and unpleasant incident such as a vehicle accident. While you may be eager to return to your normal routine as quickly as possible, you should be aware of your body’s signs and take it easy for a while.

Take plenty of water.

Your body requires water to function correctly, and to get enough to drink when recovering after a stressful event like a car accident is especially vital. Making time to hydrate regularly will aid in delivering nutrients to any wounded or damaged areas, assisting in the healing process. You can focus on healthy, nutritious meals in addition to retaining fluids in your body to help support good behaviours and functioning.

Use heat and ice packs on injured parts of the body. 

Heat should never be used after an acute injury, especially if there is a potential for inflammation; heat can usually be used after the first or second week to help with muscle tension relaxation. Applying ice to a painful location soon after an injury can assist in relieving pain. On the other hand, ice decreases the metabolic activity of our immune system cells, resulting in a slower healing process. Only use ice on your body if you are in pain. Use the following rule of thumb: 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off with ice on the afflicted region. The tissue will not become excessively chilly as a result of this. You can find more information on utilising heat and ice to treat soft tissue injuries on the internet.

Stretch a bit. 

Once you’ve completed the bed rest stage of your recovery, gentle stretching is a terrific technique to rehabilitate your body. Don’t jump immediately into challenging or advanced stretches. Your body may be stiffer than usual, so pay attention to your feelings to decide the appropriate stretch intensity. Stretching too much at this point might harm your already sensitive muscles, resulting in extra discomfort and a longer recovery time. 

Stretch three times a day for 30 seconds, doing three repetitions of each stretch. If the stretch becomes too uncomfortable, take a step back. Inquire with your physiotherapist about the stretches that will most benefit you.

Satisfy your parasympathetic nervous system. 

An increase in sympathetic activity is triggered by a car collision, causing mental and physiological stress. By decreasing the heart rate, reducing anxiety, and reducing general tension in the body, parasympathetic breathing techniques can help offset the sympathetic system’s overactivity. Begin by inhaling deeply and allowing your abdomen to stretch forward and fill your lungs. You must exhale air from your lungs as slowly as possible. Repeat it ten times more.

Initiate your rehab therapy. 

The sooner you start the rehabilitation process, the faster you’ll recover and the less likely you are to develop chronic illnesses. Your insurance provider will provide you with a set amount of money to spend on services and products to aid in your rehabilitation. Many physiotherapist clinics will help you claim your insurance in the motor vehicle accident in Calgary. Chiropractors and physiotherapists are musculoskeletal injury specialists who can assess injuries and create a well-designed treatment plan. Treatments can help with pain relief, range of motion improvement, and strength and mobility restoration. A particular fitness regimen, pain-relieving modalities, hands-on therapy, and specific self-care practices will all be essential in getting you back on your feet. Connect with our physiotherapists at The Vista Physiotherapy who can offer treatment for vehicle accidents in Calgary.