I got into a little accident on Saturday. . .
Car accidents and chiropractic
Good morning, New Day!
This past Saturday, I got into my first car accident in MANY many years.
By “car accident,” I mean, in this case, an extremely minor, fast-happening but slow-moving impact between my car and another car as I was leaving a parking spot.
The accident was on me, as I was the one entering the roadway. I simply did not see the other car coming around the corner as I was pulling out.
No tickets were issued, and this is why insurance exists, right? After a brief delay to deal with the situation, I basically just went back to the rest of my day and had a wonderful weekend.
Then why did I feel SO achey, stiff, tired, and out of sorts this week? There was barely and impact, no one was hurt, and it didn’t even seem all that stressful. What’s my deal?
When I mentioned this to a friend, also a chiropractor, she reminded me that a car only needs to be going “8 miles per hour on impact to create damage in the spine” (not to mention the stress response that goes along with that and perpetuates the problem).
How easily we forget, even as chiropractors, that something that seems relatively “small” can impact us physically, emotionally, mentally, etc.
I probably learned the thing about the 8 miles per hour at some point in my schooling. And then I either just forgot about it, or thought it didn’t apply to me because I’m just so healthy 😉
So many of you, in starting care at New Day, tell me about car accidents you’ve been in, in the past, only as an after thought, as though this could not possible be related to anything you are currently experiencing.
Or you forget to tell me about it altogether!
And/or you tell me that “I was fine” and “walked away without a scratch” (again, as though only large, gross injuries could possibly have an impact on you).
Worst and most misleading of all is when people tell me that they are fine because they were checked out by EMTs, emergency room staff, or medical doctors after their collision who told them that they were “fine” and that therefore there is no injury or issue.
You trust them, and why wouldn’t you? They’re doctors. They would tell you if there’s a problem. Besides, it’s a huge relief that there’s nothing wrong right? WRONG.
I know sometimes the tone of my blogs is very light and fun, but this time I am laying something very important and serious on you. . . . (Click here for the rest of this blog!)
