Visalia sees its fair share of auto accidents. While some are more severe and require hospitalization and further medical treatment, many fender benders cause minor injuries that can be well cared for right at home. While it’s still important for your regular doctor to follow up on your progress and to make sure you see any medical specialists if more serious conditions are suspected, much of your healing will happen right at home. How do you take care of yourself after an auto accident in Visalia?
Rest as Much as Possible
Even if you aren’t feeling very sore on the first or second day after the auto accident, that soreness can sometimes sneak up on you after a few more days. The more you rest immediately after the accident, the better chance your muscles have at beginning recovery that can lessen the impact of the soreness. Rest can also help you heal from common accident injuries such as whiplash.
Epsom Salt Baths
Epsom salt has been known for centuries to help reduce stress and ease sore, achy muscles. This makes it one of the best ways to take care of yourself after a car accident. Because it contains high amounts of magnesium it can also help your body repair minor damage caused by the auto accident.
Get a Massage
In Visalia, there are several places you can visit for a professional massage. A masseuse may even specialize in helping people recover from accidents, targeting the neck and spine that can be jarred suddenly and painfully. Calling around to find a massage spa that can help with regular, specialized massage can be an investment in your healing process.
Physical Therapy
Your doctor will most likely give you a referral for a local, Visalia physical therapist. This therapist can help you get your body moving again to help speed up healing and keep future injuries from becoming a problem. However, seeing your physical therapist only a couple of times a week isn’t going to help very much. Be sure to follow through on all daily, assigned exercises that your physical therapist assigns you.
Wear Appropriate Braces
Either your doctor or your physical therapist may recommend wearing a brace when not performing physical therapy exercises. Whether it’s your neck, your back, or even your knee or ankle, braces can help provide compression which reduces swelling and the brace is a reminder not to move in certain ways or too quickly, so you don’t further injure yourself.
Essential Oils
Whether used as a muscle rub to help loosen stiff muscles or diffused into the air inside your home, essential oils can help relieve tension. Some oils, such as lavender, can also help you to sleep better if the discomfort is making it hard to get a good night’s sleep. The benefits of essential oils are far-reaching, so be sure to research which oils will help you the most.
Track Your Symptoms
Sometimes symptoms of an auto accident can arise weeks after the accident occurred. While most will still be minor injuries that can be cared for at home, it’s important to track all of your symptoms and bring them to your primary care physician during your regularly scheduled appointments. Some symptoms or their severity may need to be looked into further by a specialist.
Don’t Push Yourself
It can take quite a while to heal completely after an auto accident. This means you need to let your body heal. If you rush back to work, you may be causing more damage than if you’d arranged to take a week or two off to rest. It’s also important to follow that well-known rule, “if it hurts, don’t do it.”
If you were involved in an auto accident in Visalia, it’s important to seek out the most experienced legal representation possible. Martin Gasparian with the Maison Law Firm can present your personal injury case to the insurance companies involved, taking that burden off of you so you can focus on the hard work of feeling better.
