After getting into a car accident, the most important thing for you to do is take it easy. You may not be in a lot or any pain now, but you’ll be in a lot more pain in the coming months than necessary if you don’t give your body the chance to recover. Here are tips for rehabilitation from a Duluth Chiropractor that you should follow in the weeks following a car accident.
Drink Water and Take your Vitamins
For the first week following your accident, it is essential that you drink at least 6 cups of water a day to reduce inflammation. Vitamin C, perhaps put in your water in powder form, is also helpful for tissue repair and inflammation reduction. You should also take electrolytes, which neutralize the free radicals generated by inflammation.
At the same time, avoid alcohol and drinks sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. Your liver has already been affected by the accident, and consuming these drinks will not help.
Use a Bag of Crushed Ice to Control Inflammation and Pain
Get a ziploc bag full of ice, wrap it in a towel, and put it on your neck and upper back or wrap it around your neck.
Exercise your Vocal Chords
After getting into an accident, you may find it hard to take a deep breath. This is because the suddenness of the accident could have caused your ribs to jam into your spine, making it more difficult for air to get into your lungs afterwards. Singing can help your diaphragm to relax, however, and get your rib heads to move.
Use a Homeopathic Remedy
You should be able to get a homeopathic Arnica at your local health food store. This is one of the most effective healing medicines available, and it is very natural and used by professional dancers, professional athletes, and surgeons who prescribe it to their patients.
Don’t Exercise for the First Week After the Accident
Your body will be in a lot of shock after the car accident, and it could take your body up to a week or so to lower its adrenaline. You may not be in pain now, but that is likely because your adrenaline has not allowed you to feel the pain yet. Taking a week off from exercise now will help you to heal faster and get back to your activities as strong as ever. Do walk a bit every day, though, with the guidance of a health professional like the one at Duluth Injury & Rehab.