An automobile accident can be an extremely stressful event – both on the body and mind. If you have recently been involved in a car accident and suffered injuries as a result, you probably have a lot on your mind. At the forefront is work. When is an appropriate, and safe time, to return? Should you take time off, or request to work from home?
Read on to learn the best ways to go about returning to work after a car accident.
Seek Medical Attention First
The first step after a car accident should always be to seek medical attention. You will need a doctor’s send-off before you can figure out a timeline to return to work. Even if you feel okay immediately following the accident, symptoms can appear days later, including:
- Pain
- Discomfort
- Dizziness
- Numbness
Not only is getting medical attention the best thing for your health, but if you intend to file a personal injury claim, it will help with that as well. If you wait several days or weeks after the accident to seek medical attention, it will be harder to prove that your injuries are the result of a car crash, or serious enough to warrant compensation.
Seek Out Chiropractic Treatment
Before returning to work, schedule a visit with your chiropractor. Chiropractic treatment is safe and non-invasive. By realigning the joints of the spine, chiropractic adjustments can reduce pain, support healing, and promote overall health and wellness. Other chiropractic techniques might include heat and ice, stretches, massage, and other non-invasive methods.
Chiropractic care is also a great way to manage pain if you do not agree with pain medications. Not only can pain medications become addictive, but they can cloud your judgment and mask your real injuries and pain. Chiropractic care promotes holistic and natural healing without the use of medications.
Wait for Doctor’s Approval (or Lack Thereof)
Before heading back to work, or making the decision to not go back to work, you need your doctor’s written consent. One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself is not only monitoring your own medical situation but also hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer to protect your rights.
Make sure you receive precise instructions from your primary physician on a timeline for when you should return to work.
Full Recovery
It is important to remember that just because you have returned to work, you are not necessarily completely recovered, or that all of your symptoms have disappeared. In many cases, people can return to work out of financial necessity, or because they are recovered enough to perform their duties in the office.
Will My Health Suffer?
This varies from case to case. In certain situations, people actually begin to feel better once they have returned to work and have something to focus on other than their pain. If your injuries do not prevent you from performing your job related duties, returning to work may actually reduce pain and discomfort.
However, returning to work against the doctor’s orders can actually have an adverse effect on your health and recovery, so be sure to get both your doctor and chiropractor's consent first, to be safe. Learn more about how a car accident chiropractor can help.
