As a doctor of chiropractic for over 2 decades, you can imagine that I see a lot of people with auto injuries. Some of these patients have problems from an accident a week ago, but many are still trying to recover from accidents several decades ago. As a doctor, what I like to do is help give people the best chance to heal quickly, and not become one of the many people who suffer for decades after an auto injury. You may not agree with all of my tips, but here are my top tips based on my experience as a doctor of chiropractic.
Get chiropractic care right away after your auto injury
Based on research, there is a direct relationship between good (fast) healing and how quickly you get care from a doctor of chiropractic after your auto injury. If you suffered whiplash or a spinal injury, your best bet is to visit a chiropractor as soon as possible. Obviously, if you are in a hospital bed, you may not be able to do this since chiropractors are not allowed in hospitals in BC. As soon as you are able to visit one, a consultation with a chiropractor will ensure that they can give you the best appropriate care at just the right time.
Follow your chiropractor’s recommended visits
When you are getting care after an accident, there is a good chance you are seeing multiple practitioners and may have many appointments every week. Most cases of auto injuries will need 3 visits per week with your chiropractor, taking about 15 minutes of your time. This is not much to ask, but I repeatedly find patients who say they can’t make it or they are too busy. These are usually the same people who do not get better. Instead of taking one month to get better, they are still suffering 3, 6, or 12 months later, or even longer.
Every practitioner will make recommendations, and it is imperative that you listen to each one, and follow their individual recommendations. Every doctor or therapist has their own style and knows best how many visits they will need to give you the best care they can.
In some unfortunate cases a doctor, therapist, or insurance adjuster tries to modify your care program based on their desires. This is unethical and will result in less desirable results for your health. Your adjuster is not an expert in your health.
Focus on getting better, not getting paid
I have seen too many cases of patients who have little desire to get better and spend their whole visit speaking about how they need to settle. There is nothing more counter-productive than this type of attitude.
No amount of money will make you happy if you are suffering after your auto injuries. Get better now, and stop thinking about getting a big payout. If you feel great in six weeks, then whatever payout you receive will seem enough.
Pay for your visits (and get it back from ICBC)
This may seem selfish on my part, but it isn’t. There is a simple reason to pay for your visits: I work for you, not the insurance company. When the insurance company pays for your visit, I will not treat you differently, but they will feel like they are in control and will start telling you when you can and cannot receive care.
There is a simple remedy for this: pay for your visits. In almost all cases, ICBC will repay you for your visits immediately. If the accident is not your fault, and they are not paying for all of your visits, I humbly advise you to consider getting a lawyer immediately.
Overall, a whiplash case may cost around $2500, including follow-up care to prevent relapses over the following year. If you are having sticker shock, shake your head and remember that this is about the same as repairing a scratch on the bumper of your car.
Consider getting a lawyer
In most cases, if you are paying for your visits, ICBC will offer to repay you the whole amount as long as you get better. Their level of cooperation will depend highly on your adjuster and your ability to communicate with them.
A lawyer will help a lot, especially if English is your second language. If at any time you feel overwhelmed, consult with a lawyer.
Get follow-up care to prevent relapses from auto injuries
So you followed my instructions and got better fast after your auto injuries. Research has shown that if you stop care after recovering from auto injuries, there is an 80% chance you will have a relapse over the next year. This likelihood improves to 20% if you continue with chiropractic care every two weeks over the next year. In addition, patients who continue chiropractic care feel better and better.
Once you feel better, you must continue your wellness checkups to prevent these relapses. Part of you may want to consider this when you negotiate your settlement with ICBC. The better attitude is to take control of your health, pay for your visits, and stop worrying about who is paying. Chiropractic care is the most affordable type of health care globally, and it works for auto injuries. That is the crucial thing.
Conclusion
Getting hurt sucks, but it will suck a lot less when you follow the advice I just gave you. This will ensure that you are focused on care for your auto injury and not on the beurocracy that too frequently prevents people from getting better. Your care program will be tailored specifically for you. This includes chiropractic, Active Release Techniques and Class-4 Laser Therapy.