As stated by the World Health Organization, the United States is among the countries with the highest rate of traffic-related fatalities per one million population. The level of traffic is one of the reasons leading to more traffic accidents: In 2018, there were some 12 million vehicles involved in crashes.

Suppose you have been injured in a car accident. You will probably want to know what kind of recovery time you are in for. The recovery time depends on the type and severity of the injury. But as every case is different, there’s really no way to assume the recovery time until you seek the help of a medical professional. The specialist can give you an estimate of your treatment and recovery time.

Types of Injuries and Their Recovery Time

The location of your injuries will determine the duration of your treatment. Depending on your case, it is also possible to work on multiple injuries at a time. Here are some examples:

• Whiplash pain usually heals in weeks if the treatment happens soon after the accident. In some cases, it may take up to several months of treatment.
• The lower back may require up to six months of chiropractic care. Soft tissue injuries can be resolved in a few weeks if appropriately treated. Surgical treatment or physical therapy is recommended for muscle tears and could take several months before a full recovery.
• Traumatic brain injuries may require rehabilitation to treat the symptoms and could take months or even years to heal.
• Herniated discs are among the most painful injuries. Severe cases may require surgery and recovery lasting for several months.
• A broken bone could take three to four months to recover.
• Emotional and psychological damage need treatment from a mental health professional. There is no timeframe set for such conditions, as it depends on each case and individual.

As you may have already noticed, the recovery period is primarily determined by the severity of the injury, the victim’s health before the injury, and medical treatment. That is why it is recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you address the problem early, the advantage will be on your side. Clinics like Icon Medical Center provide comprehensive physiotherapy, myotherapy, and chiropractic care.

How Does the Recovery Process Work?

The first step in your recovery process is pain relief. At this stage, doctors will focus on alleviating any immediate pain or other symptoms you experience after the car accident. This can take up to a month, and you may be asked to visit a chiropractor three or four times during this period. Once this phase is complete, you move on to the corrective care phase. This phase focuses on re-stabilizing your natural movement pattern by addressing any soft or scar tissue. Typically, corrective care rehabilitates your spinal system. With this, the structure of your natural anatomy may be regained.

Then you must continue with the strengthening care phase, where the chiropractor treatment focuses on securing the relief care and corrective care phases. The entire recovery process can last for a three to four-month period. But the more severe the car accident, the longer the recovery time.