Following an accident or an injury, it is normal to experience inflammation. Chiropractors specialize in the body's musculoskeletal system. We can can stop the swelling as quickly as possible, which can drastically improve your recovery and get you back to optimum health. Chiropractic care is a safe, natural and effective way to address injuries and treat pain. If you are suffering from swelling, chiropractors can help.

In addition, if your injury is severe enough, you want to ensure that you are not doing further damage by performing any kind of self-treatment. Chiropractors are trained in treating injuries because they work with them frequently. Sports and injury chiropractors can perform both in-office treatments and guide you on what to do at home to maintain your recovery between visits.

What causes swelling?

Swelling, also called edema, happens when tiny capillaries (blood vessels) leak fluid into your body. Swelling is a natural response to injury and can occur due to a number of different causes. It's your body's way of bringing blood to the area so it can heal. The swelling starts immediately after the injury, but peaks around 24 hours later. The swelling then gradually goes down over the next few days.

Many things can induce swelling, however, the most common cause of localized swelling is from an injury to that part of the body. Trips, falls, bangs, and other injuries can lead to edema shortly after the point of impact. Additionally, injuries from car accidents can all cause fluid to leak around the affected area. 

How do chiropractors help swelling?

Spinal manipulation: Chiropractors use spinal manipulation to reduce swelling. The primary use of spinal manipulation is to reduce muscle tension and pain in the back or neck. Tension in these areas can restrict circulation, which slows down healing time. A chiropractor will perform manipulations that focus on specific areas where tension has built up, such as at the base of the skull or along the spine. These manipulations gently stretch out tight muscles so they don't restrict blood flow to injured tissues anymore. Realignment of the spine can improve nerve connection.

Joint realignment: Chiropractic care can improve joint swelling. Oftentimes, inflamed joints can be associated with joint misalignment. If your joints are out of alignment, they can begin to compress muscles, ligaments, and tissues which wouldn’t normally be compressed. This can create micro-injuries.

Heat therapy: Heat therapy is another way chiropractic care can help with swelling. Heat therapy uses mild heat sources such as warm blankets or heating pads to increase circulation and speed up healing time for soft tissue injuries like strains and sprains. While this can be an easy home remedy, it is still advisable to seek professional supervision while using this method of healing to ensure everything is going as expected. 

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): TENS treatment is when we stimulate the nerves and muscles using a low electrical current. This treatment has been found to relieve chronic pain from arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. It can also treat soft tissue injuries.

Here, at Rainey Chiropractic, we are specifically trained to treat accidents and injuries. We have equipment needed to aid you in your healing process and prevent further injury down the line.

Whether you are suffering from a permanent injury, an acute injury, or you require surgery, we are here to guide you through your entire healthcare experience. We will be the quarterback that coordinates your care. The Rainey Chiropractic & Car Injury Clinic promises great outcomes for their patients—in recovery and compensation. 

If you've been injured in an accident, give us a call directly or have your attorney call us at (727) 537-9447.

Our Dunedin office is located at 1299 Main Street, Dunedin, FL 34698 and our St. Pete location is located at 7321 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street N. St. Pete, FL 33702.