One of the scariest situations you can find yourself in is getting into a car accident. Even if the car accident was minor, you can still have some major pain or physical issues following an event like this. Because of this, it’s important that you know what you can and should do to help get yourself back up on your feet after being in a car accident.
To show you how this can be done, here are three tips for caring for your body after you’ve been in a minor car accident.
Recognize That Your Pain Might Be Delayed
According to Nolo.com, it’s very common for you to get into a car accident, go through all the procedural stuff at the scene of the accident, and go about your day without feeling any sort of pain at all. Because car accidents get your adrenaline going, any small injuries you’ve sustained might not hurt until you’ve been able to calm down.
Just knowing this information can help you in caring for yourself after a car accident. While you might feel okay at first, try not to push yourself too much in the day or two after being in a car accident. This will give you the time to really assess how your body is feeling without giving you the chance to exacerbate any injuries you’ve sustained.
Use Ice On Swollen Or Sore Areas
Once you start to notice that your body isn’t completely working as well as it normally is following your car accident, one of the first things you should try is icing the affected area.
According to Dr. Laura J. Martin, a contributor to WebMD.com, using ice will help you reduce both the pain and the swelling that might be present. Just make sure, however, that you’re using the ice properly. Only ice for about 15 minutes every few hours for the first few days of your injury. If things don’t get better, you might need to try additional remedies.
Keep Your Body Loose
As soon as your body sustains an injury, it will frequently tense up, which can make it even harder to find relief from your pain. To combat this, Dr. William Morrison, a contributor to Healthline.com, recommends that you do whatever you can to keep your body loose after being in a car accident. This includes things like stretching, practicing good posture, and using relaxation techniques to help work out any tight areas.
Getting even a minor injury after a car accident can become a real big inconvenience in your life. So to help you get these small injuries healed in no time flat, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you properly care for your body at this time.