Chiropractic After a Car Accident: Dizziness & Blurred Vision

This is a continuation of the series Chiropractic Treatment for Car Accident Injuries: The Complete Guide. You can see other common injuries here: neck injuries, head injuries, back injuries, soft tissue injuries.  

At our Bellevue chiropractic clinic, our car accident doctor, Dr. Edward Owens, gets asked this question frequently by people who have been involved in car accidents. Dizziness, lightheadedness, blurry vision, and even ringing in the ears (known clinically as tinnitus) are common issues that many people face following an incident on the road. 

But why does this happen, and what can be done about it? We invite you to keep reading to learn more. 

Common Auto Accident Injuries That Can Lead to Dizziness & Blurry Vision 

Here are a few of the most frequently diagnosed auto accident injuries that can lead to post-accident dizziness and blurry vision: 

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): inside your inner ear (also known as your vestibular system), you have small particles called otolith crystals that normally sit on top of small hair-like nerve endings. These otolith crystals help you maintain your sense of balance and position in space by triggering these nerve endings during movement. The sudden and forceful jarring of your head can literally make these crystals fall out of place, thus leading to dizziness and even nausea with certain movements. 
• Cervicogenic Dizziness: probably the most common cause of post-car accident dizziness, cervicogenic dizziness happens due to damage to the neck itself. Strain to the muscles, ligaments, bones, and joints in the cervical spine can lead to spinal misalignments, which disrupts proprioceptive signals that are normally sent to your brain by special postural receptors in your neck. 
• Brain Injury: your brain and nerves are delicate physiological tissues, and, like any other tissue in your body, can become injured. Car accidents are a common cause of a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can present wildly differently from patient to patient but often are accompanied by mental fogginess, irritability, dizziness, and confusion. 
• Vascular Injury: A forceful car accident can lead to strain and stretching to the arteries and veins that supply blood circulation to and from your neck and brain. If this happens, you may feel progressively worsening pain in your head that is often described as achy, pressure or throbbing. Consider this injury an urgent medical issue for which you should seek emergency care as soon as you notice these symptoms.

Indeed, it's generally a good idea to get checked out by a medical team and chiropractor after any car accident, even if you think you feel fine. Auto accident injuries can progress for several hours, weeks, or even months before symptoms actually appear!

How Our Car Accident Chiropractor Can Help Heal Your Body Recover From Auto Accident Injuries

Once the cause of your dizziness and blurry vision has been identified, car accident chiropractor Dr. Owens will work with you to create a customized treatment plan to reclaim your health. Spinal adjustments are the most important treatment, which reduces pain, realigns your spine, and promote neuromuscular healing. Dr. Owens is also trained to perform a specific technique called the Epley maneuver, which helps otolith crystals to return to their normal position for people suffering from BPPV. He also offers postural training, neuromuscular re-education, and vestibular rehabilitation to reduce or eliminate your symptoms, without drugs or surgery.

Lastly, Dr. Owens will also refer you to any other healthcare professionals as indicated (for instance, if, based on your symptoms, Dr. Owens believes you may have a mild traumatic brain injury or vascular damage). 

Schedule an Appointment With Your Local Chiropractor in Bellevue, WA

Don't keep your life on hold for an auto accident injury. To get help and get back on your feet, call Chiropractic of Bellevue today at (425) 802-5432.