Auto Injury Accident Patients Treatment Dr. Anderson Natural Medicine
Dr. Anderson routinely sees auto injury patients at her Bothell-based practice, working with those who have recently been injured and those who have lived with chronic pain from an injury—even one that happened years before—that was not fully treated and resolved. Some of these patients have seen their auto injury cases closed, while others have a case that is still open, but have exhausted their Personal Injury Protection (PIP) funds. Such patients often don’t seek out additional help because they are unaware that their personal health insurance can be billed in these instances.
If you have been injured in a car accident recently or have chronic pain issues, there may be treatments available to you that you haven’t been told about. Your list of treatments to consider should include trigger point injections for chronic muscle pain, spinal manipulation by a naturopathic doctor or chiropractor, physical therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture.
Many people who have suffered physical trauma in a vehicle collision get a pain pill or muscle relaxer from their primary care provider or hospital and are sent home and told to rest. While most people will improve over the weeks and months following their accident, many are left with chronic pain and may have physical limitations, including headaches or joint and muscle pain, that can interfere with their daily lives.
In most states, auto injury patients have the right to seek out care from the healthcare provider of their choice—which includes naturopathic doctors (NDs), MDs, DOs, and chiropractors. Auto injury patients may also receive care from acupuncturists and massage therapists and physical therapists. If you are in doubt about whether the provider of your choice is allowed, check with your insurance or an auto injury attorney in your area.
In the case of seeing an ND, MD, or DO, a review of your symptoms and an examination should be done prior to treatment, imaging, or other referrals. The goal of treatment after your auto injury is to return you to your “pre-injury” state—but unfortunately, this is not always possible. Dr. Anderson is always upfront about what patients can reasonably expect from the treatments she can provide.
In Washington state, physicians that provide care to L&I patients—such as Dr. Anderson—are registered on the L&I website. These include NDs, MDs, DOs, and chiropractors. The level of care and amount of care available for injuries related to labor and industry may be limited by state regulations. Your provider of choice will work with your case manager to get you feeling better and back to work. To check for L&I providers near you, visit the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries “Find a Doctor” site.