If you’ve ever been in an automobile accident, you know that aches and pains may manifest after the initial shock wears off and can persist for months or even years afterward. What can you do when you must return to your daily activities and responsibilities but are still plagued by chronic pain? Acupuncture, herbs, and bodywork may be the solution you seek and could replace the constant need for prescribed pain-relievers and painkillers.
Fortunately, most insurance companies in Portland are required by Oregon law to cover acupuncture and related therapies following an accident. A personal injury protection (PIP) claim will cover 100% of the cost. Refer to your automobile insurance policy for details of coverage.
Effective Alternative Pain Treatments
No one wishes to be reliant on heavy-duty painkillers such as Oxycontin or Percocet for longer than necessary. As we’ve written about before, these dangerous and addictive medications simply manage the symptoms of pain without addressing the cause. Mainstream medicine no longer recommends narcotics as first-line treatment for pain.
Turning your focus to non-drug pain management techniques provides you with options that heal your body in the long term. They can provide greater pain-relief that lasts longer and remedies the sources of your pain. At Inner Works Acupuncture, we offer three alternative pain management methods: Five Element Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicines, and Zero Balancing bodywork. When exercised together, the majority of our patients experience quick pain relief that lasts between visits, reduced stress and anxiety, and improved motor-function and mobility.
Addressing Mental Trauma & Pain
Research on PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) finds that the emotional impact of a motor vehicle accident can run deep. You may experience increased anxiety, fear of driving or riding as a passenger, or hyper-awareness in the car that exhausts you physically and mentally. Five Element Acupuncture can be very effective for managing emotional pain and stress. Five Element acupuncture and Zero Balancing sessions can also increase feelings of peace, acceptance, and motivation. We will tune you up mentally while we simultaneously address your physical pain.
An Affordable Treatment Plan
After reporting an accident to your insurance company, you should receive authorization to open a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claim, which will allow you to pursue acupuncture as a treatment option and covers 100% of the cost. In Oregon, acupuncture for treatment of MVA (motor vehicle accident) injury does not require a doctor’s referral. None the less, we encourage you to see your primary care practitioner initially after any accident or injury, even a minor one. This not only gives you a medical assessment and diagnosis for your injury, it also serves as documentation of your medical condition following the accident. In Oregon, chiropractors are qualified primary care practitioners. At Inner Works Acupuncture, we often work collaboratively with Jon McClaren, DC, at Cascade Spine and Injury, and recommend him as our first choice for chiropractic treatment of MVA injuries.
Recovery from more serious injuries may require treatment beyond the dollar and time limitations of a PIP claim. It is prudent to consult a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who can advocate for you and help you receive an appropriate settlement. At Inner Works Acupuncture, we collaborate with and highly recommend Sanford Zeitz, personal injury attorney at Kirkpatrick & Zeitz.
