Auto accident injuries can have a serious impact on your life and health, affecting everything from the ability to work and get around to your daily levels of comfort and pain. This is why it's crucial to see a pain management doctor after a car accident. They will treat your pain and provide a recovery plan. And while healing will happen in its own time, there are some things you can do that may speed up the process.

How to Heal Faster After an Auto Accident

1. Rest

The workaday world is a busy place, and people often feel pressure to keep up—or stay one step ahead—of all work and household obligations, even after an accident. But rest is absolutely crucial to recovery. 

Sleep provides a wide range of healing and restorative benefits. During sleep, your body releases hormones to promote tissue growth needed to repair blood vessels and reduce inflammation. Your body will also increase white blood cell production to boost immune function and keep bacteria, viruses, and other complications at bay. Lastly, sleep will lower stress hormone levels.

2. Hydrate

Water, like sleep, is essential to aiding the recovery process. By staying properly hydrated, you are flushing out toxins, ensuring cells receive the nutrients they need, regulating body temperature, and easing tense or sore muscles. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water—about a half-gallon—daily. If that seems like a lot, remember that you can spread out your consumption throughout the day.

3. Support

Both your physical and emotional health can benefit from support. Wear comfortable athletic shoes instead of formal footwear in the weeks following the accident. Athletic or tennis shoes offer stable structural support for the body, which can minimize unsteadiness when you're on your feet. 

Don't hesitate to use crutches, a cane, or other assistive devices as recommended by your doctor. And be sure to reach out to family and friends—talk to them daily, and ask for help when you need it.

By following these steps, you will be well on your way to recovery. When you need a pain management doctor in the Mesa, Gilbert, or Phoenix, AZ, area, trust Accident Doctors. They offer pain relief solutions for back and neck pain and other auto accident injuries, and their referral services can put you in touch with other providers to further advance your recovery. Call (602) 632-0000 to schedule a consultation or visit them online to explore their urgent care services.