Healing from Whiplash

 Cars and travel are a necessary part of our society, but the injuries they cause can leave people searching for a way to recover, heal, and get their bodies back routine, or at least pain-free after an auto accident.

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained from accidents, and bodily trauma can affect your sleep, work, and peace of mind.

Depending on the severity of your whiplash injury, it may be relatively easy to recover from with treatment, or it may take months and even years of physical therapy and chiropractic treatment to heal. That is why immediately seeking care is critical. 

What is whiplash?

Whiplash is an injury caused by the sudden impact of a vehicle crash forcing the head to move in an unnatural, unexpected motion that can tear the fine muscles in the neck and upper back, along with dislocations or herniation of the upper cervical spine. Most people realize that they could have whiplash due to a sore neck or have trouble moving or turning their necks like normal.

Whiplash can leave patients with inflammation and swelling in the neck, upper back, and head muscles, making those areas very sensitive and difficult to move.

We will discuss the event and your symptoms, their frequency and severity, and how they affect your everyday life, from work to home-life to your hobbies. 

During your appointment we will touch and move your head, neck, and arms. We will check the range of motion in your neck and shoulders and to which degree you can move before experiencing pain. 

Whiplash cannot be seen on imaging tests, but they are helpful to determine whether conditions are present that are making your neck pain worse. Imaging tests may include:

• X-rays. Fractures, dislocations, or arthritis can be identified by X-rays of the neck taken from many angles.
• Computerized tomography (CT). This particular type of X-ray can produce cross-sectional images of bone and show possible bone damage.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This imaging test uses radio waves and a magnetic field to produce detailed 3D images. In addition to bone injuries, MRI scans can detect some soft tissue injuries, such as damage to the spinal cord, discs, or ligaments.

During your appointment we will touch and move your head, neck, and arms. We will check the range of motion in your neck and shoulders and to which degree you can move before experiencing pain. 

Whiplash cannot be seen on imaging tests, but they are helpful to determine whether conditions are present that are making your neck pain worse. Imaging tests may include:

• X-rays. Fractures, dislocations, or arthritis can be identified by X-rays of the neck taken from many angles.
• Computerized tomography (CT). This particular type of X-ray can produce cross-sectional images of bone and show possible bone damage.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This imaging test uses radio waves and a magnetic field to produce detailed 3D images. In addition to bone injuries, MRI scans can detect some soft tissue injuries, such as damage to the spinal cord, discs, or ligaments.

Our goal with treatment is to provide pain management, restore normal range of motion and get you back to enjoying your normal activities. 

Your treatment plan and the number of weekly visits will depend on your whiplash injury. 

We may also recommend rest, hot and cold applications, over-the-counter pain relief medications, or stretching exercises to keep your muscles gently engaged and supple.

Because most whiplash incidents impact the spine and the surrounding nerves and tissues, chiropractic care is an excellent avenue for treatment. Chiropractic doctors are skilled in assessing the source of the pain associated with a whiplash injury and determining effective treatment plans. Our treatments are gentle and non-invasive. Through minor adjustments, people find great relief from the pain associated with whiplash and are set on a road to full recovery. 

Call us at Able Chiropractic to discover how chiropractic care can help you recover from whiplash.

Our goal with treatment is to provide pain management, restore normal range of motion and get you back to enjoying your normal activities. 

Your treatment plan and the number of weekly visits will depend on your whiplash injury.