Notes About Health

Whiplash, Not just From a Car Wreck

With as much as we travel it is becoming an every day occurrence for a fender bender to happen on the busy streets, highways or freeways. When a person is hit from behind while in their vehicle the impact causes the neck to sustain a ‘whipping’ motion that results in the condition known as whiplash. At the moment of impact, the supportive muscles and ligaments of the neck are inadvertently overstretched or torn. This is whiplash.

Whiplash does not only occur while being in a motor vehicle accident. Other injuries through sports, a fall or a job related incident can cause the same results. Regardless of how it happens, whiplash is painful and often debilitating.

Common Symptoms

Many people who get whiplash suffer from headaches, shoulder pain or neck pain. Some may experience dizziness, blurred visions, pain in the shoulder, arms, hands and a greatly decreased ability to move the neck. Other areas that can be affected by whiplash are the low back and legs.

This onset can begin several hours, or even weeks and months following the incident. One of the problems with whiplash is if there is no pain or discomfort at the time of the trauma, the victim will think they came through “without a scratch.” It doesn’t occur to them to get an immediate evaluation to prevent any present damage from worsening.

If a disc in the neck area has become herniated or torn, the resulting symptoms may not show up right away. Nevertheless, the problem is quietly, but consistently exacerbating.

A study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery stated that “an individual involved in a motor vehicle accident is nearly 7 times more likely to suffer neck degenerations within 7 years of the accident” than individuals that have not been involved in an auto accident.

Act Immediately & get an Evaluation

It is imperative to have a medical evaluation within at least 48 hours of the accident, and the best place to receive that evaluation is with a doctor of chiropractic. The goal of chiropractic care is to return the injured joints, muscles and nerves to complete, healthy function thereby reducing this increased risk of degeneration.

Chiropractic adjustments will restore proper motion thus allowing the body to regain its lost function. This often will relieve the pain caused by inflammation trapped within the joints. The adjustments also reduce strain on fatigued and spasmed muscles, and are effective in reducing pressure on “pinched” nerves and joint irritation. This then opens the way for the body to begin to heal itself.

Proven, Documented Results

The British Journal of Orthopedic Medicine (1999) 22(1):22-25 reported that “chiropractic is the only proven effective treatment in chronic cases” of whiplash injury.

Traditional doctors will offer pain medication, rest and hot and cold compresses to reduce the effects of whiplash. Oftentimes they will prescribe a neck brace. Although these treatments may reduce the symptoms they will never address the real issues and causes of whiplash. A chiropractor is the only form of doctor that will address the issues at the spinal level and will thereby have a higher chance at a pain free recovery.

If you were involved in a collision weeks or even months ago, it’s still not too late to benefit from chiropractic treatments.

An appointment today will greatly increase your chances at healthier future.