Some days are a real pain in the neck. Unfortunately, some of us do indeed have a real pain there. Whether it's from a fender bender, a sports mishap, a slip & fall, or too much excited headbanging at a concert, whiplash is no joke. Some brave souls think they can simply walk it off, but chiropractic care is a much better solution.
If you’ve been diagnosed with whiplash, the gentle and healing hands of the experts at Specific Care chiropractors can work wonders with even the most sensitive neck pain. Why suffer silently when there’s help available? Give them a call today and schedule an appointment. Don’t delay; your neck will thank you later.
What Is Whiplash?
Caused by a sudden, rapid, and forceful neck movement, whiplash is considered a soft tissue injury. Its most common cause is vehicular accidents resulting from a quick and unexpected impact. The impact causes the head to move forwards and backward incredibly fast, much like the actions of a whip, hence its name. Other culprits for whiplash include contact sports, falling incidents, and any other activity that causes the neck to flex unnaturally rapidly.
The symptoms of whiplash typically include:
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Limited range of motion
- Headaches that originate from the base of the skull
- Upper back and shoulder tenderness or stiffness
- Tingling sensation in the arms
More severe symptoms can include:
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Tinnitus (ringing ears)
- Blurred vision
- Sleeping issues
- Depression
Whiplash can be difficult to diagnose accurately, although many doctors come to this diagnosis based on the patient’s sometimes more than obvious symptoms. Whiplash isn’t usually apparent on imaging tests. However, your doctor will most likely still schedule x-rays, MRIs, or a CT to ensure no fractures to the vertebrae. Bone fractures can sometimes accompany whiplash, and it’s best to order imaging tests for confirmation.
What Can a Chiropractor Do To Treat Whiplash?
Some whiplash victims must tough out the pain until the body heals itself. Many will resort to over-the-counter pain medications while applying heat or ice to the back of the neck. While these methods may cause temporary relief, much better treatments are available. The best is to visit a chiropractor.
After a chiropractor examines you and assesses your condition, they’ll determine what is the best treatment to help not only relieve pain but also to quicken the healing process. Depending on the severity level and neck mobility, they’ll recommend one or a combination of these treatment options.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments can help to relieve pain and stiffness by performing several gentle manipulations of the head, neck, spine, and extremities. Whiplash can cause the vertebrae of the cervical spine section to become misaligned. Gentle manipulation of the head, neck, shoulders, and arms can help to realign the vertebrae.
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage can help the victims of whiplash find relief from the pain it can cause and neck and shoulder muscle stiffness. Massage techniques that are specifically designed for sufferers of whiplash can help the muscles to relax, which can also help to ease or eliminate headaches that are common to this condition. Therapeutic massage helps increase blood flow to the affected area's muscles, which can help reduce muscle stiffness.
Physical Therapy
Under the supervision of a chiropractor or physical rehabilitation professional, whiplash victims can utilize exercises to help the recovery process. These exercises and stretching techniques can help increase muscle strength and flexibility, both of which can speed up recovery. An added bonus of physical therapy for whiplash victims is that the increased neck flexibility and strength may help reduce this condition's future incidence.
Ultrasound Therapy
Using ultrasound therapy has allowed some whiplash patients to experience significantly decreased neck and shoulder pain. This painless treatment uses sound waves to penetrate the muscles and can help regenerate damaged tissues and muscle fibers. Whiplash patients typically respond well to ultrasound therapy with other chiropractic procedures.
Chiropractic Care and Whiplash: The Bottom Line
There’s no need to suffer from the pain and inconveniences that whiplash can bring. A licensed chiropractor can evaluate your condition and develop an effective treatment plan that can help reduce the pain, stiffness, and mobility issues that often come with this soft tissue injury.
Possible whiplash treatments can include chiropractic adjustments to help realign cervical vertebrae and physical therapy to build strength and increase neck flexibility. For some, pain relief and recovery can be obtained by therapeutic massage sessions along with ultrasound treatments.
Whiplash is a treatable condition. Speak to a chiropractor to learn what they can do for you.