Whiplash

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WHIPLASH
Whiplash occcurs when the head is quickly moved forward and then snapped backward, or vice versa. Whiplash stretches and tears the muscles, ligaments, discs, and nerves in the neck. Whether a result of a car accident, sports, or work injury, whiplash or other neck injuries warrant a thorough chiropractic check-up.
Typical symptoms include: Neck pain, which typically starts a few hours after the accident and worsens over the following two days. This is often the result of tightened muscles. The muscles tighten as a result of the trauma in an effort to splint the injured area to protect it from further injury.
About half of those suffering from whiplash complain of headaches. These headaches, like the neck pain, are often the result of tightened, tensed muscles trying to protect the injured area.
Shoulder pain radiating down the arms, as well as radiating down into the shoulder blade area, may also be the result of tensed muscles.
Muscle tears are often described as burning pain, prickling or tingling. More severe disc damage may cause sharp pain with certain movements, which may or may not radiate into the arms, hands, and fingers. Often pain from disc damage is relieved by holding your hands over your head.

ADDITIONAL AUTO ACCIDENT CONDITIONS
In addition to whiplash, you can hurt anywhere following an accident. Below is a list of common symptoms following auto accidents. As with any pains, if you have any symptoms following an auto accident, you should get checked out by your chiropractor:
# Neck pain and/or stiffness
# Headache
# Fatigue
# Shoulder pain
# Tension
# Pain between the shoulder blades
# Head seems too heavy
# Anxiety
# Low back pain
# Sleep disturbance
# Radiating pain upper limb
# Sensitivity to noise
# Difficulty concentrating
# Blurred vision
# Irritability
# Difficulty swallowing
# Dizziness
# Forgetfulness
# Buzzing in ears
# Pain in the jaw or face
Chiropractic treatment is uniquely suited to rehabilitate auto accident related injuries. Through the use of manipulation and various physical therapies, combined with exercise, ergonomic and lifestyle changes, auto accident sufferers have a better outcome.

Should you seek care?
It has been our experience that people don't know what to do after an accident. The following information is aimed at addressing your medical needs if you are experiencing symptoms.

How can Chiropractic help?
When you receive treatment you are first evaluated and your injuries documented. X-rays are taken if indicated, and treatment is begun.
Treatment is aimed at reversing the sprain/strain complex explained earlier, and giving you relief, we want to reduce muscle spasm, reduce swelling, reverse joint fixation, take the pressure off the nerve, reduce a ruptured disc, and refer you to a medical doctor if you have a fracture, dislocation, or any medical condition.
Some people want to know if they should start with a medical doctor, or a chiropractor.
If you are in a lot of pain and need to go to urgent care, please go. It is after the urgent care phase that it is a good thing to seek evaluation from a doctor who specializes in orthopedic injuries (orthopedic injuries are affect bones, muscles, and joints.)
Chiropractors specialize in treating injuries - chiropractic is an orthopedic based treatment, which is aimed at normalizing mechanical function. We use joint adjusting, massage therapy, electrical stimulation, heat and cold, muscle stretching, traction, and more. Our treatments are focused directly at the sprain/strain complex.
Medical doctors use drugs and surgery, which is not aimed at reversing the sprain/strain complex.

Simply put, not only can you start with chiropractic care, but also when you are injured it is the treatment of choice. Because orthopedics is our specialty, you will get the mechanical care you need, and we know how to recognize when it is something else and we refer accordingly.