After a car collision, whiplash is one of the most prevalent ailments. Unfortunately, whiplash injuries can happen after an accident, but symptoms may not appear for several days. As a result, our professional chiropractor recommends that you obtain a chiropractic evaluation at Integrated Health Solutions as soon as possible after the accident. Our chiropractors can assess your spine’s health to see any difficulties or abnormalities. Our whiplash Clearwater care team uses the most up-to-date chiropractic techniques to create a treatment plan for whiplash and other injuries.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is a term used to explain a violent back and forth movement of your cervical spine (neck) caused by the impact of a collision. The structures in your cervical spine, including your nerves, muscles, and ligaments, can be injured if your neck moves too quickly. The impact may also cause your spine’s vertebrae to shift out of place. You may also experience discomfort due to your soft tissues stretching or tearing. Any misalignment in your spine can impair your body’s general function and cause persistent pain.
How does it happen?
Whiplash is a neck injury originated by a violent, quick back-and-forth neck movement, similar to whiplash. Whiplash is commonly known as a neck sprain or strain; however, this terminology covers a wide range of neck injuries. Rear-end collisions are the most common cause of whiplash. Sports accidents, physical abuse, and other sorts of traumas, such as a tumble, can all cause whiplash.
Following a treatment regimen may include pain medication and exercise to treat whiplash; most persons recover in a few weeks. Some people, however, experience chronic neck pain and other long-term consequences.
Symptoms of whiplash:
Whiplash signs and symptoms commonly appear within days of the injury and include:
- Neck stiffness and pain,
- Pain is worse when you move your neck,
- Neck pain, loss of range of motion,
- Headaches, which usually begin around the base of the skull,
- Fatigue,
- Dizziness,
- Arm tingling or numbness and tenderness or soreness in the shoulder, upper back, or arms.
Some people also suffer from:
- Vision is hazy,
- Concentration problems,
- Problems with memory,
- Disruptions in sleep,
- Irritability,
- The ears are ringing (tinnitus) and
- Depression.
How may chiropractic therapy help with whiplash?
Chiropractors can provide chiropractic adjustments and aesthetic restoration in Clearwater to realign your spine and prevent whiplash symptoms from increasing. He also provides spinal decompression, relieving strain on the cervical spine’s discs. During spinal decompression, gentle stretches are applied to release each vertebra in your spine. These exercises comfort persistent neck and back pain by relieving pressure on the nerves in your spine.
Chiropractic care has several advantages over conventional types of whiplash treatment. Our professional chiropractor can tailor a chiropractic treatment plan to your specific needs with early intervention. Chiropractic care can help with:
- Reduced pain and inflammation
Whiplash can create inflammation and pain in your neck’s soft tissues, which can ease with chiropractic adjustments. After regular chiropractic treatments, you may be able to minimize your dependency on pain drugs.
- Restore your neck’s range of motion
Whiplash injuries can produce stiffness in the cervical spine, making the neck movement hardels in any direction. Manual chiropractic neck adjustments object to restore your entire range of motion in your neck so you may be physically active and pain-free.
- Tone up your muscles
After an accident, you may lose muscle quality and power in your cervix, making it hard to go about your daily routine. Chiropractic adjustments can aid in keeping your spine and its structures healthy and powerful.
- Preventing and treating headaches
During a vehicle collision, the strain on your neck muscles can raise your risk of repeated headaches. Chiropractic adjustments can help to naturally treat headaches by reducing muscle tension.
- Increase the speed of your recovery
You may experience long-term effects in the weeks and months following a car accident or any other type of personal injury. Chiropractic adjustments started soon after the incident can help you recover faster and reduce your chance of serious complications. You should anticipate returning to your routine much faster and with less discomfort, thanks to enhanced blood flow and aesthetic restoration in Clearwater.
- Improve your overall health
Chiropractic adjustments assist the health of your spine and benefit your overall health and well-being. Adjustments to your spine can help you have more energy and mental clarity by improving blood flow throughout your body.
When should you consult a chiropractor?
If you have neck discomfort or other whiplash symptoms following a car accident, sports injury, or another traumatic injury, you may visit a chiropractor. It’s critical to acquire an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible and to rule out broken bones or other injuries that could cause or exacerbate symptoms.
Causes:
Whiplash is a condition that occurs when your head is violently thrown backward and then forward. This action can injure the bones in the spine, discs between the bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and other neck tissues.
A whiplash injury can occur due to:
- Accidents in automobiles: Rear-end crashes often caused whiplash.
- Assault or physical abuse: If you are punched or shaken, you may have whiplash. One of the injuries associated with the shaken baby syndrome is this.
- Sports involving physical contact: football tackles and other sports-related incidents can cause whiplash.
Complications regarding whiplash:
Most patients with whiplash Clearwater care recover in a few weeks and do not appear to have any long-term repercussions from the injury. On the other hand, some people experience pain for months or even years following an accident.
It’s impossible to predict how each individual will recover from whiplash. In general, you’re more likely to develop chronic pain if your early symptoms were severe, came on rapidly, and included any of the following.
- Severe neck ache,
- Range of motion is restricted,
- The pain spread to the arms.
A poor outcome has been linked to the following risk factors:
- Having had whiplash in the past,
- Existing neck or low back pain or
- A high-velocity injury.
Your treatment options will be determined by the degree of your whiplash injury. Some patients merely require over-the-counter drugs and in-home care. For others, patients may require prescription medicine, specialized pain treatment, or physical therapy.
Treatment management:
To relieve pain, your doctor may suggest one or more of the following treatments:
Rest: Rest may be beneficial for a day or two following your accident, but too prolonged bed rest may cause your recovery to be slowed.
Whether it’s hot or freezing: You can feel better by applying heat or cold to your neck for 15 minutes every three hours or so.
Drugs that relax the muscles are known as muscle relaxants: If discomfort keeps you from having a good night’s sleep, you may utilize it to assist you in getting back to sleep.
Exercise:
Your doctor will probably give you a list of stretching and mobility exercises to do at home. These physical exercises will assist you in regaining your neck range of motion and returning to your normal activities. Before exercising, apply moist heat to the hurting area or take a warm shower.
Physical therapy:
Physical therapy can assist you in feeling better and preventing further injury. If you have ongoing whiplash pain or require assistance with range-of-motion exercises, your doctor may recommend that you see a physical therapist. You will be guided through exercises by your physical therapist to strengthen your muscles, improve your posture, and regain your usual range of motion.
Experts may use transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in some instances. TENS works by delivering a low-voltage electric current to the skin. According to limited evidence, this treatment may briefly relieve neck pain and enhance muscle strength. The amount of physical therapy sessions required varies by individual. Your physical therapist can also design a home exercise program for you.
Integrated Health Solutions have an expert team of chiropractors. We use modern technology and therapies for treatment procedures. A patient can get the best whiplash Clearwater care from us at an affordable cost.
