What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries
from auto accidents. This happens when impact – either
from a front or rear-end collision – throws the head
violently in one direction beyond its normal limits, then
the muscles react to “whip” it back in the opposite
direction. Muscles, tendons and ligaments supporting the spine
can be overstretched or torn. The spinal cord and delicate
nerve endings in the neck can be stretched, pinched and irritated.
The soft cartilage-like discs occupying the spaces between
spinal bones can tear, bulge, herniated or even rupture.
The initial symptoms of whiplash may be a
sore or stiff neck, perhaps along with a headache within a
few hours of the accident. Pain or numbness, or a pins-and-needles
tingling in the back, arms, shoulders and hands may occur.
A reduced ability to turn and bend freely is common. Ringing
in the ears, dizziness, hearing loss, or blurred vision has
also been reported. Some symptoms may not appear for days
or even weeks after the accident.
In severe whiplash, a concussion may also occur when the brain
is violently slammed against the inside of the skull. Concussion
symptoms include headache, irritability, restlessness, insomnia,
depression and mood-swings that may last for hours or even
days after the accident.
A chiropractic checkup can tell the extent
of the spinal injury and provide care to realign the spinal
column.
Why Whiplash May Not be a Minor Injury
Fortunately, whiplash injuries seldom
require hospitalization. After some initial pain and a few
days of stiffness, it’s all behind you. Or perhaps not.
Even when the damage to your car is relatively minor, whiplash
may have caused spinal damage. All to frequently, life-long
health problems begin as whiplash injury that was dismissed
as minor at the time.
Any trauma to your spine- whiplash included- can disturb the
normal position and motion of the vertebrae. Muscles, ligaments,
and discs attached to the spine are affected. In turn, neural
messages going from the brain to the other body parts “mis-fire”,
interfering with your body’s ability to heal and function
normally. These are what doctors call “vertebral subluxations”
and they may go undetected for years, silently destroying
your natural good health.
Medical doctors are trained to treat life-threatening
emergencies; bleeding, shock, broken bones , damaged organ
functions, contusions or abrasions. However they are not trained
to recognize the hidden spinal damage leading to the vertebral
subluxation complex. Only your Doctor of Chiropractic is trained
to do this. That’s why many people, when they leave
the emergency room go home with a hidden health problem that
will only grow worse over time. Many health conditions seemingly
unrelated to “back problems” can often be traced
back to nervous system impairment involving the spine.
Don't Wait to Seek Help
A “wait and see” approach to dealing with spinal
injuries can be dangerous. Most problems are more easily treated
within the first month that symptoms are noticed. Consult
your Doctor of Chiropractic to have a spinal checkup whenever
you have suffered whiplash injury. No matter how minor the
accident, spinal damage should be ruled out to protect your
long-term health.
Assessing Your Injury
A complete health history combined with a
through examination id the first step. You will be asked what
happened to cause your injury. You’ll also be asked
to bend and turn, and your reflexes will be tested. Other
standard chiropractic tests may also be performed. X-rays
of your spine will be taken. Your doctor will review this
information and answer any questions you may have. Then, the
doctor will make any recommendations for a program of care
suited to your whiplash injury.
What You Can Do
In the beginning, frequent chiropractic
visits may be needed to help relive your symptoms. It’s
not unusual to enjoy some degree of relief immediately after
your first adjustments. However, severe problems can’t
be cured with a single adjustment, any more than a single
pill in a prescription can cure an illness. So be patient.
Give your treatment program time to work, and yourself time
to heal.
Make a commitment to your own recovery
by following your doctor’s prescribed treatment program.
Most important of all, keep all of your scheduled appointments.
Even as your symptoms ease, regular treatment is needed for
more complete healing. Discontinuing treatment prematurely
only delays and prevents full recovery.
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