Whiplash Neck Pain? See Your Chiropractor Now!

Another good news/bad news informational blog post from your team of chiropractic professionals here at Austin’s TexStar Chiropractic. The bad news: Austin’s every increasing (and maddening) traffic conditions is driving record number of auto accident-related injuries. The good news: The most common accident injury responds well to non-invasive chiropractic treatment such as spinal decompression and cold laser therapy. Austinite auto accident victims increasingly turn to their doctor of chiropractic care for affordable and instant pain mitigation.

Chiropractic Treatment for Auto Accident Injuries

Car accident victims run the gamut of physical and mental injuries. The severity of injuries ranges from the most minor to the most unthinkable of catastrophic injuries. With that said, the most frequent type of bodily injury resulting from car accidents is whiplash.

What is whiplash?

Whiplash occurs most often with rear-end collisions when there is a rapid and abrupt movement of the head and neck backward and forward. The sudden extension of the neck can create a variety of injuries and symptoms. Whiplash injuries often differ from one person to another, depending on the severity of the auto accident and the overall health of the individual injured in the crash.
Whiplash causes soft tissue injuries that can result in significant ligament and neck muscle damage. It can also cause considerable damage to joints located between vertebrae and discs of the spine as well as nerve roots and cervical muscles.

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

The symptoms of whiplash can present immediately after an auto accident. However, there is frequently a delay in the appearance of symptoms, anywhere from 24 hours to several days after an accident. Typical whiplash symptoms include:

• Neck pain including swelling and stiffness
• Back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Numbness in the hand or arm
• Burning or prickling sensations

Additionally, some people may experience:

• Difficulty with concentration
• Trouble with memory
• Irritability
• Sleep disruption
• Fatigue
• Depression

Diagnosing whiplash injury and defining treatment options.

Because whiplash symptoms can take 24 hours or longer to occur, it’s important to see a doctor at the earliest sign of whiplash symptoms. Even if you feel you only have minor neck pain, it’s recommended to be examined by a doctor of chiropractic care. You may have injuries in joints between vertebrae and discs of your spine. Your doctor of chiropractic care will perform some a physical and neurological exam to identify the areas of injury. The physical exam includes x-rays when necessary, observing your posture, testing your range of motion, and determining all movements that cause you pain. The neurological exam includes tests of your reflexes and the strength of your muscles to identify if you have any nerve damage.

Once the exams, tests and imaging (if necessary) are complete, your doctor of chiropractic will develop a custom treatment plan to help you control and manage your pain during your recovery.

Chiropractic treatment of whiplash.

The course of treatment will vary depending on the severity of your whiplash injury. The chiropractic treatment plan is unique to each whiplash injury and treat to control pain, restore your range of motion and return to normal activities while treating the injuries detected during the exams.

Your treatment plan will vary depending on the extent and severity of your injury. Doctors of chiropractic will employ different chiropractic treatments for whiplash based on the individual’s injuries. These treatment options include (but are not limited to) spinal decompression, cold laser therapy, and a host of other chiropractic treatment options that are outlined here.

If you suffer from whiplash or any form of spine or neck pain, chiropractic care can and will deliver you relief, often times, during and after your first visit. Call us to learn more.