Whiplash and Auto Injury
Whiplash is the neck’s reaction to a sudden stop, often in a car crash. Soreness can show up the next morning. TexStar can examine the spine after urgent injuries have been ruled out. The clinic does not manage the insurance claim for you.
What it feels like
What Tends to Surface After a Collision
- A neck that felt fine at the scene and seized up overnight
- Headache starting at the base of the skull
- Pain across the shoulder blades from the seatbelt line
- Difficulty checking blind spots without turning the whole torso
What to Do Before the Appointment
If you lost consciousness, have chest pain, or cannot walk steadily, go to the emergency room first. Bring the crash date and any imaging you already have. The chiropractor will retest motion and nerves rather than rely on the accident story alone.
Why Symptoms Show Up Late
Adrenaline at the scene masks a great deal, and inflammation in strained tissue builds over the following day. Feeling fine while exchanging details says very little about how you will feel on day two. That is why the crash date matters more than how you felt at the time.
How Treatment Is Chosen
Early care is often gentler: a careful adjustment style, light movement, and clear instructions on what to avoid. Decompression or laser is added only when the exam says the neck or back can tolerate it. There is no set number of visits tied to a wreck.
The Rest of the Body After a Crash
A collision loads more than the neck. The mid-back, the low back, a shoulder held on the wheel, and a knee against the dash all turn up in these exams. Mention everything that aches, even the parts that seem minor next to the neck.
About Insurance and Claims
TexStar treats the injury. The clinic does not act as your claims adjuster, negotiate settlements, or promise what any policy will cover. Ask the front desk what they can and cannot do administratively before you assume it is handled.
Step by step
After a Crash, in Order
Emergency screening comes first. The chiropractic exam is what happens after you are cleared.
- 1Serious injury ruled out at an ER or urgent care
- 2An exam retesting neck and back motion, plus nerve testing
- 3A gentle trial treatment only if the tissues can tolerate it
- 4A findings review, with realistic expectations about the timeline
Go to the Emergency Room, Not the Clinic
These need imaging and medical assessment immediately after a collision.
- Any loss of consciousness, confusion, or memory gaps
- Chest pain, breathlessness, or abdominal pain
- Severe neck pain with numbness or weakness in the arms or legs
- Unsteadiness on your feet, vomiting, or a worsening headache
- Vision changes or slurred speech after the impact
Where
Available at all four clinics
Austin
4601 Southwest Pkwy, Suite 101, Austin, TX 78735
Mon–Thu 8am–6pm · Fri 8am–12pm
Austin clinicBee Cave
11614 Bee Caves Rd, Suite 110, Bee Cave, TX 78738
Mon–Thu 8am–6pm · Fri 8am–12pm
Bee Cave clinicBuda
181 Cimarron Park Loop, Suite D, Buda, TX 78610
Mon–Thu 9am–6pm · Fri 8am–12pm
Buda clinicDripping Springs / Belterra
13341 W US-290, Suite 102, Austin, TX 78737
Mon–Thu 8am–6pm · Fri 8am–12pm
Dripping Springs / Belterra clinic
First visit
What the $98 New-Patient Visit Includes
- 1
Consultation
You tell the chiropractor what hurts, what you want to get back to, and which clinic you are visiting.
- 2
Exam
A neuro-musculo-skeletal exam looks for the source: the joint, the muscle, and the nerve.
- 3
Trial Treatment
One session of spinal decompression, cold laser, or spot cryotherapy, chosen from the exam. That session is included in the visit.
- 4
Findings Review
Your Chiropractor will go over the results of the exam and discuss a plan of care.
Questions
Common Questions
How soon should I be examined?
After an ER or urgent-care visit has cleared serious injury, sooner is more useful than waiting weeks while the neck stiffens. Call and name the clinic.
Will you document the visit?
Yes. The chiropractor reviews the findings with you at the visit, and the clinic keeps the chart.
It was a low-speed bump. Do I still need an exam?
If you have symptoms, they are worth examining regardless of the damage to the car. Vehicle damage and tissue strain are not reliably related.
Can you tell me what my claim is worth?
No. The clinic treats the injury and does not value claims, advise on settlements, or guarantee what an insurer will pay. That is a question for your attorney or adjuster.
How long does whiplash take to settle?
Many people improve over weeks, some take considerably longer, and prior neck problems tend to slow it down. The chiropractor retests rather than quoting you a timeline at the first visit.
Do I need x-rays after a crash?
If an ER already imaged you, bring those results. The chiropractor orders imaging of one area only when the exam suggests it would change what happens next.
Keep reading
Related Pages
Neck Pain
Non-crash neck stiffness, examined on a different footing.
Headaches
Head pain that begins in the neck after an impact.
New-patient visit
What the first appointment includes and what it costs.
Founder
Dr. Michael P. Henry, DC
Dr. Henry founded TexStar Chiropractic in 2011. He grew up in Manchaca, studied kinesiology at The University of Texas, and was appointed to the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Your visit is with the chiropractor at the clinic you choose.
Get an exam, not a guess
The consultation, the exam, one trial treatment, and a review of the findings, in a single appointment. Mention the $98 offer when you book. Restrictions may apply.