Do you have whiplash and other symptoms that showed up a few days later?

How to Treat Whiplash with Chiropractic Care
Is the Pain in Your Neck Whiplash or Something Else ?            

There are various reasons why one may be experiencing a pain in the neck. The neighbors dog, traffic, bills, other stressors, but many people tend to associate any type of neck pain with having whiplash. The first thing to find out is whether or not you have whiplash.

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Whiplash is defined as an injury to the neck, by moving the head forward and then backward in a rapid fashion that places strain on the neck muscles and ligaments. Whiplash most commonly occurs when the victim has been in an auto accident of any kind and especially if hit from behind by another vehicle but can also result from physical abuse (such as shaken baby syndrome) or contact sports, or taking an unexpected flying dive off of a bucking or spooked horse.  

Oftentimes the symptoms of whiplash do not show up until a few days later. The symptoms of whiplash vary and are not limited to:

• Restricted joint movement in spine or limbs
• Displacement of spinal discs, also known as a herniation, which causes sharp pain down one or both arms; It also can create small tears in spinal tissue and damage the nervous system, which is followed by numbness, tingling and muscle weakness
• Chronic pain in the neck area
• Cognitive dysfunction that may include difficulty concentrating

When to See a Physician
If you have unrelated neck pain that persists for a period of time or you experience the following:

• A shooting pain through one or both arms
• Tingling or numb feeling in one or both arms or hands
• Inability to touch chin to your chest

You may want to see a chiropractor or other medical professional as they can diagnose an underlying problem. If you are not having any of the symptoms or find it goes away after changing positions, it may just be the result of poor posture.

The Severity of Whiplash
At times, but not very often, neck pain resulting from an accident can be treated with ice and a light brace. Other times, it may seem to disappear, but Health By Hands recommends that anyone with whiplash seek chiropractic care even if symptoms seem to disappear; because more often than not, eventually a person may find themselves waking up to severe pain accompanied by acute problems, such as:

• Pain in their jaw
• Significant damage to ligaments, discs, nerves or joints
• Difficulty swallowing
• Nausea
• Irritability or unable to concentrate

If these symptoms are present, promptly make an appointment with your local chiropractor for an expert evaluation to determine if an x-ray is needed; in addition to other tests that may be performed to determine if there is an underlying problem.

Seeing the Chiropractor

The primary objective of the chiropractor is to use gentle manipulations that treat the spine and discs so that they are aligned properly. These manipulations are also designed to reduce muscle spasms and rebuild muscle strength with the aid of physical therapy.

The chiropractor will first focus on reducing inflammation and check the neck, mid and low back. From there, the range of motion, disc injuries and muscle spasms will be examined. Other factors that will be noted are walking, posture and spinal alignment. A comprehensive exam provides an understanding of the individuals' body mechanics. X-rays and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be taken along with the patient medical history to determine whether they can be treated.

Some cases of whiplash may only require ice and heat therapy to reduce inflammation and relax the muscles, respectively. Non-medicinal treatment may include acupuncture, massage or Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

If you or someone you know may have experienced any or all of the symptoms described, then you may want to share this information with them or give our office a call to make an appointment. Health By Hands Wellness Center, Arlington, TX. 817-930-0600