If you have ever experienced a rapid back-and-forth movement of your neck, followed by neck pain, there’s a high possibility that you’ve sustained a whiplash injury. Although we often associate whiplash with car accidents, it can also occur from slips and falls on ice, sports collisions, or even riding in a bumper car.
While most people have heard of whiplash, they may not fully understand what it entails. In medical terms, whiplash is classified as a cervical sprain/strain. This means that the ligaments in the neck have been stretched or torn (sprain), and the muscles in the upper back and neck have also been stretched or torn (strain). Consequently, this can result in significant pain, spasms, and swelling in the neck, often accompanied by persistent headaches in the weeks and months following the injury.
Typical medical treatment for whiplash involves rest, applying ice or heat, taking pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatories. While these measures may provide temporary relief for minor injuries, they fail to address the underlying problem. As a result, weeks or months later, even after your claim has been resolved, you may experience a recurrence of pain and headaches.
When we encounter whiplash injuries in our office, we have two primary goals: 1. To restore you to your pre-injury state or achieve maximum medical improvement as quickly as possible. 2. To ensure proper documentation for appropriate payment of your medical bills.
To treat this condition effectively, we employ multiple approaches in our office, aiming to expedite your recovery and prevent future issues:
1. Gentle chiropractic treatments: Since a sprain involves moving a joint beyond its normal range of motion, chiropractic adjustments focus on ensuring proper joint mobility in the neck.
2. Soft tissue work: Whiplash injuries often lead to muscle spasms and trigger points (knots) that are tender and sore. Gentle stretching, trigger point therapy, and massage can help alleviate these problems.
3. Passive rehabilitation: If you experience significant pain, we may employ therapies such as electric stimulation, ice/heat therapy, traction, and ultrasound in conjunction with chiropractic treatment to reduce pain and spasms.
4. Active rehabilitation: Whiplash injuries frequently result in a diminished or even reversed natural curve in the cervical spine. This contributes to a forward head posture, placing additional stress on the upper back and neck. To address this, we focus on postural exercises aimed at restoring a more normal head position.
5. Cervical pillow: An easy way to alleviate pain and improve posture is by using a quality cervical pillow. Designed specifically to support your head and neck in a natural position while sleeping on your back, these pillows are beneficial not only for whiplash injuries but also for general neck pain and headaches. They are affordable and available in our office.
We sincerely hope that you never have to endure the unfortunate experience of a whiplash injury. However, if you do, we want you to know that there are alternatives to relying solely on pain killers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatories.
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