Auto accidents can cause whiplash, which is a relatively common neck injury caused by the rapid, back-and-forth snapping of the head and neck. Whiplash can occur to occupants of a vehicle during front-end or rear-end collisions. Unfortunately, if left untreated in a timely manner, whiplash could cause lasting complications.

How To Tell if You Have Whiplash

 Injuries occur when the neck moves quickly back and forth in an abrupt manner, which can result in injuries to the neck, shoulders, and upper back muscles. Thankfully, chiropractors are trained to help people with whiplash injuries through chiropractic adjustments.

Signs & Symptoms  

 If you have recently been in an accident, here are a few signs of whiplash you may experience. Symptoms typically appear within 24 hours of being in an accident and might include neck pain or stiffness, shoulder pain, upper and mid-back pain, headaches, dizziness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and pain or numbness radiating down the arms. You may also experience tightness/stiffness and decreased range of motion.

Headaches, Neck Pain & Stiffness

 One of the symptoms of whiplash can be pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders and upper back. Moving your head and neck can increase the pain, and the pain can radiate down to your shoulders or arms. The cause of the pain and stiffness occurs when the neck muscles become tense pulling bones out of alignment and putting pressure on the nerves causing pain.

 Pain and stiffness may occur immediately after the accident or could take hours to days. Headaches can also show up after having whiplash. Whiplash can also lead to a neck-related condition known as the cervicogenic headache. Cervicogenic headaches are caused by misalignments in the upper cervical spine which can put pressure on the nerves which cause headaches.

Treatment Modalities 

 Your chiropractor will perform adjustments to the misalignments caused by the whiplash injury. Your chiropractor will use adjustments to realign the bones (vertebrae) in the neck to the misalignments to take pressure off of the nerves and muscles causing pain and decreases range of motion. They may advise heat or ice applications, Biofreeze, traction therapy, massage, and home stretches and/or exercises.

Potential Complications 

 When whiplash is not treated promptly it may cause lasting damage. Chronic neck pain is one of the most common long-term complications. Limited mobility in the neck and shoulders may also be permanent and lead to degenerative joint and disc disease. Additionally, if the whiplash is left untreated you may be more vulnerable to soft tissue injuries in the neck in the future. 

If you recently sustained whiplash from an accident or injury, the team at Heartland Family Chiropractic, PLLC in Elizabethtown, KY, is here to help. Trusted chiropractor Adam T. Fulkerson D.C. has 20 years of experience taking care patients. To make an appointment call (270) 234-8880 or visit them online today.