Whiplash is a common neck injury often associated with car accidents, especially rear-end collisions. This injury occurs when a sudden, forceful jerk of the head causes rapid back-and-forth movement, similar to the cracking of a whip. The rapid movement can stretch and damage the muscles and tendons in the neck, leading to a range of symptoms. Recognizing these symptoms is crucial to ensuring timely treatment and preventing further complications. This article discusses the signs to look out for that may indicate whiplash following a car accident.
Neck Pain and Stiffness
The most common symptom of whiplash is neck pain. The discomfort can range from a mild annoyance to severe, debilitating pain. The pain is often worsened by neck movement and is typically accompanied by stiffness. This results in a decreased range of motion and difficulty turning the head side to side or up and down.
Headaches
Whiplash-related headaches usually start at the base of the skull and radiate towards the forehead. They are often the result of injury to the neck muscles, ligaments, or nerves, or they may be due to a concussion that occurred at the same time as the whiplash injury.
Dizziness and Vertigo
Some people may experience dizziness or a sensation of spinning, known as vertigo, following a car accident. These symptoms might be due to injuries to the neck or brain, or changes in the inner ear's balance mechanisms.
Visual Disturbances
In some cases, victims of a car accident might encounter blurred vision or difficulties focusing. While this is not as common as other symptoms, it is essential to pay attention to any changes in vision following an accident.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is another potential symptom of whiplash. It can be continuous or intermittent and may vary in volume. It's a symptom that should not be ignored, as it can indicate a more serious injury.
Fatigue and Sleep Disturbances
After a whiplash injury, some people might feel unusually tired or have trouble sleeping. This might be due to the body’s response to the injury, pain disrupting sleep, or possibly from a mild traumatic brain injury or concussion.
Cognitive and Emotional Issues
Less commonly recognized symptoms of whiplash include cognitive and emotional changes. These can include memory problems, difficulties concentrating, irritability, and feelings of depression. These symptoms are often the result of either the physical discomfort associated with whiplash or a mild traumatic brain injury.
Getting Help
If you experience any of these symptoms after a car accident, it is essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if the symptoms seem minor initially, they can become more severe over time and lead to chronic problems if left untreated.
A healthcare provider will likely use a combination of physical examination, medical history, and imaging tests to diagnose whiplash. By understanding the signs of whiplash and acting promptly, you can ensure the best possible outcome for your health and well-being after a car accident.
How We Treat Whiplash
Our resident expert, Dr. Gordon Elder, is a highly proficient practitioner of the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Technique. This technique is distinctive in its gentle, low-impact approach to correct and align vertebral misalignments in the upper cervical spine.
The initial course of action for treating whiplash taken by Dr. Elder involves a concise physical examination of your spine. This is to ascertain the presence of any misalignment in the upper cervical spine. Upon detecting a misalignment, Dr. Elder employs a host of advanced diagnostic tools, including cutting-edge 3D imaging technologies, to accurately identify the misalignment's precise location. Following this, you'll have the opportunity to review your scans and engage in a discussion with Dr. Elder regarding your spinal health.
Subsequently, Dr. Elder will use a series of accurate, non-invasive adjustment methods to reposition any misaligned vertebrae to their natural location. This aids in triggering the body's innate healing mechanisms to restore and uphold proper functionality in the spinal column and the surrounding musculature.
After the initial adjustment, patients will revisit for regular check-ups that are gradually spaced further apart. This is done to ensure the adjustment remains intact for three months. These check-up sessions typically consist of 10 to 15 appointments within a 3-5-month timeframe.
If whiplash is negatively affecting your everyday life activities, don't hesitate to reach out to Dr. Elder to discuss healing your upper cervical spine. Blair Chiropractic Clinic, based in Lubbock, Texas, also extends its services to Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, El Paso in Texas, and Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.