Whiplash and Importance of Treatment Afterwards

June 11, 2010 - PRLog -- Whiplash can be defined as any injury to the neck caused by a sudden movement of the head, backwards, forwards, or sideways. Whether from a car accident, sports, or an accident at work, whiplash or other neck injuries warrant a thorough chiropractic check-up. The biggest danger with whiplash injuries is that the symptoms can take from months to years to develop. Too often people don't seek treatment until more serious complications develop. Even after whiplash victims settle their insurance claims, some 45% report they still suffer with symptoms two years later.

    In the past a typical whiplash injury, where no bones were broken, were hard to document. Soft tissue injury didn't show up on normal x-rays/radiographs and insurance companies would deny coverage. Literally adding insult to injury, the patient's real pain was sometimes considered to be a fraud, a liar, or at best a hypochondriac. Today’s imaging devices (CAT Scans, MRI and Ultra Sound) now show soft tissue injuries with much greater detail.

Whenever someone has a whiplash injury, there are typical symptoms that one may experience.

When there are no bones broken and the head doesn't strike the windshield, the following symptoms are the most common:

                   
62% to 98% complain of neck pain, which typically starts two hours up to two days after the accident. This is often the result of tightened muscles that react to either muscle tears or joint sprains.

66% to 70% of those suffering from whiplash complain of headache. The pain may be on one side or both, on again off again or constant, in one spot or more general. These headaches, like the neck pain, are often the result of strained, tense muscles trying to keep the sprained cervical joints of the neck stable. They pain of these headaches are often felt at the back of the head, forehead, temples, and behind the eyes.

Shoulder pain often described as pain radiating down the back of the neck into the shoulder blade area, may also be the result of tensed muscles.
Muscle tears are often described as burning pain, prickling or tingling.

A more severe injury, such as disc damage or herniation, may cause sharp pain with certain movements, with or without radiation into the arms, hand and fingers, which are relieved by holding your hand over your head.

The following is a list of other symptoms that one may feel after a whiplash injury:

Blurred vision

Difficulty swallowing

Irritability

Fatigue

Dizziness

Pain between the shoulder blades

Low back pain and/or stiffness

Nausea

Ringing in the ears

Vertigo

Numbness and tingling

Pain in the jaw or face


    If you experience any of these symptoms, play it safe and get a chiropractic check up. To see a chiropractor in regards to any type of related injury, you do not need a referral from your medical doctor. Once a proper examination is performed and an accurate diagnosis is made, safe and conservative chiropractic treatment can commence.

    If you have any questions about your back pain give me an email at landrumdc@gmail.com or visit my website http://www.landrumdc.com

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Dr. Brad Landrum is a chiropractor located in Hopkinsville, Ky 42240. His comprehensive, manual care clinics offer innovative soft-tissue treatments, research-based rehabilitation protocols and manipulative techniques to restore proper biomechanics.