Chiropractic Care For Whiplash

Whiplash is a term used to describe an injury to the spine often from a car accident.

It describes the wave like whipping motion of the spine due to sudden forces that occur in a crash and other traumas.

In a rear end collision, the neck is hyper-extended backwards due to the relatively heavy head on the neck.

This very sudden motion followed by rebound and other forces can cause injury all the way down the spine as well as to the injuries to so many other parts of our body.

Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash

In a crash, damage may occur to the spine’s bones, joints, discs, nerves, ligaments, tendons and muscles.

Of course, many non-spinal injuries do also occur.

Damage to the spine and associated structures may many different injuries that fall under the general term of whiplash.

The most common symptoms of whiplash include:

• Neck stiffness
• Neck pain
• Headache
• Concussion (mild traumatic brain injury)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Ringing ears (tinnitus)
• Shoulder area pain
• Back pain and stiffness
• Radiating leg pain (including sciatica)

Whiplash Symptoms May Be Delayed

Immediately after a crash, you might feel ok.

It does not necessarily mean you are ok though.

Underlying damage to the soft tissue is often present.

We may not feel it initially until your body begins to react to the injuries

Different People Respond Differently To The Forces, Even In The Same Vehicle

People are injured differently in an accident, depending on where they were in the car, how they sitting, how they were turned/not turned, height, weight, general health, age, and much more.

How Does Whiplash Heal?

The body begins the healing process right away after the car accident.

3 Stages Of Soft Tissue Healing

• The first stage is the inflammatory phase, during which pain, inflammation, and swelling occur. This may or most often is not visible.
• The repair and regeneration begins in the second stage. This takes about 2 months plus or minus. In this stage, the body forms scar tissue to help repair the torn tissues and damaged areas.
• The 3rd stage is remodeling. During this stage the body tries to improve the strength and flexibility of the scar tissue. The total healing time varies a lot depending on many things including the degree of injury and the general health of the person injured.

Patients can improve healing by…

Improving their movement during the healing with chiropractic care.

Getting enough sleep.

Following through with recommended dietary changes (including an anti-inflammatory diet).

Following through with recommended exercises and stretching, as well as any other recommendations.

Why See a Chiropractor for Whiplash Type Injuries?

Doctors of Chiropractic have the training required to find, diagnose, and treat the injuries to the spine and musculoskeletal system that may be missed or treated in different ways that may not work as well by other healthcare professionals.

Chiropractors really excel at evaluating these types of injuries and problems with movements. We also have the tools to get these problems better so that you feel better and heal better.

If whiplash type injuries are not treated properly, it is much more likely to lead to greater pain and problems in the future.

Do You Need To See A Texarkana Chirorpactor Experienced In Helping People Get Better After A Car Crash?

Dr. Hagebusch has helped thousands of Texarkana area residents recover from accident related injuries.

It’s something that we have a lot of experience with and it’s why you should contact us as soon as possible after an accident so we can help you too!