Treating Whiplash After a Car Accident

Many people do not know what to do after an accident. The first few days following the accident can be a whirlpool of confusion and tasks. You may need to schedule some time away from work, find a rental car, contact your insurance company, and other obligations. 

See Your Doctor As Soon As Possible

If you are not experiencing any immediate symptoms, you may not even think about visiting your doctor. Chiropractic care may be the furthest thing from your mind. However, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible even if you are not yet experiencing any symptoms of injury. 

Your doctor will ask you several questions about the incident and your symptoms. He/she will want to know whether you can perform normal tasks before conducting various tests. The purpose of these tests is to check the range of motion in your shoulders and neck, tenderness in your back, shoulders, and neck, and the sensation, strength, and reflexes in your limbs.

Imaging Tests

Some car accident-related injuries, such as whiplash, may not be apparent for a few days or even weeks. Also, imaging tests may not identify this type of injury. To rule out other injuries or conditions, your doctor will order several imaging tests. The purpose of the tests is to determine what may be causing pain in your neck. Some of the tests your doctor orders may include X-rays, MRI, and a CT scan.

Whiplash

This type of injury occurs when your head suddenly moves backward and forward with a lot of force. It is one of the most common injuries resulting from a car accident. It can also result from sports injuries, physical abuse, and other types of accidents.

Whiplash occurs when the ligaments and muscles of your neck extend beyond their natural range of motion. You may not experience symptoms for a while. Thus, you need to watch out for any physical changes for several days following the car accident. Although it is a relatively mild condition, whiplash can cause long-term discomfort and pain. 

Symptoms of Whiplash

It can be difficult to ignore the pain you experience due to whiplash. Some of your symptoms may include:

 

• Tenderness.
   

• Decreased range of motion, pain, and tightness in your neck.
   

• Headaches at the base of your skull that radiate towards your forehead.
   

• Stiffness or pain when you look over your shoulder or move your neck.
   

• Pain when you rock your head.

How Can Chiropractic Treatment Help?

Each case of whiplash injury is different. This is why chiropractors tailor their treatments based on each patient’s injury. They usually employ various chiropractic techniques to treat whiplash. These include manipulation, various exercises, muscle stimulation and relaxation, and lifestyle and ergonomic changes. 

With early intervention, chiropractic care is very effective in preventing or treating symptoms of whiplash. Some of the benefits of chiropractic care after a car accident include:

 

• Improved muscle tone.
   

• Reduced pain and inflammation.
   

• Restored range of motion in the neck.
   

• Prevention and/or treatment of headaches.
   

• Improved overall wellness.
   

• Faster recovery period.
   

Following a car accident, you may start experiencing pain in some unexpected areas of your body. Even minor car accidents can cause injuries that can develop into major pain and discomfort over time. Visiting a chiropractor after a car accident can alleviate pain before it becomes a bigger problem.

To understand how chiropractic care can help treat a whiplash injury, visit Cashae Spine & Sports at our office in Silver Spring, Maryland. You can call (240) 219-8975 today to schedule an appointment.