What to Know About a Whiplash Injury

You may not feel like there’s something wrong with your neck after an accident. But your neck may be harboring an injury. A whiplash injury can be debilitating if you do not seek immediate treatment for it. The American Chiropractic Association emphasizes the importance of seeing a chiropractor after a whiplash injury. Here are the things you need to know about whiplash.

The Causes

You can get whiplash after your neck experiences a rapid forward and backward movement. This sudden, forceful motion causes your ligaments and tendons to stretch too much and then tear. The symptoms of whiplash may or may not show right away. Here are the common causes of whiplash:

• Bad falls with violent head jerking
   

•  Car collisions
   

• Contact sports
   

• Blows to the head
   

• Cycling collisions
   

• Horseback riding
   

• Physical abuse

The Symptoms

Patients report having pain in the shoulder, neck, and lower back, as well as in the arm or hand. There is also dizziness, irritability, neck stiffness, and numbness in your arm or hand. You may also feel tiredness and sleeplessness. Turning your head is also problematic.

Medical Treatments

Persistent or severe whiplash pain and its related symptoms need medical attention. The patient can see a doctor, who will create a custom-fit treatment plan. Working with other healthcare professionals like chiropractors and physical therapists may be necessary. Any or a combination of the following treatments could apply:

• Your doctor may give you prescription pain medications if over-the-counter ones do not work anymore.
   

• Physical therapy from a trained therapist can improve your neck’s flexibility and strength. It can also reduce pain and relieve stress on the spine.
   

• Psychotherapy can help if you have developed a psychological condition after the injury or accident. Whiplash pain and stiffness can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. A mental health provider can counsel you so that you can understand, manage, and work through the problems.
   

• A chiropractor can perform techniques that can relieve pain and stiffness in the neck area. Manual adjustments to your spine can improve your range of motion. Massage therapy can reduce pain as well by increasing blood flow and soothing muscle spasms.

Aftercare

After your whiplash treatments, you must rest. Set aside exercises and heavy chores for a few days. Apply ice on the swollen part of the neck. The cold can close the blood vessels. This can reduce pain and inflammation. Keep taking the pain medications that your doctor gave you.

Seeing your doctor for regular checkups can help keep an eye on your recovery. You may recover for a period of a few days to many weeks. Other people may take months to heal. Staying active can help keep the muscles in motion. This can speed up your recovery.

Understanding what whiplash injury is can prepare you for your treatments and recovery. At Cashae Spine & Sports, we help our patients recover their good quality of life. Visit our center in Silver Spring, Maryland, for an in-person consultation. Call us at 240-219-8975 to set an appointment or ask about our whiplash injury treatment packages.