What happens with a whiplash injury?
Whiplash is a severe neck injury that occurs when your head gets whipped around, jerking your neck back and forth. The joints between vertebrae in your neck, along with muscles, ligaments, discs, and nerve roots, can all become strained or damaged. This is a sensitive system that needs evaluation as soon as a potential injury may have occurred.
Typically whiplash is associated with car accidents, although you can also get whiplash from playing a sport, having a bad fall, or other type of trauma. When whiplash occurs, you probably won’t feel much, other than a little soreness right afterwards. But as swelling gets worse in the following days and weeks without proper treatment, your pain level can continue getting worse.
How will I know if I have whiplash?
Neck pain is usually the most common symptom of whiplash. You could also have:
- Chronic headaches
- Shoulder pain
- Neck stiffness
- Lower back pain
- Dizzy spells
- Numbness or tingling down your arms
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Irritability
Is it difficult to diagnose whiplash?
No. Most whiplash injuries are visible with X-ray, which are done digitally. Dr. Payne will conduct multiple tests during your examination. He’ll check for swelling and observe the motion of your spine.
Dr. Payne will measure the range of motion in your neck, how far backward and forward you can move your head, as well as your side-to-side motion. He’ll note the degree of movement with and without pain. Dr. Payne will perform reflex and strength testing to determine the severity of your injury.
Can whiplash be treated?
Whiplash responds well to chiropractic treatment. Dr. Payne can use very gentle techniques to help heal your injury until your swelling goes down. Massage therapy can be beneficial for improving blood flow to a whiplash injury, too. You’ll also get customized exercises you can do at home to keep progressing.
As your pain and swelling continue to get better in the days and weeks following your accident, Dr. Payne will adjust your treatment plan, as needed, to minimize any long-term whiplash symptoms you may have.
