A serious motor vehicle accident can happen at just about any time. There are a wide variety of injuries that someone might suffer, with a major one being whiplash. Even though you may feel fine immediately after an accident, you have a lot of adrenaline going through your system. It can mask some very serious whiplash-related neck pain, which means you still need to seek medical care as quickly as possible.
After the accident, you will need to reach out to an auto accident doctor, to diagnose whether you have sustained whiplash. Learn more about whiplash below, and trust the team from Seminole Chiropractic Center if you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident in Florida.
WHAT IS WHIPLASH?
Whiplash is the colloquial name used to describe a sprain of the cervical ligaments in the neck. Your spinal column is divided into multiple segments, and the cervical segment is at the top. When you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, there are a lot of rapid changes in momentum. You may feel like you are bouncing around the car like a pinball. As your neck snaps from side to side, you can develop a sprain of the cervical ligament. That is how whiplash happens.
There are a lot of people who believe that you need to be involved in a motor vehicle accident at high speeds to be diagnosed with whiplash. In reality, that is not the case. Even a motor vehicle accident that takes place in a parking lot can lead to whiplash.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF WHIPLASH?
If you have suffered whiplash in a motor vehicle accident, there are several common symptoms that you may experience. Some of the most common examples include:
- You will probably develop a significant amount of neck pain and stiffness. You may have a very difficult time moving your neck from side to side.
- It is not unusual for people who suffer whiplash to experience a significant reduction in their overall range of motion. You may realize that you are not able to move your neck as much as you used to.
- Because of your neck injury, a significant amount of stress will be placed on the muscles in your neck and scalp. It can pull the muscles around your scalp very tight, and you may develop recurring headaches.
- You may notice that the pain in your neck hurts worse when you try to move your neck or head. The tenderness can also spread from your neck up into your head, down into your shoulders, and even into your lower back.
- You may develop emotional irritability because of your neck stiffness and soreness. You may feel like you have a short temper.
Remember that whiplash can present in a variety of ways depending on the severity of the injury. The best way to manage this issue is to reach out to an auto accident chiropractor as quickly as possible.
HOW IS WHIPLASH DIAGNOSED BY A CHIROPRACTOR?
The first step in the recovery process is to make sure the injury is accurately diagnosed. When you visit a chiropractor, he or she will talk to you about the accident. The chiropractor will be looking for signs that the accident may have led to whiplash. Then, the chiropractor will ask you for more information about your symptoms. This will be used to make a diagnosis.
The chiropractor may also want to confirm the diagnosis by taking a closer look at your neck. The chiropractor will perform a detailed physical exam, making sure that all parts of your neck are covered and that any potential side effects, complications, or ancillary injuries are also identified.
HOW CAN A CHIROPRACTOR HELP TREAT WHIPLASH?
After the injury has been diagnosed, the chiropractor will start the treatment process. There are several treatment tools that a chiropractor may use to help you recover. First, a chiropractor will want to make sure that all of the vertebrae in your neck are properly aligned. A chiropractor will use manual therapy to shift any muscles, ligaments, tendons, or vertebrae that may have fallen out of alignment during the motor vehicle accident.
Then, a chiropractor may also use traction therapy. It is not unusual for the vertebrae to get compressed in a motor vehicle accident, and the chiropractor will want to increase the space between the vertebrae to your muscles, ligaments, and nerves to allow more space to operate.
It is also possible that the chiropractor may recommend massage therapy. Massage therapy can be helpful for people who are involved in a motor vehicle accident and have suffered whiplash. A massage therapist can take a look at knots that could involve your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Then, the massage therapist can remove those knots, which can go a long way toward helping you recover. The sooner you reach out to a chiropractor, the faster you will recover.
HOW CAN I MANAGE CHRONIC NECK PAIN FOLLOWING A CAR ACCIDENT?
Even with the best treatment, you will probably still feel sore for a little while following a motor vehicle accident. You need to work with your chiropractor to develop a plan to manage chronic pain. A chiropractor to talk to you about stretches you can do to keep your muscles, ligaments, and tendons loose. Your doctor may also talk to you about sleep habits, helping you with your sleep position to give your neck a chance to recover.
A car accident chiropractor may also talk to you about certain exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles around your neck, which can alleviate the stress placed on the injured vertebrae.
CALL SEMINOLE CHIROPRACTIC FOR A CHIROPRACTOR FOR WHIPLASH
Whiplash is only one of the many examples of injuries you may suffer if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident. You need to seek medical care as quickly as possible, and that means going to a chiropractor who can help you. If you are looking for a chiropractor in Florida, look no further than Seminole Chiropractic Center.
We have an unparalleled level of experience working with a wide variety of injuries, including whiplash, and it would be our pleasure to help you generate a comprehensive treatment strategy. We always put the needs of our patients first, and it would be our pleasure to do the same for you too. Contact us today to make an appointment with our team!