What’s whiplash?
Whiplash is a common injury that develops after the patient’s neck is moved suddenly and forcefully, usually in a back-and-forth motion.
What are the symptoms of whiplash?
Some of the symptoms of whiplash may include pain and stiffness in the neck that gets worse with movement, headaches, fatigue, and dizziness. Patients with whiplash may also notice that they don’t have as much range of motion in the neck after a whiplash injury. In addition, some patients with whiplash experience other symptoms, such as depression, dizziness, blurred vision, irritability, and ringing in the ears.
What causes whiplash?
The most common cause of whiplash is a rear-end car accident. These accidents may cause whiplash even at relatively low speeds. Whiplash also occurs after other types of accidents that affect the neck, including physical abuse and sports injuries.
Does whiplash heal over time?
With the right care, most patients with whiplash recover completely from their injury. When the injury is mild, the patient may only need to rest until the neck heals. However, in cases of more severe injury, professional treatment is often required. If a patient experiences a moderate-to-severe whiplash injury and doesn’t receive the proper care, they may continue to experience pain and limitations long after the injury should have healed.
Because of the risk of ongoing pain and limitations, it’s important for patients with whiplash to seek treatment, especially if their initial symptoms are severe.
How does Advanced Back & Neck Pain Center treat whiplash?
When a patient comes to Advanced Back & Neck Pain Center with the symptoms of whiplash, the doctor collects information about the injury. After reviewing the patient’s case carefully, the doctor develops a customized treatment plan that may include chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage therapy, and other modalities.
What can patients do to improve their outcome?
Patients can improve their outcome during treatment by participating in all recommended treatment sessions, performing recommended exercises at home, and following all of the doctor’s instructions. Patients should avoid engaging in activities that exacerbate symptoms by placing unnecessary stress on the neck.
*Individual Results May Vary
