|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whiplash & Neck Injuries
Of the millions of people who visit doctors of chiropractic each year, a large number have had whiplash injuries. Whiplash injuries occur when a person’s spine, usually their neck, was hurt by being unexpectedly or suddenly thrown very quickly in one direction and then in the opposite direction. You might say the head is “whipped around” on the neck.
Whiplash is one of the most common consequences of auto accidents, it is estimated that 15%-30% of car occupant will suffer neck pain.
In almost all whiplash type injuries the spine is thrown first in one direction and then is pulled in the opposite direction because the muscles react to the initial injury by pulling or rebounding in the opposite direction. The rebound can and often does cause injury to your soft tissues-muscle, ligaments, tendons and other tissues. Occasionally a whiplash injury can result from side to side motion of the neck, also called left and right lateral hyper flexion.
There is more to whiplash than being thrown forward and backward. Usually the head is turned to the right or left a little when an accident occurs and this can complicated the effects of injury
Whiplash damage
Whiplash can be mild to severe and can range from rapid healing to slow healing to long-term chronic pain and impairment. It can cause serious problems because it can cause long-term damage. Studies show that a large percentage of whiplash sufferers, from 50% to as much as 88%, may continue to suffer pain and some amount of disability for years after the accident
Spinal Cord Damage
Depending on the severity of the accident, whiplash damage can range from barely noticeable stiffness to death. A worst case scenario occurs in a small minority of cases where there is actual bone fracture and spinal cord damage causing paralysis or death.
Whiplash symptoms Whiplash symptoms may start as neck soreness or stiffness, perhaps accompanied by a headache immediately or within a few hours of accident. Along with these symptoms there may be pain and or numbness, tingling or a pins and needles feeling between the shoulder blades, arm and hand. Some people may experience ear ringing, dizziness or even hearing loss. Sometimes the eyes can be affected and there may be pain behind the eyeballs, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or other visual symptoms. Occasionally, there may be tearing or running of the nose.
Medical Care
An individual who has been in an accident should first make sure that there is no life threatening energy broken bones, bleeding or hemorrhage, internal organ damage, serious contusions or abrasions, shock and other damage.
This is the specialty of emergency medicine, which does its best work when dealing with trauma or accident injury. After the patient is out of immediate danger, and when it is safe to do so, their spine desperately needs to be checked by a doctor of chiropractic for life threatening spinal damage, called the vertebral subluxation complex.
That is the essential because many whiplash sufferers live in pain for years after the injury, forced to survive on painkillers, muscle relaxants and various therapies including surgery because the spinal damage a doctor of chiropractic can correct has not been eliminated. In many cases a visit to the chiropractor may give great relief safely, quickly and without drugs or surgery.
Chiropractic Care
Not only whiplash but any kind of accident may cause the vertebral subluxation complex where the vertebrae (spinal bones) are out of proper alignment and “impinging” or irritating spinal nerves. Painkillers, muscle relaxors, sedatives or physical therapy cannot re-align the vertebrae and relieve the nervous system from pressure. What is needed is chiropractic care (spinal adjustment) to re-align the spinal column.
Old Whiplash?
Anyone who has ever had a whiplash injury, no matter how long ago, should see a chiropractor. The M. D.s may have sent them home after x-ray and MRI or CT scans and found nothing broken or rupture, yet the spine may still be structurally unsound. Without structural integrity the spine will no heat properly and may develop problems years later.
Arthritis and disc problems may develop years after the accident (and legal settlements) because chiropractors were not consulted for spinal integrity.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex
A whiplash injury is dramatic example of subluxations produced by sudden accident or trauma. Other subluxations may be caused by poor postures, repeated stressful movements, poor sleeping positions, bad diet, fatigue, constant emotional stress or even extensive dental work. If you’ve ever been involve in a whiplash type accident, see your doctor of chiropractic as soon as possible to make sure you heal as completely as possible.
Postscript
You can always benefit from a healthy spine no matter what disease or condition you have. It is as important for healing as good nutrition, water and sleep.
A doctor of chiropractic will remove your vertebral subluxation complex to help you better tune in to your natural innate healing ability (your internal healer)
For better physical, mental and emotional healing. That is the goal of your doctor chiropractic: to strengthen your inner healing ability.
Are you, your family and your friends carrying the vertebral subluxation complex in your spine?
Only a chiropractic spinal checkup can tell. |
|
|
|
