Whiplash & Neck Pain Information

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury caused by the rapid movement of the head, first forward then backward such as occurs when you are rear-ended during a car accident. Whiplash can also be the result of being punched, shaken, or experiencing another similar traumatic injury. It is important for whiplash to be diagnosed as quickly as possible following the injury.

Whiplash can cause injury to bones, discs, muscles, nerves, and ligaments. While in many cases, whiplash can be a relatively minor injury that heals in a matter of weeks, if left untreated it can lead to chronic pain conditions that occasionally cannot heal.

As long as the injury is not a fracture, effective treatment can include massage, chiropractic adjustment, heat, ice, rest, exercise and, if recommended physical therapy.

Treatment Expectations

When treated appropriately and in a timely manner, you can expect to be relieved of the painful symptoms related to whiplash. The injury can leave you with limited range of motion in your neck, tenderness to the touch in your upper back, neck, shoulders and arms. You may experience dizziness or headaches.

Applying chiropractic treatment to the injured area will increase your range of motion until you are soon moving normally and comfortably. Over a short time, you will not be as sensitive to touch as your soreness goes away. In most cases, treatment will have you feeling like yourself in a matter of a few weeks.

Benefits of Whiplash & Neck Pain Treatments

Traditional medicine will have you in a cervical collar and heavily medicated. Chiropractic treatment has the following benefits:

  • You will regain movement without pain more quickly than traditional medicine.
  • Your chiropractor can monitor your progress and quickly adjust your treatment according to how quickly or slowly you heal.
  • You will most likely heal from your injuries much faster.
  • You can recover without using potentially addictive medications normally prescribed by the medical community.
  • Having Chiropractic treatment will assure that your neck and back stay in alignment.

Frequently Asked Questions

If whiplash is not diagnosed shortly after it happens, you can have delayed symptoms that may surface weeks or even months following your injury.

Not necessarily. Your doctor will be giving you gentle stretches and exercises that you should do at home between your appointments.

Yes. Unless your injury is life-threatening, chiropractic treatment may be a slower process, but it will help you eventually recover from your injuries.
Any type of pain associated with the musculoskeletal system and aspects of the nervous system can benefit from chiropractic treatment. Most types of neck pain benefit from the various options used by your chiropractor.