Whiplash from an Auto Accident

The most common whiplash injury symptoms include headaches, neck pain, back pain, shoulder or arm pain. In addition to pain, you may experience numbness, tingling or weakness, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, irritability, dizziness, memory loss or jaw pain.

Whiplash occurs when your neck is suddenly jolted backwards and forwards. Even low impact collisions can result in injuries, the most common being a rear-end collision. The symptoms of whiplash trauma can differ greatly from patient to patient. Symptoms may appear immediately after accident, or can arise several days later.

There are other factors which contribute to the severity of whiplash. The speed vehicles were traveling at the time of impact in an auto accident will have an effect on the amount of pressure absorbed by the neck, no matter how much damage the vehicles involved sustained. Even low speeds can cause whiplash in an auto accident.

Causes of Whiplash

When you are in an auto accident, your vehicle changes direction or stops suddenly, but your body doesn’t. Your head is jolted forward or backward, and your neck absorbs the pressure, which can cause tissue and muscle strain as well as spinal misalignment. This strain can cause pain when moving your head from days to weeks after the accident.

This pain can also indicate more severe injury to your muscles, ligaments, soft tissues and cervical spine. It is usually possible to treat this pain with medication or surgery, but spinal adjustment and massage therapy can often eliminate the need.

How We Evaluate Whiplash

There are two assessments a chiropractor will make when a patient is suffering from pain resulting from whiplash after an auto accident. The first is a physical assessment, including a close examination of x-rays or MRI scans and a physical examination. The second is a pain assessment. Measuring pain is difficult because it is highly subjective and therefore difficult to communicate. An open conversation between doctor and patient is critical to establish a baseline and quantify levels of pain a patient is experiencing.

During these conversations, a chiropractor will determine if a patient’s pain is intermittent or constant, the type of pain (stabbing, throbbing, burning, etc.), pain triggers, times of day when pain most often occurs, and the level of pain on a scale of 1 to 10. Doctors will also inquire about medical history, medications, and previous treatments.

In this way, a doctor can effectively assess a patient’s condition and determine the best course of treatment to repair injury and relieve pain.

Pain resulting from whiplash is treatable, and they do not have to slow you down. A chiropractor can help you get back to normal, depending on your condition. Schedule a free consultation today.