Whiplash

Whiplash is the term used to describe a traumatic neck injury caused by an abrupt jolt, usually throwing the head back and sideways. This mechanism of injury causes damage to the soft tissues of the neck, and severe cases can result in fractures to vertebral segments. Most often, whiplash is caused by a rear end automobile collision at speeds as little as 15 mph, however it can occur during other events such as banging your head or falling. Whiplash can be a very stressful event and can have serious short-term and long-term consequences depending on the severity of the trauma.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms of whiplash present soon after an injury may include neck pain, upper back and shoulder pain, headaches, and sensory changes in the arms or legs (usually a “pins and needles” sensation or numbness). Some symptoms, however, may not appear until days after an injury such as the development of TMJ dysfunction or low back pain. A diagnosis of whiplash is usually confirmed after a complete head and neck examination often including x-rays to rule out fractures.

Medical Treatment

The medical treatment of whiplash usually includes the use of a soft cervical collar until the pain subsides. However, evidence has shown that soft collars can be less effective at promoting recovery from whiplash than other treatments such as active rehabilitation and postural modifications. In fact, one study found that patients who participated in active therapy shortly after their whiplash injuries had significantly less pain within four weeks when compared to patients using a cervical collar. Medical treatment for whiplash may also include the use of prescription pain killers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs).

How We Can Help

Many patients experiencing symptoms of whiplash have found tremendous and immediate relief with chiropractic care. In America, whiplash is often times inadequately treated due to poor patient compliance or insurance limitations to treatment, leaving the injury to progress into a chronic pain case. In fact, over 15 million people in the United States suffer from “late whiplash syndrome” largely because of insufficient treatment. For example, neck adjustments can offer some relief to patients with whiplash, but often times the pain returns with neck adjustments alone.

This is why Divine Design Natural Health addresses the entire spine and even the surrounding joints as is often necessary. We also incorporate rehabilitative exercises to minimize the chance of future neck problems and proper nutritional supplementation to quickly promote the healing process and effortlessly speed recovery time.

Automobile insurance operates very differently than health insurance. While the services and products offered by Divine Design Natural Health are usually not covered by typical health insurance, automobile insurance actually does cover chiropractic adjustments and cold laser therapy, allowing our patients to use their auto accident coverage to enjoy the benefits of our office. Return to normal function occurs much more quickly when damaged structures receive proper materials to rebuild through the use of specific nutritional supplementation, and our results in these cases often lead to surprising results.