Auto accidents are, unfortunately, one of the most common causes of pain and injuries we treat at Myshka Chiropractic. It’s critical to schedule an appointment with our auto injury chiropractor after a car accident, even if you feel fine. Comprehensive chiropractic care helps protect the long-term health and function of your body and spine.
Auto Accident Whiplash Chiropractor
Even crashes that cause minimal damage to vehicles can result in serious auto injuries like whiplash, neck pain, back pain, shoulder injuries, herniated discs, and headaches. Chiropractic care is often the most effective way to get back on the road to recovery following a vehicle accident.
When you are involved in a car accident, your body is immediately filled with a rush of adrenaline. No one wakes up in the morning anticipating a crash, so when it happens, it’s a shock to your system. While you are busy assessing vehicle damage and exchanging insurance information—and going through all of the emotions—the adrenaline running through your body keeps you from noticing pain or injuries.
It is not uncommon for people to be completely unaware that they’ve endured an injury for hours, or even days following auto accidents. One of the biggest mistakes people make is failing to seek medical care immediately following a car crash. Yet, inevitably, they often wake up the next day with aches and pains that can get progressively worse over time.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Those who suffer from whiplash experience a forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, causing injury and pain. Similar to a neck strain or sprain, a variety of symptoms arise within a few days following an auto accident. The injury can cause any of the following issues:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Loss of range of motion in the neck
- Worsening of pain with neck movement
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Headaches, most often starting at the back of the skull
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back, or arms
Most patients recover within several weeks when following a chiropractic treatment plan. In some cases, as your neck moves suddenly, it can cause trauma to other areas of your cervical spine. Vertebrae and discs can move out of place, and injuries may occur to the muscles, ligaments, and other tissues in your neck, so it’s crucial you seek treatment from an auto injury chiropractor right away.
Diagnosing Whiplash
When you visit the chiropractor for treatment following your auto injury, you’ll first describe the pain you’re experiencing and where it’s located. Chiropractors operate with the understanding that the human body is much more interconnected than traditional medicine usually acknowledges. Therefore, your initial appointment will likely involve an evaluation of your entire spine.
During the evaluation, your chiropractor will be able to determine what part of your spine is improperly functioning. They’ll look for areas of tension, limited mobility, spasms, and other injuries. Once completed, the chiropractor will have a better idea of your specific condition, as well as the best treatment. Additional diagnostic methods, such as digital X-rays, may be utilized to complete their understanding of your issues moving forward.
Chiropractic Treatment for Whiplash
Several chiropractic treatments may be implemented, depending on your specific injury and pain levels. Therefore, you can rest assured that the auto injury chiropractic treatment you receive is unique to your needs. Types of whiplash treatment may include:
Spinal Manipulation
Most chiropractic care places an emphasis on techniques where force or pressure is applied to areas of the spine that need aligning, thus effectively relieving pain. Dr. Susan Myshka, Jonesboro, AR, chiropractor, uses the Gonstead Technique, which is unique.
- Gonstead Technique: The Gonstead chiropractic adjustment is a spinal manipulation technique that uses specialized tables to “distract,” or stretch, the spine so the Doctor of chiropractic can manually manipulate the spine to decompress the disc, allowing the center of the disc to assume its normal position. To see the effectiveness of this technique, check out this video from Chiro Care.
Treatment to Reduce Inflammation
If during your spinal evaluation the chiropractor discovers areas of inflammation, the following treatments may be performed:
- Intersegmental Traction
- Ice Therapy
- Cold Laser Therapy
Treating Soft Tissue Injuries
When muscles and ligaments are injured from auto accident whiplash, manual therapy allows them to be repaired over time and restores range of motion. Soft tissue treatments include:
- Trigger Point Therapy: For those experiencing specific and pointed areas of tension or pain, a chiropractor can often use their fingers to target the area and soothe.
Benefits of Whiplash Chiropractic Care
Any inflammation or misalignment in your spine can cause chronic pain and reduce overall body function. Early intervention allows your auto injury chiropractor to customize a treatment plan according to your specific needs and pain points. Chiropractic adjustments that start soon after the trauma can reduce your risk for serious complications and also speed up your overall recovery. For those who suffer from an auto accident-related whiplash injury, chiropractic care serves numerous additional benefits.
Regular treatment and adjustments can provide rapid and lifelong relief from pain and inflammation in the soft tissues, as well as potentially lower your reliance on pain medications. Plus, chiropractic treatments for whiplash focus on restoring your full range of motion, so you can return to the life you enjoy quickly and pain-free. Along with the increased range of motion, your neck also builds muscle tone, keeping you strong and healthy.
Contact Our Jonesboro Auto Injury Chiropractor
If you have suffered a whiplash injury from an auto accident, don’t hesitate to seek chiropractic treatment. Our team at Myshka Chiropractic has been treating those with whiplash for 37 years, and we’re confident that we can help you, too. We also possess the skills needed to walk you through the confusing process of insurance and lawyer involvement. You are not alone – we can help with whiplash pain relief!