Everything You Should Know About Whiplash Provided by a Stow, MA Chiropractor
Whiplash is just another name for a sprained neck, although it sometimes classifies other injuries. The condition causes pain among other symptoms. Fortunately though, you may find the pain relief and treatment for it you need for our clinic, Stow Family Chiropractic, serving Stow, Maynard, Hudson, Bolton, Acton, Sudbury, Boxborough, Concord, and the surrounding Massachusetts area.
Definition of Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when your head is forced frontward then backward rapidly. It is referred to as whiplash because your neck moves in a manner that's similar to a crack of a whip.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Most of the time, you will have symptoms of whiplash within the first 24 hours of your injury. However, in some cases, it may take days for you to develop signs.
Most commonly with whiplash, you experience neck pain and stiffness. You might notice the pain worsens when you move your neck. In addition to the pain, you might notice that you lose some of your range of motion in your neck.
Other common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Headaches
- Shoulder, arms, or upper back tenderness or pain
- Tingling in your arms
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Numbness in your arms
Although these symptoms are not as common, they're possible:
- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
- Sleep disturbances
- Blurred vision
- Memory troubles
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
Cause of Whiplash
Any incident that causes your head to be forcefully thrown forward and then backward can cause whiplash. Most often though, it stems from a read-end collision. The impact causes damage to your nerves, muscles, bones, ligaments, and other tissue in your neck.
Besides a car accident, you can also develop whiplash from assault or physical abuse. Contact sports, such as football, are another way that you can develop whiplash.
Complications of Whiplash
Usually, most times you heal from whiplash within a few weeks. However, some people will still have symptoms of whiplash months, or even years, after the initial accident.
Unfortunately, a practitioner cannot tell exactly how you will heal, so it's best to seek out treatment to prevent complications, such as the following:
- Increase in range of motion
- Severe neck pain
- Pain that spreads
Treatment of Whiplash
If you have whiplash, our chiropractor will recommend you go through exercise therapy. This treatment helps with pain and helps you increase your range of motion safely. Additionally, our chiropractor will recommend at-home treatments for you to further manage your pain and other symptoms.
Whiplash can cause long-term effects, but you can combat that by seeking out the care of a professional for treatment. Fortunately, the entire process is customized to your needs.