Whiplash is the most common injury sustained in car accidents and one of the most frequently undertreated. The rapid back and forth motion of the head during a collision places enormous strain on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints of the cervical spine. The result is a soft tissue injury that can produce significant pain and dysfunction, sometimes immediately and sometimes days after the accident when the initial adrenaline response has worn off.
Dr. Jeff Brown has been treating whiplash injuries in Greenville for over 40 years. If you were in a car accident and are dealing with neck pain, stiffness, headaches, or any of the other symptoms associated with whiplash, getting evaluated promptly is the most important thing you can do for your recovery.
What Happens to the Neck in a Collision
During a rear-end or front-end collision the head is thrown forward and backward, or in a side impact, sideways, faster than the muscles of the neck can respond. This sudden uncontrolled movement stretches and tears the soft tissue structures of the cervical spine, misaligns the vertebrae, and can injure the discs and nerves in the process. The cervical spine is simply not designed to absorb that kind of force.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash symptoms vary depending on the severity of the injury and which structures were affected. Common symptoms include:
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Neck pain and stiffness
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Reduced range of motion in the neck
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Headaches, particularly at the base of the skull
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Shoulder and upper back pain
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Pain or numbness radiating into the arms and hands
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Jaw pain and TMJ discomfort
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Dizziness and difficulty with balance
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Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
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Blurred vision or ringing in the ears in more severe cases
Why Symptoms Are Sometimes Delayed
One of the most important things to understand about whiplash is that symptoms do not always appear immediately after the accident. The inflammatory response that follows soft tissue trauma can take 24 to 72 hours to fully develop, and some patients feel relatively fine immediately after a collision only to wake up the next morning barely able to turn their head. This delay leads many people to conclude that they were not seriously hurt and skip the evaluation that could prevent their injury from becoming a chronic problem.
The Importance of Early Evaluation and Treatment
Whiplash that is evaluated and treated promptly heals faster and more completely than whiplash that is left untreated or undertreated. Early intervention addresses the inflammatory component of the injury, restores proper cervical alignment and motion before compensatory patterns develop, and produces documentation that accurately reflects the nature and timing of your injuries, which is important for your personal injury claim.
Dr. Brown takes digital x-rays when indicated, performs a comprehensive cervical examination, and begins treatment as quickly as possible to give your injury the best possible chance of full resolution.
How We Treat Whiplash
Treatment for whiplash at Brown Chiropractic Center is tailored to the specific findings of your examination. Depending on the nature and severity of your injury, care may include cervical chiropractic adjustments to restore proper alignment and joint motion, Cox disc distraction for disc injuries sustained in the collision, cervical traction to decompress the cervical spine and relieve nerve pressure, cold laser therapy to reduce inflammation and promote soft tissue healing, therapeutic ultrasound for deep tissue healing, and high voltage galvanism for acute pain control and muscle relaxation.
Whiplash and Personal Injury Cases
Whiplash is a significant component of most auto accident personal injury cases. Thorough documentation of your injuries from the first visit forward is essential for your claim. Dr. Brown's examination process generates a complete and accurate record of your injuries and your progress throughout treatment. If you have an attorney, we will coordinate with them as needed. If you do not yet have one and need a referral, we can help with that as well.
Do Not Wait to Get Checked
If you were in a car accident, do not wait for symptoms to appear or worsen before coming in. A thorough evaluation costs you nothing as a new patient and could make a significant difference in how completely and quickly you recover. Call our office today.
