Ways A Personal Injury Chiropractor Can Help You Heal From Whiplash

Posted on: 19 August 2016

A whiplash injury is a painful condition where your neck has been jolted back and forth in a rapid, harsh motion, causing ample pain and discomfort minutes to several days later. Common in car accidents, falls, and other swift traumas, whiplash occurs in almost one million people a year. Symptoms of whiplash include:

  • constant headaches
  • pain when moving your neck
  • sudden vertigo or nausea when moving
  • double vision
  • pain when your neck is still

If you have encountered whiplash due to conditions outside of your control, such as an auto accident, attack, workplace injury, or other incident, a personal injury chiropractor can help you get the relief you need. Here are ways this professional can assist you in getting well so you can go back to your normal life as soon as possible.

Home treatment

Your whiplash injury may be so severe that you are unable to drive or sit up for long periods, which can make getting to and from the chiropractor nearly impossible. Since they specialize in serious adjustment and pain issues, a personal injury chiropractor can be able to visit you at your home for treatment. Part of this treatment includes showing you ways you can lie down to reduce pain and hot and cold treatment remedies to help keep swelling at a minimum. You will also learn how to improve your posture so you can find greater comfort when doing normal things, such as eating, watching television, or even driving.

Soft tissue manipulation

Trigger point therapy, massage, and range-of-motion exercises can all help repair damaged and torn tissues that have resulted due to your whiplash injury. Your personal injury chiropractor may use a combination of various techniques to regenerate tissue by stimulating blood flow through gentle touch. This treatment is different from spinal or neck readjustment because it focuses mainly on the affected soft muscles and tendons that are sore.

Adjustments

A whiplash injury can cause your body to fall out of alignment from your neck clear down to your lower spine. At your initial assessment, your personal injury chiropractor may have you stand so they can see if both sides of your body are even. They do this by checking your hips, shoulders, and overall spine visually and manually. Once the areas have been evaluated, your chiropractor can use special tools and maneuvers to gently realign your spine, neck, hips, and shoulders to a more natural position. This type of therapy is often done in addition to soft tissue manipulation for better healing results.

Whether you have serious whiplash that won't heal on its own or you have been referred to a personal injury chiropractor by your insurance provider, you should know the different treatment options available to you. This way, you can be most prepared for what to expect in the exam room when you arrive for treatment.

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