Whiplash is an injury to the spinal muscles, joints and nerves from rapid forward and backward motion of the neck caused by a trauma (ex. a car accident). It can cause acute (short-term) neck pain, restricted movement in your neck, or lead to long term chronic pain if left untreated. Most of the time we do not seek care after a motor vehicle accident because we either feel fine or we do not understand the importance of chiropractic care in whiplash-related injuries. For most whiplash related cases your chiropractic will act as your primary care.
Question: I was involved in a motor vehicle accident but I feel fine and don't have any pain. Should I still go see the chiropractor? Answer:Yes! Studies show that whiplash symptoms can take 6 to 9 months before a person recognizes them. This is the most common thing people do... they wait and don't see their chiropractor! It's is always a healthier approach to be evaluated initially after your accident as opposed to wait until your condition is chronic.
Question: When is the best time to seek chiropractic evaluation after a vehicle accident? Answer: As soon as possible is always the best approach. Waiting longer than 30 days from your accident can create cause for additional treatment because your injury has moved from an acute stage to a remodeling sub-acute or chronic stage. Treatment is most successful if begun within the first 30 days from your accident.
Question: Who should I see first, the chiropractor or emergency care/ urgent care? Answer: If you feel you have sustained any injuries during an accident the first approach is to be evaluated by an emergency medical physician or urgent care physician to rule out any underlying serious medical conditions arising from your accident. If you see the chiropractor first, he/she will refer you to the appropriate health care specialist if needed.
Question: My accident was just a small “fender-bender”. Should I be seen by a chiropractor for something like that? Answer: Studies show that whiplash can occur in wrecks as low as a 6 – 10mph impact, so getting a chiropractic evaluation is always recommended.
Question: What are common symptoms from whiplash that occur right after the accident? Answer: Acute whiplash symptoms range widely from neck or low back pain, stiffness, restricted movement in the neck, pain with turning or bending your neck, numbness or tingling in your arm, dizziness, nausea, among the common symptoms.
Question: You say that sometimes it can take months for whiplash symptoms to show up, what should I look out for? Answer: Chronic whiplash symptoms can include headaches and migraines, neck pain, shoulder/arm pain, numbness and tingling into the extremities, sciatica, knee and ankle pain, difficulty sleeping, visceral dysfunction such as acid reflux or IBS, fatigue, increase in allergies, and more. These wide range of symptoms occur because of the damaging changes to your vertebral column and spinal nerves. Most of the time patients do not even realize their symptoms are related to a past motor vehicle accident because these symptoms come on so gradually and can persist for years or decades.
Question: Is it ever too late to be evaluated by a chiropractor for whiplash symptoms? Answer: It's never too late. Physiologically speaking, the longer you wait the more permanent the damage becomes and the longer and greater amount of care you will need to stabilize your injuries; so get evaluated as soon as possible. Studies show that motor vehicle accidents resulting in rear-end collisions can cause degenerative changes in the cervical spine in as little as 3 years! Degenerative changes are permanent changes to your spine that cannot be reversed.
Question: How long will I need to see the chiropractor for whiplash treatment? Answer: Based on your examination and x-rays, a chiropractor will grade the severity of your whiplash injury and assigned a specific treatment plan based on current best-practice evidence. Treatment plans can range from 4-6 weeks to 6 months based on multiple factors related to your condition.
Question: Will I also need to see another healthcare provider during my treatment? Answer: Your chiropractor will refer you to any needed additional specialists to treat your condition.
Question: I would like to come in for an evaluation. What do I need to bring with me and what should I expect? Answer: Be prepared to fill out some paperwork. This paperwork will describe your condition for the chiropractor. Please bring with you your automobile insurance information, your health insurance card, pictures of the wreck so the doctor can reconstruct the mechanism of the injury, and even the police report if you have it. If you were evaluated by emergency care or urgent care after your accident please let us know so that we may request those records for you. You evaluation will take around 30 minutes including review of you medical history, taking of x-rays, and physical examination.