What Are the Warning Signs of Whiplash?

If you’ve ever been in a car accident and experienced severe neck pain, chances are you’ve had whiplash. It’s one of the most common injuries from vehicular accidents. Fortunately, your chiropractor can help you heal and recover.

During a car accident, your head and neck can be suddenly thrown from side to side, simulating the action of a whip, which is how whiplash gets its name. The sudden, violent action can cause muscle, tendon and ligament strain.

Whiplash signs and symptoms can take time to develop. Typically, within 24 hours of the accident, you may notice these signs and symptoms of whiplash:

• Moderate to severe pain in your neck
• Increasing stiffness in your neck
• Neck pain that increases with movement
• Headache pain at the base of your skull
• Increasing pain in your upper back, shoulders, and arms
• Numbness and tingling in your arms
• Fatigue or dizziness
• Blurred vision or tinnitus
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating

If you think you might be suffering from whiplash, you can try a few simple home remedies like these to get relief:

• Placing an ice pack on your neck
• Placing moist heat on your neck
• Resting and avoiding activity for a few days
• Taking over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medication
• Doing gentle neck movements and stretches

For moderate to severe whiplash signs and symptoms it’s important to visit your chiropractor. There are several effective ways your chiropractor can help you heal and recover from whiplash. Your chiropractor may recommend:

• Manual adjustment to help realign your cervical vertebrae, muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• Immobilizing your neck with a neck collar to provide stability so your muscles, ligaments, and tendons can heal
• Therapeutic massage and thermal therapies to relax muscles and boost circulation to help you heal
• Physical therapy, including treatments to reduce stiffness and increase range-of-motion

You don’t have to suffer from whiplash when relief is just a phone call away. To learn more about the warning signs of whiplash and how your chiropractor can help you heal, call your chiropractor today.

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