March 20, 2023
How Do I Recover From Whiplash?
"I’m still in a lot of pain after my car accident. Could I have whiplash?!"
"I have all these weird and lingering side effects… I want to be normal again! What do I do?!"
Whiplash injuries are brutal. You may have heard 6 to 12 weeks is a normal recovery time. But that isn’t always the case. Did you know that only ½ of the people who suffer from whiplash fully recover? Crazy, I know! But don’t worry.
Here are 3 steps to get answers and solutions!
1. Correct Diagnosis
First step! Before any progress can be made, the cause of your pain will first need to be identified.
You’ll want a good exam from a doctor who knows what to look for using the latest up to date examination techniques. It's very important to find a doctor who is knowledgeable with current research and familiar with the symptoms of whiplash. Some of the sources of pain after a whiplash injury can be disc displacement, ligament strain, and joint injuries. This presents as neck pain, shoulder blade pain, headaches, and pain referring or radiating down into the upper extremities.
2. Imaging
An experienced and expert chiropractor will use imaging tools as a next step to determine your treatment. X-rays, CT, MRI and Digital Motion X-ray (DMX) can all help to see past the surface and into the real source of your pain. Some of the leading causes of neck pain such as overstretched ligaments are often overlooked. Pain from an overstretched ligament can ease up, causing people to believe they are on the mend, only to cause confusion when the pain returns unexpectedly. It is very important to find the right chiropractor to help you to identify the cause of your pain. Without help, you can suffer chronic pain and disability from instability at the specific facet joints in the cervical spine. Sometimes what people describe as “a pinched nerve in the neck,” is in fact an injured facet joint. This causes a sharp pinching pain that often goes to the upper back and head.
3. Treatment
Lastly, once you know what you’re dealing with, it’s time to treat it with experience and expertise.
Here at Alaska Back Care Center we give you the care only extensive research and practiced wisdom provide. Our service is supported by years of whiplash research and the most up to date treatment techniques so we can help you recover as soon as possible. We believe at Alaska Back Care Center “Proper diagnosis = Proper treatment”.
If you’re done suffering from whiplash, we’re here to help.
Conclusion
1. Contact the right chiropractor to diagnose your condition.
2. Imaging helps locate the exact cause and location of your pain.
3. Once you have done the previous steps, it’s time to erase your pain using our proven methods of treatment.
Need to be evaluated for a new or chronic whiplash injury? Fill out our "Get in Touch" form below and one of our staff members will be in touch to schedule you an appointment!
