Signs of Whiplash? See a Chiropractor

By Donna Kostiew

September 22 was the official begining of autumn and, unofficially, my favorite part of the year. Everything good seems to happen in the fall: school, football, outdoor festivals, Halloween and Thanksgiving, hot chocolate, and bonfires. And let’s not forget the colors of the trees … need I say more? But there are also serious drawback to this season. Fall weather is often unpredictable, and with days getting shorter, commutes to and from work often occur in darkness. It’s a time when rain or snow makes driving treacherous and pushes the little critters (think Bambi) into your road space. The risk for automobile accidents seems to increase during this time and with that, so do the injuries.

Whiplash occurs when the neck and head are forced backward suddenly and then pushed forward, while simultaneously stressing the cervical spine with quick motions. It is critical to know the symptoms of whiplash if you have been in a car accident, for example, and to seek care immediately with your local chiropractor. If insurance or a potential settlement is involved, the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic will refer you elsewhere. That doesn't mean your regular chiropractor at The Joint can't have a look or provide information while dealing with this type of injury, and certainly whiplash can be experienced outside the context of an auto accident (football, anyone?). So keep an eye out for the following symptoms, and head their way if you're not feeling right.

Symptoms of Whiplash

What are the symptoms of whiplash? They can be pretty common.

• Neck pain
• Neck stiffness
• Reduced range of motion
• Headaches
• Tingling/Numbness

Although it’s great to be able to recognize the symptoms of whiplash, it is recommended to seek chiropractic care after even if you seem to be uninjured. This is because these symptoms can often show up several days later.

Don’t Count on Being Uninjured

Seeing your chiropractor immediately after an auto accident is extremely beneficial to your health and peace of mind. Regardless of whether or not you can identify any symptoms of a whiplash injury, your chiropractor can ascertain if and what kind of treatment may be needed right away. Their goal is for you to make a fast recovery, and the care they provide is the safest and most effective way to do that. Tell them up front what happened.

Chiropractors provide their patients with natural, non-invasive treatments that are very effective with providing relief for acute whiplash injuries as well as preventing the symptoms from becoming a chronic, debilitating condition. The result that they are striving for is to return the patient’s injured joints, muscles, and nerves completely back to their original, healthy functions.

To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Portland, Ore.