What is whiplash?
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries from auto accidents. This happens when impact – either from a front or rear-end collision – throws the head violently in one direction beyond its normal limits, then muscles react to “whip” it back in the opposite direction. Muscles, tendons and ligaments supporting the spine can be overstretched or torn. The spinal cord and delicate nerve endings in the neck can be stretched, pinched and irritated. The soft, cartilage-like discs occupying the spaces between spinal bones can tear, bulge, herniate or even rupture.
The initial symptoms of whiplash may be a sore or stiff neck, perhaps along with a headache within a few hours of the accident. Pain or numbness, or a pins and needles tingling in the back, arms, shoulders and hands may occur. A reduced ability to turn and bend freely is common. Ringing in the ears, dizziness, hearing loss, or blurred vision have also been reported. Some symptoms may not appear until days or even weeks after the accident. In a severe whiplash, a concussion may also occur when the brain is violently slammed against the inside of the skull. Concussion symptoms include headache, irritability, restlessness, insomnia, depression and mood-swings that may last for hours or even days after the accident.
A chiropractic checkup can tell you the extent of the spinal injury and provide care to realign the spinal column.
Understanding whiplash
It’s becoming more and more apparent over the years that “fender benders” are damaging more than just our cars. Ask any of the millions of Americans across the country that have had this common accident and you’ll find there’s a very good chance they also have new health problems as a result.
More than 3 million people in America suffer from whiplash injury every year. Approximately 50% of these victims will suffer from chronic pain. Approximately 10% (over 300,000) of those people become permanently disabled as result of their injuries.
Whiplash Fact or Fiction?
Several of the myths associated with whiplash injuries are:
- If you’re hit from behind at low speed, you won’t be injured.
- The more damage to your vehicle, the more severe your injuries.
- If you’re injured, the injuries will completely heal within 11/2 to 3 months.
In a human crash test study where the vehicle sustained an impact of approximately 8mph, the researcher found some interesting facts.
- The vehicle that was hit experienced acceleration of approximately 2g –two times the force of gravity.
- The occupant’s torso experienced acceleration of more than 11/2 times that of the vehicle – approximately 3g.
- The occupant’s head experienced acceleration of more than 2 1/2 times that of the vehicle-approximately 5g.
As you can see, occupants experience much higher forces than the vehicle that they are riding in, and therefore are at much higher risk of injury/damage than their vehicle. Patients with whiplash type injuries commonly have any of following symptoms:
- Neck pain
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Shoulder pain
- Anxiety
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Low back pain
- Sleep disturbance
- Sensation changes in their arm(s)
- Difficulty concentrating
- Vision changes
- Irritability
- Difficulty swallowing
- Dizziness
- Forgetfulness
- Arm pain and/or weakness
- Ringing in the ears
- Jaw/face pain
For decades, Doctors of Chiropractic have helped patients overcome the injuries they sustained in whiplash accidents, and not just by relieving pain, but by restoring lost function.
If you or someone you know is suffering from whiplash injuries, a complete Chiropractic evaluation may be the first step to freedom from pain.