How to Avoid Life-Long Pain from Whiplash

It is estimated that 3 million Americans sustain whiplash injuries each year and of those, 50% suffer chronic pain from their injuries with 300,000 becoming disabled due to ongoing pain and symptomology.

The clinical syndrome of whiplash was first described by Dr. Harold Crowe back in 1928 as he sought to define the unique rapid acceleration-deceleration injuries to the neck (cervical spine region) that he observed after people were involved in an accident. The term ‘whiplash’ is not a medical term but was coined to describe the lashing of the head in a fast multi-directional whip-like motion.

The Anatomy of Whiplash

Medically, whiplash is also called a ‘hyperflexion/hyperextension’ injury or an ‘acceleration/deceleration’ injury and encompasses a severe sprain/strain injury of the tissues of the cervical spine among other possible complications. It can be highly detrimental because of the wide range of tissues that can be involved. The abrupt motion can injure (fracture or break) the bones of the spine or cranium, displace the joints of the neck, damage intervertebral discs between the bones, and injure ligaments, tendons, muscles, joint capsules and even nerves and other tissues in the neck and head. Whiplash can also encompass a concussion injury to the brain.

The extent of injury depends on the force, speed and direction of the impact, the position of the head at impact, any barriers that the head may hit during the motion and at what point of motion the barrier is encountered (a headrest in a car will stop the backward motion of the whip in a rear-????end collision for example). All of these factors influence the tissues that will be most affected and the full extent of the whiplash injury.

Injuries can be divided into five grades:

●?????Grade 0: no neck pain, stiffness, or any physical signs are noticed

●?????Grade 1: neck complaints of pain, stiffness or tenderness only but no physical signs are noted by the examining physician.

●?????Grade 2: neck complaints and the examining physician finds decreased range of motion and point tenderness in the neck.

●?????Grade 3: neck complaints plus neurological signs such as decreased deep tendon reflexes, weakness and sensory deficits.

●?????Grade 4: neck complaints and fracture or dislocation, or injury to the spinal cord.

Motor Vehicle Accidents and Beyond

Personal injury cases causing whiplash are commonly addressed in the chiropractic office. Though whiplash syndrome is often correlated with motor vehicle injuries, it is important to realize that the condition can occur from a variety of mechanisms that may involve the rapid acceleration/deceleration and hyperflexion/hyperextension of the neck and head.

Examples include but are not limited to?????car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slips and falls, injuries sustained during contact sports like football and other sports, falling off of a bike, horseback riding or any other activity that could result in the sudden whipping of the head and neck. Sadly, it can also be a sign of physical abuse, seen in situations like shaken-baby syndrome or being punched during an assault.

In a car, it is also essential to note that whiplash does not have to happen at high speeds to cause injury. Sudden impact coupled with an extreme shift in motion causes the damage. Within the steel confines of an automobile, even low-????speed collisions that show little or no vehicular damage can still result in significant injury to the passengers of the car. For others (such as with sports injuries or slips and falls) a sudden insult to the head and neck such as being tackled or falling and suddenly hitting your head on the ground can result in whiplash injury. These traumas can be just as injurious as a motor vehicle accident and should not be underestimated.

Symptoms of Whiplash

Signs and symptoms of whiplash can develop within hours, days or weeks of the accident and may include:

●?????Neck stiffness and pain

●?????Worsening pain with neck movement

●?????Loss of range of motion when moving the head and neck

●?????Headaches (often starting at the base of the skull)

●?????Pain or tenderness in the shoulders, upper back or arms

●?????Tingling or numbness in the upper extremities

●?????Dizziness

●?????Fatigue

●?????Ringing in the ears

●?????Blurred vision

●?????Sleep disturbances

●?????Jaw pain

●?????Irritability

●?????Difficulty concentrating

●?????Memory issues

●?????Depression and anxiety

?These may be accompanied by lightheadedness, blacking out or other symptoms of concussion injury that need to be closely monitored or may require intervention. Swelling, bruising, black eyes and similar signs of injury may also be evident.

?Chiropractic Care for Whiplash

Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) understand the complex mechanisms of whiplash injury and how to evaluate them. They also assess all of the tissues involved to create a treatment plan that is specific to the patient.

All potential whiplash injuries should be evaluated with imaging studies. In addition to ruling out fractures and soft tissue tears, DCs also evaluate for joint alignment. A loss of normal lordosis of the neck (straightening of the natural forward curve) is a common finding in whiplash injuries that DCs strive to correct during treatment protocols.

Chiropractic care offers natural strategies in optimizing joint function, decreasing inflammation and reducing nerve interference caused by affected joints or swelling. They have a variety of gentle techniques that can be used during the healing process. This all aids to reduce symptoms and pain, which in turn reduces the need for patients to use potentially dangerous prescription opioids or over-the-counter muscle relaxers or painkillers.

DCs provide recommendations for physiotherapy modalities such as ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation or cold laser to complement the healing process and they advise on the use of cervical collars, positioning for daily activities/sleep, anti-inflammatory nutrition and supply stretches and exercises to strengthen and stabilize the affected tissues. All of this is part of the chiropractic approach…naturally.