Whiplash and Its Symptoms
Names for specific kinds of pain usually are not very poetic, but whiplash is the exception. When your body is suddenly jerked back and forth, it acts like a cracking whip, with your head being the end. You feel the lash long after the whip. We here at Dixie Injury & Rehab for Louisville, KY, Dixie, KY, and Shively, KY, have all you need to know about whiplash.
Causes of Whiplash
You can get whiplash from things other than an auto accident. You can get it by playing sports, from going on high-speed amusement park rides like roller coasters, having an accident at work, or if you were the victim of assault.
Common Symptoms of Whiplash
You might have whiplash if:
- You have neck pain to the point where you can’t move your neck
- Your neck becomes stiff
- You get headaches
- You feel dizzy
- You get upper back pain
- You get upper arm pain
- You have an odd tingling in your arms
- You have exhaustion
Uncommon Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash can produce some uncommon symptoms, which usually happen along with common symptoms. Uncommon symptoms include:
- Difficulties sleeping
- Tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears that doesn’t go away
- Blurry vision
- Problems concentrating
- Mood swings
Something About Whiplash You Need to Know
Whiplash symptoms don’t always start soon after your accident, or even the next day. Sometimes, they take weeks before they start. A scary event such as a car accident causes the body to release huge amounts of adrenaline, the chemical responsible for our “fight or flight” instinct. Adrenaline is a natural painkiller. When your pain levels go down, your body will be able to register pain from all of the areas injured in the accident.
Neck Collars are Only for a Few Days
It used to be thought that you had to wear a neck collar all the time for whiplash until you got better. It took a long time to get better. Now we know that neck collars cause the neck muscles to weaken, slowing down healing and prolonging neck pain. Neck collars are fine for a few days, but after that, you must start using your neck again.
Chiropractic Care for Whiplash
Our chiropractor doesn’t just focus on alleviating your symptoms temporarily but working on many aspects of your health in order to keep away pain for a long time. You not only get spinal adjustment treatments to help lower your pain and reduce inflammation, but also get nutrition tips. What you eat greatly impacts how quickly you heal. You also get postural corrections and exercises to do at home to regain your neck’s usual range of motion.
Contact Your Chiropractor for Louisville, Dixie, or Shively, KY
There’s no need to suffer from whiplash. If you live in the Louisville, Dixie, or Shively, KY, areas, contact Dixie Injury and Rehab at (502) 547-1092 to make an appointment today.