Whiplash: What is it and how do I treat it?

If you have ever been in a car accident and experienced pain in your neck or back, you have most likely had whiplash. Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues of your neck and is caused by a sudden backward and forward movement of the neck.

The symptoms of whiplash will either be experienced immediately following the accident or several days later. The symptoms of whiplash include:
• Neck stiffness
• Injuries to muscles and ligaments
• Headache and dizziness
• Difficulty swallowing
• Abnormal shoulder or back pain
• Insomnia

For most patients, the symptoms of whiplash usually subside 2 to 4 weeks. If symptoms continue to worsen after 6 to 8 weeks, further x-rays and other treatment may be necessary such as surgical repair to the intervertebral discs.

Traditionally, whiplash has been treated using the following methods:
• Soft cervical collar
• Heat therapy
• Pain medications
• Muscle relaxants

Modern forms of whiplash treatment include chiropractic treatment and acupuncture.
• Chiropractic Treatment – Chiropractors, also known as doctors of chiropractic or chiropractic physicians, diagnose and treat patients with health problems of the musculoskeletal system and treat the effects of those problems on the nervous system and on general health. Many chiropractic treatments deal specifically with the spine and the manipulation of the spine.
• Acupuncture – acupuncture is an ancient system of healing, developed over thousands of years in Eastern countries such as China. It is a treatment in which fine needles are applied to specific acupuncture points, of which there are around 500 placed on the body, in order to relieve symptoms of both physical and psychological conditions. Acupuncture also encourages the body to heal itself and promotes well-being. Acupuncture has proved to be a particularly effective in relieving the neck pain and other symptoms associated with whiplash injuries. In some cases acupuncture has helped in the treatment of whiplash patients suffering long-term symptoms where conventional approaches showed little improvement.

The majority of my clients have had the greatest long term success with chiropractic treatment and physical therapy. However, it is best to consult with your primary care physician regarding the most effective way to treat your injuries.

If you have any questions about your whiplash claim, please feel free to contact me for a free consultation.

Ryan Pauley
Attorney at Law