Whiplash Chiropractors
If you or a loved was recently involved in a car accident in Conyers, your chances of suffering from Whiplash injury are severe. Whenever your body is exposed to a sudden impact that causes your neck to jolt from side to side, your cervical spine can be pushed beyond its limits.
When this happens, your neck and the tendons that surround it become tense, creating stiffness that can be extremely distressing and debilitating. Contact our a chiropractor near you in Conyers for immediate treatment and pain relief. We specialize in treating musculoskeletal conditions, as well as soft tissue damage, and can help you overcome your pain in no time.
What is whiplash? (and why do you need a whiplash chiropractor?)
Known in the medical community as Cervical Acceleration Deceleration, the most common cause of Whiplash injury is directly connected to some type of automobile accident. This is because you’re almost assured to have your neck violently forced in one direction during a side, rear-end, or a head-on collision. While speed certainly plays a role in the extent of your injury, it’s important to know that driving as slow as 15 miles per hour can still result in an impact that leads to severe neck trauma in drivers and passengers alike.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, one car accident takes place approximately every ten seconds, resulting in over 2 million injuries each year, most of which are documented as Whiplash. Personal injury cases associated with automobile accidents in the United States are most commonly identified as Whiplash.
Why Whiplash Chiropractors (vs primary care doctors)?
Most primary care doctors do not offer effective treatment when it comes to this type of injury. They tend to treat the symptoms without addressing the damage itself.
Chiropractic treatment is the most effective way to deal with whiplash injury and provide permanent relief from pain. Our Conyers chiropractic treatment helps relieve pain and repair the damage caused by the injury.
Whiplash can affect anyone, regardless of the severity of the automobile accident. During an accident your neck and spine is forced into a quick jerking motion which causes damage. Even a minor fender bender can cause you to suffer a whiplash injury. You also can develop whiplash from sports or falls, although car accidents are the leading cause.
Three Types of Whiplash Injury
- Whiplash I – exist when there is pain but no apparent physical damage.
- Whiplash II – The second form of Whiplash (II) is identified when a Chiropractic examination takes place, and there is bodily harm, but no neurological impact.
- Whiplash III – does include both physical and neurological damage.
Factors in Whiplash
Your chances of experiencing Whiplash increases by 30 percent if your car’s headrest is too low or positioned at an inappropriate height. Your age can play a part in your chances of experiencing Whiplash. Your ligaments and muscles become less resilient over time, causing your body to become less malleable as it gets older. Your chances of pulling, straining, or tearing something increases when your body’s limitations become restricted over time.
More women and children suffer from Whiplash related trauma than men due to the fact that both demographics tend to be smaller and shorter than men. Because of this physical attribute, women and children tend to sit closer to the steering wheel or airbag, as well as wear their seat belts incorrectly. Most insurance policies will cover the complete cost of Chiropractic care if you’re involved with some type of automobile accident.
Understanding The Cause of Whiplash Injury
The most common cause of car accidents is inattentiveness on behalf of the drivers involved. Texting a friend, talking on a cell phone, and speeding are just a few of the ways that drivers can be classified as being negligent behind the steering wheel
What You Can Do To Prevent Whiplash
There are a few convenient and accessible steps that everyone can take in order to reduce their chances of suffering from Whiplash injury. These steps include:
- Adjusting your car seat’s headrest to a position that allows your neck to rest comfortably in a controlled state.
- Consistently using your seatbelt when driving.
- Staying completely strapped into your harness equipment at amusement parks.
- Following all instructions connected to the use of safety and sports equipment.
Common Symptoms Associated With Whiplash
Most accident victims suffering from Whiplash notice the first signs and associated symptoms within 24 hours of impact. If you notice any of the following symptoms, make sure you call us immediately to schedule an examination. While it may not be convenient, your chances of developing long-term pain or suffering from permanent damage significantly increase the longer you go without professional medical treatment.
- Fatigue
- Numbness or tingling in your arms
- Frequent headaches, originating in the base of your skull
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Shoulder pain
- Back Pain
- Burning sensations around your back or neck
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Disturbances in your sleep patterns
- Insomnia
- Severe neck pain
- Irritability
- Ringing noises in your ear(s)
- Depression
- Difficulty with remembering details
- Distraction
- Significant stiffness
- Tenderness in your neck, shoulder, and back areas.
When To Contact Our Conyers Whiplash Chiropractors
The first three things you should do after an automobile accident are:
- Call the police,
- call an attorney, and
- schedule an appointment with a licensed whiplash chiropractor.
Whiplash Treatment
Scheduling an immediate exam is the best way to resolve any pain you may feel, as well as ensure that the chances of you experiencing some type of permanent damage or relapse are completely removed. The following methods serve as effective treatment methods for addressing short and long-term pain for most of our patients.
Using A Collar or Neck Brace
If your Chiropractor recommends it, you may want to use a neck brace to keep your neck constantly bolstered and braced. Make sure it use it sparingly though, as it can actually cause your muscles to devitalize over time.
Spinal Manipulation
Considered to be the most prevalent form of Chiropractic treatment, spinal manipulation, muscle relaxation, or stimulation consists of controlled stretches that are applied to your damaged or injured muscles. Depending on how restricted or tight your muscles are, your Chiropractor may choose to use a more energetic approach when applying various stretches. Your Chiropractor may also simultaneously apply pressure techniques, gently massaging areas that are most sensitive with their fingers.
Controlled Stretching
Receiving a professional or having controlled stretches applied and monitored by your Chiropractor can also help loosen the restricted muscles in your body. Over time, s are known to significantly help improve and restore functionality to the affected joints and muscles in your body.
Heat Therapy
Applying most heat to your neck can be a great way to reduce any type of swelling that may occur within the first few days after your accident.
Feel to place warm, damp towels around your neck or soak in a hot bath in order to loosen up the restricted tendons and muscles.
Sensorimotor and Stabilization Exercises
Some of our Whiplash patients are prescribed what are known as McKenzie exercises, which are designed to reduce disc derangement connected to this specific type of injury. These activities are comprised of simple, controlled motions that are offered during your office first few visits with us, and then applied by yourself when at home. Chiropractors may employ different types of exercises, including McKenzie exercises and/or stabilization and sensorimotor exercises, to help treat patients with whiplash injuries.
Sensorimotor and stabilization exercises focus on correcting faulty movement patterns that naturally occur during every-day routines or activities. These Chiropractic treatment methods help restrengthen your nervous system in ways that help it coordinate and control movement, as well as help your neck support its own weight.
Resting
During the initial phase of your treatment program, it is important that you receive a substantial amount of relative rest to prevent you from aggravating your injury and causing painful inflammation. Your Conyers Chiropractor may recommend swimming or other low-impact aerobic exercises in order to keep you active, without exposing yourself to more possible damage
There are several types of whiplash treatment options to choose from to help diagnose and treat car accident injuries. Some of these include;
- Spinal manipulation – done by hand or special designated tools, the chiropractor will use gentle force to get the spine back to its natural position, allowing the proper return of function to your back and joints.
- Massage – Helping to ease tension and increase circulation in various muscles will allow the reduction of pain and decrease the healing time.
- Ultrasound – when used with a combination of icing and stretching, ultrasound can help reduce swelling. For safe manipulation of the bones and muscles, swelling needs to be at a minimum. Reduction of swelling will also help alleviate some pain.
- Flexion-distraction – This is a technique that uses a slow and gentle pumping action to help reposition discs that have become herniated while avoiding direct pressure and force to the spine.
- Trigger point therapy – When direct pressure is applied to targeted areas of trigger points, tight muscles may loosen, bones can slip back to their natural positions and pain can be relieved.
- Soft tissue therapy – Known as The Graston technique, where a special hand-held device is passed over soft tissues in a rhythmic pattern to assist in healing of soft tissue injuries.
- Interferential electrical stimulation – Low frequency electrical stimulation is used to targeted areas to help reduce swelling.
- Manual joint resistance – This involves a series of techniques with the goal of repositioning and repairing joints by stimulating the natural energy of the muscles.
Schedule A Chiropractic Examination Today
Our Chiropractors are your first line of defense against long-term pain and permanent damage. If left untreated, Whiplash can significantly restrict your ability to go about your normal routine, including maintaining your career and providing for your family. Even if you do not develop some type of immobilizing condition, you will still experience recurring pain that varies in its extent and severity.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Our team of professional, friendly staff can help you work with your insurance provider, walk you through all necessary paperwork, and even call your insurance company on your behalf if necessary. Our facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art X-ray and MRI machines if necessary, and all of our Chiropractors come to AICA with years of experience.
If you are unable to drive to our office in Conyers, we can provide you with transportation when requested. You can schedule an examination by calling us at (404) 602-0386.
