Whiplash and Treatment Options

Getting into an accident and facing injuries can raise concerns about your long-term health. In some cases, the symptoms and impact of an accident do not show up immediately after the trauma. Whiplash symptoms do not always show up immediately, but it can cause pain and discomfort in your neck, lower back and head.

What is Whiplash?

The Mayo Clinic calls whiplash a neck injury that was caused by the rapid and forceful back and forth movement of your head and neck. It commonly occurs during an auto accident, but it can also occur while playing sports or whenever the head moves suddenly in a forward and backward motion.

Essentially, it is a type of neck strain or sprain that impacts several muscles, ligaments and the discs in the neck. Depending on the severity of the injury, appropriate treatment solutions and the impact on your health will vary.

Symptoms of the Injury

In the case of a neck sprain or strain, the symptoms do not always show up immediately after the accident. In some cases, the symptoms develop 24 hours after the trauma, so it is important to pay attention to the situation for a few days before assuming that an accident did not result in an injury.

Common symptoms of the injury include:

• Neck pain
• Pain in the lower back
• Headaches
• Tension in the shoulders and neck
• General dizziness
• Stiffness
• Decreased range of motion in the neck

It takes time for the injury to heal, but working with our Scottsdale chiropractor, Dr. Daniel P. Secrest, DC can provide the assistance that you need to focus on long-term recovery goals. Chiropractic care helps address the potential impact on the discs in your neck and spine, as well as the limited range of motion caused by stiff muscles and sore ligaments.

Treatment Options for Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Fountain Hills Communities

Appropriate treatment options in the Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Fountain Hills areas depend on the severity of your injuries. In most cases, chiropractic treatment helps reduce the feelings of pain and stiffness, which allows the body to heal. At Secrest Family Chiropractic PC, our team takes the time to evaluate the severity of your injuries before making any recommendations regarding treatment and recovery.

We use neck alignment and spinal manipulation to help reduce the impact of the injury on your neck and body. Since we are located in south Scottsdale and serve the communities of Tempe, Paradise Valley and Fountain Hills, our team has experience working with whiplash and related injuries. We evaluate the injury carefully and then make recommendations based on the severity of your injuries.

Treating injuries from an auto accident, playing sports or a sudden impact that resulted in pain in your neck, back or head starts with identifying the underlying problem. In some cases, the injuries do not require special care and will heal naturally. In other situations, you want to work with a chiropractor to help realign the discs in your neck and encourage the healing process.

For more details about neck injuries and natural treatment, give us a call today!