Long-Term Effects of Whiplash After an Auto Accident
Effects of Whiplash After an Auto Accident
A soft tissue neck injury, whiplash happens when the head is suddenly and forcefully jolted backwards and then forwards, or side to side. It can happen from different types of trauma, but it’s most often the result of a car accident, typically a rear-end collision. Even if you’re wearing a seatbelt, you can suffer whiplash, but because the symptoms often come on slowly, you may not even realize you are injured. For many people, once the symptoms do start, they brush it off as just a minor after-effect of the collision, and they don’t seek medical treatment, thinking the pain will go away on its own. Rarely, it does improve, but in most cases, those whose whiplash goes untreated will suffer long-term complications.
Immediate Symptoms of Whiplash
Some of the effects of whiplash from a car accident typically begin to manifest within a few hours of the accident. However, some may not be noticeable for several days. The effects of whiplash on the neck include pain or stiffness and a loss of flexibility or range of motion. You might also experience shoulder and upper back pain, facial discomfort, headaches or migraines, numbness or tingling in the arms and hands, fatigue, dizziness, and balance issues. In some cases, whiplash can injure more than just the neck, and the effects of whiplash on the brain can be serious. The same jolting motion that causes whiplash, medically known as “cervical acceleration-deceleration” (CAD), can cause traumatic brain injury, so it is important to be screened for a concussion while you are being examined for whiplash.
Can It Cause Long-term Symptoms?
Days, weeks, months, or even years after an accident, people can experience the long-term effects of whiplash. The after-effects of whiplash include chronic pain and neck pain, often linked to damage in the neck joints, ligaments, and discs. Serious car accidents are often the cause of these long-term effects of whiplash injury, but even when an accident is severe, the full symptoms of whiplash may not appear for 12 hours or more. Severe whiplash injury, or whiplash that goes untreated, can become chronic, leading to pain in the neck, shoulders, back, and jaw, stiffness in the neck and shoulders, dizziness, headaches, trouble sleeping, numbness or weakness in the extremities, ringing in the ears, concentration and memory problems, blurred vision, and irritability.
Impact on Daily Life and Activities
The lasting effects of whiplash can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. Chronic pain and stiffness can limit their physical capabilities. What’s more, some people experience life-altering symptoms like memory loss. Seeking treatment can help limit these long-term repercussions and help you maintain your desired lifestyle.
Management and Treatment
There are various techniques for managing the side effects of whiplash at home. Talk to your doctor about light stretching and other useful exercises for calming your muscles and improving your range of motion. In the first few days, applying ice may help with pain and swelling, and after that, heat can work to provide relief to the affected areas. Some patients find it helpful to alternate between ice and heat. Over-the-counter medications, like acetaminophen and NSAIDs, can also be effective. If you have whiplash and are having trouble sleeping, you can try stretching, drinking chamomile tea before bed, placing a towel under your neck, or experimenting with pillows to find the type that works best for you. In some cases, patients find that sleeping in a reclining chair or on the sofa until the symptoms subside is helpful.
Why Seeing a Chiropractor is the Best Solution for Your Whiplash Injury
There are different methods of treating whiplash, but most patients find that an experienced chiropractor can provide the most substantial relief. Chiropractors are trained to treat whiplash injuries, and can create a specialized treatment plan to address your specific injury. After completing a thorough exam and inquiring about your medical history, your chiropractor will work to ensure that your neck is properly aligned, and advise you on mobility and strengthening exercises to help maintain the progress made in your chiropractic appointments.
Comprehensive Chiropractic Services in Sandusky, OH
If you are looking for a quality chiropractor in Sandusky, OH, visit Sandusky Wellness Center, where we are proud to offer chiropractic services to patients of all ages. Committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and improving the overall well-being of our clients, we provide chiropractic care designed to alleviate and prevent pain, helping patients live healthier, stronger lives. Unlike practices that only treat symptoms, we work to heal the cause of the symptoms, making patients not only feel better but also have stronger, healthier bodies. Combining the most advanced chiropractic care with cutting-edge medical care, we provide an integrated healthcare approach that offers the best of both worlds. Under the direction of Dr. Gregg Winnestaffer, D.C., our team creates a fun, friendly atmosphere in our office, treating patients like family and finding solutions for their specific healthcare issues, helping them meet their goals. If you are suffering from back pain or neck pain, or you have sustained an injury, let us help you find lasting relief along the road to recovery. We will address your precise needs in a relaxed, comforting atmosphere, with a full range of comprehensive health services, so that you can rediscover ease of movement without pain. Call 419-971-7029 or contact us through our website to get started on a highly effective, non-invasive treatment plan customized to meet your needs.