Whiplash is recognized as one of the more frequent car accident injuries and is characterized by pain and stiffness as a result of damage to the soft tissues of the neck caused when the head is whipped backward and forward suddenly.
If you have been in a car accident recently and are experiencing pain and stiffness in your neck, you may have whiplash and should seek treatment.
Often, whiplash will heal on its own, but the long-term health effects of whiplash when untreated by a chiropractor in College Park can cause serious problems as the year progress.
There’s no way to tell how severe a case of whiplash is without proper examination by an orthopedic specialist.
Symptoms of Whiplash
The most common symptoms of whiplash are neck pain and stiffness, but there are other signs to look out for:
- Swelling, redness, bruising, or other discoloration of the neck
- Headache
- Blurred eyesight
- Difficulty concentrating
- Pain in the upper or lower back
- Dizziness
- Difficulty speaking or swallowing
If you feel that a recent auto accident or other recent physical trauma you have experienced may have caused whiplash and you’re exhibiting any of these symptoms, you should contact an orthopedic specialist.
An orthopedic specialist can ensure that your whiplash injury heals the way that it should. If your injury doesn’t heal properly, it could result in chronic pain and reduced range of motion, among other things.
If left untreated, whiplash can lead to:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Horner’s Syndrome
- Chronic vertigo
- Insomnia
- Chronic headaches
- Premature Cervical Spondylosis
- Premature Degenerative Disc Disease
- Disc herniation
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- TMJ Disorder
Treatment for Whiplash
If you have been involved in a car accident, you should be evaluated for any injuries no more than 24 hours after your accident occurs.
Most auto insurance providers won’t provide compensation for treatment resulting from an evaluation that took place over 24 hours after the accident.
This is because a timespan of more than 24 hours increases the possibility that something other than the car crash could have caused your injury.
Even if your whiplash injury occurred years ago, chiropractic treatment can ease your pain and help you heal. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and sometimes injuries can’t be avoided, but proper treatment is always available.
You deserve proper treatment and care, so contact a chiropractor in College Park and start healing the right way today.