When you’ve been hurt in an accident, contact our specialized team to get back to feeling like yourself sooner!
Whiplash occurs for numerous reasons. While it is the most common result of a rear-end car collision, it happens in any case where the neck snaps back and forth in a swift jerking motion from sudden force or pressure. That includes slips and falls, sports accidents, and physical abuse, but no matter the cause, you can rely on whiplash treatment from a New York Spine Specialist.
Our qualified team has years of experience helping hundreds of patients regain full mobility of their neck and upper back, along with other problem areas. Reach out to learn more about whiplash and what we can do to treat it in New York and New Jersey.
What Does Whiplash Feel Like?
Depending on the cause of whiplash, symptoms may begin immediately or take some time to develop. According to Rush University System for Health, you can get whiplash in a car that crashes while going a mere five to ten miles per hour, and common symptoms like headaches near the back of the head or neck pain may not surface until at least 24 hours later.
However, a rear-end collision while going faster may cause immediate stiffness along with shoulder, upper arm, and upper back pain. Concentration issues, fatigue, and dizziness may also happen on the spot or evolve afterward. The more severe your symptoms right after the accident, the more likely they will worsen over time, so consider contacting a whiplash doctor for the appropriate treatment.
How To Treat Whiplash at Home
To reduce muscle inflammation, place a cold compress or ice pack on the afflicted area for the first two to three days before introducing heat packs or hot water bottles for increased blood circulation. These processes should loosen tight muscles while improving mobility, but to fully reap the benefits, limit activities and get plenty of rest until you start feeling better.
Once you gain more circulation, start performing slow-range exercises like carefully moving the neck up and down or left to right to stretch the muscles. You can also perform yoga moves like cat-cow, and sphinx pose, or thread the needle, which especially helps if stiffness or pain has radiated to other body parts like the arms, upper back, and shoulders.
Further these exercises with chiropractic or physical therapy to help you work on mobility and pain management techniques. For other whiplash treatments, consider the following:
- Weight loss management to lessen the strain on your body
- Alternative medicine or therapy like acupuncture or tai chi
- Massage therapy to work out knots and get the blood flowing
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, which uses electrical currents to stimulate the nerves
How Does a Whiplash Doctor Diagnose Your Condition?
Sometimes, knowing how to treat whiplash at home isn’t enough to remedy your situation, especially if you’re unsure of your condition. That’s why having a professional diagnosis, starting with a spine assessment, may be your first step in the right direction. During this assessment, the whiplash doctor asks questions about the accident, like how long ago it was and whether you noticed symptoms immediately after.
They’ll also examine your neck’s range of motion, noting if you can’t maneuver it in a certain direction or at a given speed because of sensitivity or stiffness. They may even have you walk back and forth to determine if the injury affects how you carry other body parts or if the stiffness or pain has spread. Diagnostic tests include looking for ligament or intervertebral disc injuries and muscle spasms.
The doctor will also ask about your medical history and pull up your file to see if you’ve had prior spinal or neck injuries before taking X-rays or MRI scans. Afterward, they’ll create a whiplash treatment plan.
For a Top Whiplash Injury Doctor in New Jersey
According to the National Institutes of Health, one in every 200 patients suffers from minor neck whiplash, and while most recover within three months, some take longer, depending on the severity. When whiplash is slowing you down, trust our experienced team at New York Spine Specialist to help remedy the situation with whiplash treatments when you call 516-355-0111 to book a visit today!
Whiplash rarely leads to declinatory changes in the neck and usually only occurs when a spine fracture or injury causes long-term effects. Therefore, there’s no solid proof that whiplash leads to spinal stenosis. But whether you feel an accident or some other factor has caused this ailment, count on us to evaluate your condition to help your case.
Our doctors accept most forms of insurance, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
FAQs About Whiplash
Does whiplash go away on its own?
In some cases, whiplash remedies itself within a few weeks if you take it easy and rest the problem area. However, depending on the severity of your case, you may need a specialist to look at your neck if the pain is unbearable or if the issue lasts beyond a few months or years, so they can recommend additional care. PTSD and other chronic disorders can also develop in response, needing immediate attention.
Do certain factors make whiplash more serious for some?
Unfortunately, those who have had whiplash, especially if their symptoms never fully went away, can experience more serious issues after a second blow. According to the National Library of Medicine, about 84% of individuals suffered worsening symptoms after a second whiplash injury. Whiplash may also prove more painful and long-lasting for older individuals and those with preexisting back and neck pain.
What can a chiropractor do for my condition?
Chiropractic whiplash treatments usually include spinal manipulation, where the chiropractor applies pressure to the misaligned area with soft thrusting motions. They may also conduct muscle stimulation by utilizing gentle stretches and relaxation, soft tissue therapy to restore function with tissue stretches, and instrument-assisted therapy with a handheld device.
