If you're the type who takes pain and minor injuries lightly, this article is for you. While it's great to have an optimistic mindset, taking extra precautions is always necessary to maintain optimal health. Prevention and early detection can make a lot of difference in any illness or condition.
In the case of injuries, ensuring you get all the necessary tests to rule out possible concerns can save you from serious complications. For example, physical traumas and injuries such as whiplash can lead to atlas subluxation, which can lead to nervous system dysfunction and other symptoms. Atlas subluxation is a misalignment of the topmost bone in the spine called the atlas. This can lead to a limited ability of your brain to communicate with your body and visa-versa.
In the event of a rear-end car accident where whiplash is a typical result, worrying about the car damage is just as important as worrying about your physical well-being. So make sure you do not take it lightly and get yourself checked immediately. You wouldn't want whiplash symptoms haunting you after weeks, months, or even years following a supposedly minor incident.
Generally, whiplash causes pain, soreness, or stiffness, and some people can return to their routine after a short time with no long-term effects. However, it can also result in a severe injury, especially if you have a previous whiplash injury endured in the past. Perhaps there is an existing atlas subluxation that you are not aware of, resulting from not getting proper care previously.
You are subjecting your neck and body to further damage when you ignore the signs and symptoms of neck pain following a whiplash injury. In addition, you can end up putting more stress and pressure on your head, neck, and spine when you continue to move as if nothing happened following an incident of a neck injury.
You may also have neck mobility issues when you don't address the pain. This can lead to less work productivity and limit you from doing the things you love for months or even years. Here are some of the more severe health concerns following a whiplash injury:
As mentioned earlier, a whiplash injury can lead to misalignments in your atlas and can also affect your axis. These two bones make up your upper cervical spine. When these bones move out of their proper position, you may experience reduced range of motion and other health concerns, mainly because the misalignment affects your nervous system. Misalignments tend to trigger interference in the communication of your body and brain, leading to distorted messages and poor responses from the brain.
Whiplash usually leads to stiffness in the neck. Many of you probably woke up with a stiff neck and know how difficult it is to function when it happens. Imagine that discomfort, but long-term. Going on with your day with reduced neck mobility will be very challenging. Sometimes, a whiplash injury that is not adequately addressed leads to symptoms lingering for much longer, causing your neck to not heal from swelling or inflammation properly.
Vertigo episodes bring bouts of dizziness and balance issues to a person even when they are just keeping still. This symptom can also threaten your safety, leading to falls or unwanted injuries that can add to what you sustained following a whiplash injury. When you notice signs of vertigo following physical trauma or accident, reach out to a healthcare provider immediately.
Since your neck is closely connected to your head, an untreated whiplash injury can cause chronic headaches. The pain can radiate from the back of the upper neck to the base of the skull. In addition, a chronic headache often leads to other serious health problems such as dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and weakness.
The usual cause of whiplash injury is a motor accident, particularly rear-end car accidents where you are caught off guard, and your neck tends to jerk forward and backward rapidly. Unfortunately, incidents like this usually happen too fast, and before you know it, your neck is at high risk for tissue damage, and your spine may misalign.
There are also other possible causes of whiplash that you have to watch out for, including:
Unwanted Injuries from contact sports such as soccer, basketball, or wrestling can lead to overextension of your neck muscles that can lead to whiplash.
A simple trip or fall can lead to a poor landing or sudden and intense neck movement from the moment you slip until you land. Whiplash can happen in a matter of seconds leading to neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, and more.
A sudden hit or strike on the head or a violent shaking can trigger a whiplash injury.
Particularly roller coaster rides can lead to whiplash injury because of the rapid shifting of your head in different directions. So sometimes amusement parks post reminders to stretch your neck before getting on the ride, this way, you allow your muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other tissues to loosen up and prepare for movement or impact.
Many whiplash incidents end up with an upper cervical misalignment. This can lead to adverse health issues on the neck and the whole body. Correcting the balance and alignment of your atlas and axis through upper cervical care can help alleviate your symptoms and reduce the chances of recurrence.
If you want to experience lasting whiplash relief, visit a trusted and certified upper cervical chiropractic doctor near you. They can help confirm if a misalignment is present following your accident and identify the severity and what your next steps should be.
On your first visit, your chiropractic doctor will thoroughly examine your injury history, followed by imaging tests to get a clear view of your upper neck and the range of misalignment. Your chiropractic doctor will then gently adjust your upper neck to correct the misalignments and let your body heal naturally.
Through this non-invasive natural care, you may experience long-term relief from whiplash symptoms, return to your daily life without worries, and improve your quality of life. So don't take whiplash for granted; get proper care and call an upper cervical chiropractic doctor today.
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The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
