Treatment For Whiplash Injuries

In a car accident, there risk of sustaining a whiplash injury is high. This can occur even if you’re wearing a seatbelt. This type of injury is particularly common in cases where a rear impact occurs. At Manasota Accident & Injury Center, we understand you’re feeling angry that this accident occurred and shocked from the physical and emotional trauma.

We want to help you make a smooth recovery from the trauma to your head, neck, and back. If you believe you have suffered from whiplash, then rapid intervention from a licensed physician is important. You may go to the emergency room only to learn that your soft-tissue injury is not something that will require referral to a neck injury specialist. We’ve helped countless Florida patients with their whiplash complaint.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a medical term that refers to a neck sprain or strain. Sometimes, neurologists and orthopedic doctors can treat whiplash, but, as a soft-tissue injury, it may not require surgery. Whiplash may benefit from spinal manipulation by a chiropractor when combined with various alternative therapies, including infrared radiation, hot tub submersion, and therapeutic massage. If you are looking for a non-invasive therapy, chiropractic care has helped millions of people to effectively recover from auto-accident related neck sprains and strains.

Why Does It Hurt So Much?

Whiplash can cause headaches, tense muscles, stiffness and pain in the neck. These injuries are also linked with dizziness, shoulder pain, back pain, and pain in the maxillofacial muscles. Even with treatment, getting quality sleep can be really difficult. During an auto accident, whiplash results from a violent movement of the neck. An example is a jerking motion (moving back and forth) when the driver suddenly brakes and again when the vehicle gets struck from behind.

The neck bears the brunt of most the damage, but there can also be strains to the muscles and tendons supporting the neck, including those in the head, shoulders, and upper back. The severity of the injury will determine whether the patient’s neck was hyperextended enough to require more serious therapy. Most patients have only experienced soft-tissue damage from whiplash, and their neck did not get hyperextended enough to indicate surgery.

What Are Common Medical Treatments for Whiplash?

According to NIH, medical doctors may use pain medicines, anti-inflammatory medicines, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, cervical collars, physical therapy, range of motion exercises, or cervical traction to provide relief. These options may be enough for patients with car accident injuries, but they do not provide long-term relief for neck pain.