Car Accidents, Neck Pain, and Chiropractic

Justine O’Callahan, Dr. Richard Pashayan

Countless people are involved in car accidents everyday and if you’re lucky enough you get out, you walk away, and you’re fine right? Wrong. Often times symptoms of an injury don’t appear until 24-48 hours after the accident. Most commonly, the injury is a whiplash injury in which the neck rapidly moves back and forth. This forceful motion of the neck can damage bones, discs, ligaments, nerves, and muscles. This may sound familiar to you because it is a very common occurrence.

How do you know if you have a Whiplash injury?

Well, there should be a previous history of trauma–this doesn’t just include car accidents, it can be due to a sports injury, a work injury, some type of fall, physical abuse, as well as other types of injuries. Some symptoms may include sore, stiff, or painful neck, headaches, dizziness, nausea, or blurred vision. The pain and stiffness may even travel down into the shoulders, back, and chest.

I have Whiplash, what now?

Don’t panic! With the right treatment, whiplash injuries are likely to recover within a few months. If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s time to see your chiropractor. It’s important to get a quick, but accurate, diagnosis to rule out fractures or more serious injuries that may be contributing to your symptoms. Together, you and your chiropractor can manage the pain, reduce muscle spasm, and get you back to your normal daily activities as soon as possible.