Whiplash commonly occurs when a car is struck from behind in a rear-end collision. The impact of the crash causes the driver’s (and any passenger’s) head to “whip” quickly back and then forward again.
In low-speed rear-end collisions, a person may appear to have no visible injury, yet he or she will have suffered a whiplash injury. When the head is violently snapped back and forth so quickly, the neck is stretched far beyond its normal capacity.
Whiplash Injuries Can Cause Severe Pain
The whiplash movement’s accelerated force typically damages neck muscles and upper back muscles in the immediate area. The vertebrae can also be injured, causing moderate to severe pain and other symptoms.
People who have suffered whiplash may brush the injury off. They often believe they are just sore after the accident, and that they will soon recover. The accident may well have adrenalized them and they are numb to what is truly going in their body. As a result, it may be days before they finally visit the doctor or chiropractor.
Some whiplash injuries heal within days or weeks, even without treatment. However some whiplash, if left untreated can lead to serious, chronic pain and leave a person vulnerable to serious injury and other problems in the neck and back.
If you have suffered a whiplash injury that needs treatment, it can take time to heal. Generally, people receive chiropractic treatment and physical therapy.
Chiropractic Treatment of Whiplash Neck Pain
Chiropractors are regularly involved in the diagnosis and treatment of whiplash injuries caused by car accidents and other types of accidents. The chiropractor’s work centers on performing gentle, noninvasive spinal treatments so that whiplash neck pain patients will regain a sense of health and wellbeing.
In many cases, a chiropractor’s work helps track the pain back to its source, thus resolving the issue at its roots through carefully administered chiropractic treatments.
Chiropractors also document and track a patient’s progress, records which can be useful in the event that a personal injury claim is filed.
Physical Therapists and Whiplash Injury
Physical therapists work with whiplash injured patients to help reduce spasms in the neck or upper back muscles, increase the circulation, and help with healing the injured area. PT generally includes carefully monitored and appropriate exercise of the injured area. It can also include ice, moist heat, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney in Columbia, Maryland
If you were injured in an accident caused by another, you may have a right to seek compensation for your whiplash, neck pain, or other types of injuries suffered. To schedule an appointment with an experienced personal injury attorney at the Smith Personal Injury Firm, in Columbia, Maryland, call 410-740-0101 or contact us online.