28 August 2015
 Categories: , Blog

There are many different injuries that a person's neck can suffer, and whiplash is particularly common. This injury is a frequent problem for individuals that have been involved in car accidents because the head is forced forward and back, which can damage the muscles, tendons and vertebrae in the next. For those that suspect they have this type of injury, the following couple of questions may help them to better understand this common neck condition. 

How Do You Know You Have Whiplash?

It is common for people to be involved in car accidents and to think they escaped without any serious injury. Unfortunately, it can take whiplash several days to start showing symptoms. When these symptoms start to manifest, you may suddenly have a very limited range of motion in your neck, pain, headaches and dizziness. 

If you have started to develop these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with a chiropractor as soon as possible. These individuals have the training and equipment needed to determine whether the cause of your symptoms is whiplash or another type of injury. Some people are concerned about paying for this type of care, but your health insurance will typically treat these providers as primary care doctors, if you submit a claim. This will ensure that your coverage applies to these treatments. 

What Should You Expect When Having Your Whiplash Treated?

There are some people that assume treating whiplash only involves wearing a neck brace. While it is important to keep the neck supported, this is far from the only step involved in treating this injury. The muscles, tendons and ligaments will be weakened when a patient has this type of injury, and it will be important to gradually strengthen these parts of the neck. 

To do this, you should expect to be required to perform a series of exercises. These exercises may be done in a clinical rehabilitation setting or they may be prescribed for you to do on your own. The first few days of these exercises will be difficult and uncomfortable, but it is essential that you do them to ensure your neck is able to rapidly recover from this type of injury. 

When a patient is suffering from whiplash, they can be experiencing intense discomfort and pain. Unfortunately, many of these patients may not be well-informed about this condition, which can make it difficult for them to know if they have it or what to expect from treatment. Understanding the answers to these questions will help you to better understand this injury, and this will allow you to make informed choices as a patient. 

For more information, contact a company like the Contino Chiropractic Center.