The Effects of Whiplash After a Car Accident

Whiplash is one of the most common auto accident injuries, and it can be one of the most challenging to overcome, especially if you don’t realize you have a neck injury immediately following the accident. When you recognize the effects of whiplash early, you can start treatment and get back on track faster than you think.

At Kerinver Chiropractic, we’ve seen patients with serious whiplash symptoms that disrupt their daily lives. Fortunately, whiplash is very treatable when you get the right care. 

Our founder and lead chiropractor, Josue Maysonet, DC, heads up a team of experienced accident injury specialists with expertise in diagnosing and treating whiplash. We have two convenient locations in Kissimmee and Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida. 

This blog covers the effects of whiplash after a car accident so you can recognize the signs of this neck injury and understand that you should get it checked out by an auto accident injury care specialist if it happens to you. 

About whiplash

Whiplash happens when your neck hyperextends or snaps forcefully forward and backward at the moment two cars collide. This can cause physical damage.

With hyperextension, your neck moves beyond its normal range of motion. While it’s very quick, hyperextension can cause tremendous strain and damage in your neck and upper back. To make matters worse, your neck (cervical spine) might not realign with the rest of your spine properly as it tries to return to its normal position. 

Whiplash is generally referred to as a soft tissue injury, which means it mainly affects non-bone parts of your body like the muscles, nerves, ligaments, and spinal discs in your neck and upper back areas. But whiplash can also damage your spinal vertebrae.

The effects of whiplash can make themselves known immediately, or you may notice pain hours or even days after the injury. Without treatment, your pain can become chronic.

Symptoms of whiplash

Whiplash can cause symptoms that range from mild to severely debilitating. Some of the most common effects of whiplash after a car accident include: 

• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Upper back pain 
• Difficulty turning your head
• Difficulty moving your head up and down
• Sleeping problems due to discomfort
• Headaches
• Tingling, numbness, or pins-and-needles sensation in your neck or arm

Whiplash can have even wider-ranging effects as well. For example, studies show that up to 34% of people experience depression in the year following a whiplash injury, while up to 22% experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the first few months. 

Treating the effects of whiplash

Prompt treatment can ease your symptoms and help prevent more serious complications. At Kerinver Chiropractic, our team can diagnose your whiplash injury using X-rays and other advanced diagnostic methods. This information helps us determine the ideal treatment plan for you. 

Whiplash usually responds well to treatments such as therapeutic massage, trigger point therapy, and spinal manipulation. All of these treatments are completely natural and don’t require the use of potentially habit-forming drugs. 

Now that you know more about the effects of whiplash, you understand how serious it can be. If you’ve been in an auto accident, don’t hesitate to call the Kerinver Chiropractic office nearest you or contact us online to make an appointment for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.