A motor vehicle accident can happen at any time. Even though some accidents might be relatively minor, even small fender benders can lead to significant injuries. Sometimes, these injuries may not show up immediately, which is a common issue with whiplash. Because whiplash is not always diagnosed immediately after a motor vehicle accident, it can lead to significant complications due to treatment delays. How does whiplash happen, and why is it called a hidden injury? Let’s take a closer look.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is the colloquial term used to describe a sprain of the cervical ligaments in the neck. The cervical ligaments in your neck are responsible for giving flexibility to your upper vertebrae. In a motor vehicle accident, the neck can snap from side to side or back and forth quickly. This leads to a sprain of the cervical ligaments.
If you suffer a sprain of the cervical ligaments, you may have a difficult time using your neck. This can have a significant impact on your overall quality of life, which is why you should rely on a medical professional to diagnose and treat it. Unfortunately, however, this injury is not always diagnosed immediately following a motor vehicle accident.
Why Is it Called the Hidden Injury?
Whiplash is often called the hidden injury because it is not detected right away. After a motor vehicle accident, you are probably concerned with looking at the police report and contacting your insurance company. Furthermore, there was a lot of adrenaline pulling through your body, which means you may not realize you have been injured. As a result, a lot of people do not go to a medical professional immediately following a motor vehicle accident.
For example, your neck might feel fine following a collision. You continue with your day and go to sleep at night. Then, all of a sudden, you wake up the next morning, and you cannot move your neck. Unfortunately, because there has been a delay in diagnosis and treatment, the injury may have gotten worse. That is why it is important to see a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, immediately following a motor vehicle accident. This is also important even if you feel like you have not suffered a serious injury.
How Is Whiplash Treated?
Fortunately, there are multiple treatment options available if you have been diagnosed with whiplash. For example, your cervical vertebrae may have shifted out of place following a motor vehicle accident causing misalignments of the cervical spine. Your chiropractor can use very specific chiropractic adjustments to correct these misalignments. By adjusting your neck, your local chiropractor can correct the misalignments which aid in the healing process and alleviate the pain associated with your sprained neck.
A chiropractor might also be able to provide massage therapy and corrective exercises that can eliminate muscle knots that could cause you to feel sore as well. These are just a few reasons why you should rely on your local chiropractor to help you recover while minimizing complications and side effects.
Rely on a Professional Chiropractor for Help
Even though whiplash can lead to serious complications, a chiropractor can help you. The earlier this condition is diagnosed, the faster it can be treated. The sooner it is treated, the faster you can make a full recovery. Even though you might be thinking about taking prescription medications or undergoing a surgical procedure, this is not always required. Before you head to the operating room, reach out to a chiropractor who can evaluate you completely. That way, you understand all options available to you and can make the best decision for your overall health.
If you don’t have one, please call Accurate Chiropractic Clinic at (352) 684-2707. We’re conveniently located at 12082 Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville, Florida, and specialize in helping people just like you overcome pain and the potentially damaging affects of whiplash caused by a motor vehicle accident. So give us a call. We’re here to help!
This article is copyrighted by Blogging Chiropractors for its Doctor of Chiropractic members and may not be copied or duplicated in any manner including printed or electronic media, regardless of whether for a fee or gratis without the prior written permission of Blogging Chiropractors.
