Whiplash is the common term for Cervical Acceleration-Deceleration Syndrome (CAD). Nearly 120,000 people experience a CAD injury each year, according to Right Diagnosis, which is 320 people per day. For some of those individuals, the symptoms can last longer than six months. Our chiropractor in Aurora can diagnose and treat your severe neck injury with chiropractic care. Whiplash treatment in Aurora is provided at Total Wellness Center if you have recently been in an accident.
Whiplash, also known as Cervical Acceleration-Deceleration Syndrome (CAD), is a severe neck injury that affects all the structures of the neck, including the muscles, tendons, and vertebrae. It occurs when the head is rapidly and forcefully jerked back and forth. The rapid movement causes severe sprains and strains in the neck and misaligns the vertebrae.
The majority of individuals who have Whiplash acquired it due to a car accident, usually an auto accident where the injured driver was rear-ended. At the moment of impact, the injured driver is forcefully jerked back and forth between his or her seatbelt and the back of the driver’s seat. While the body is held in place, the head and neck are less secured, which means they move forward until the soft tissues and vertebrae allow for no further forward movement. At that point, the head whips backward, impacting the headrest.
This pattern continues until all the momentum is exhausted. In addition to car accidents, whiplash can also be caused by being shaken, suffering a hard fall, like off a bike or horse, and being hit in the head by an object or a person.
It’s important to understand that Whiplash Symptoms may not have any signs for up to 72 hours after the car accident, hard fall, or head impact. This is because the body releases adrenaline, which can mask the symptoms of the injury. Once symptoms do begin, they may start gradually with simple neck pain and stiffness, and a mild headache.
If treatment is not sought upon onset, the symptoms can become worse, especially if you rest your neck for more than a day. This is because resting can cause the neck muscle to become weak and increase muscle stiffness. Additional symptoms include:
If you’ve been in a car accident and have neck pain or stiffness that you suspect is from Whiplash, our chiropractor in Aurora can help. We offer several non-invasive treatment options to help relieve your neck stiffness, headaches, and pain and help your injury heal. Dr. Holly Geersen has treated hundreds of cases of Whiplash since she began her practice years ago.
We perform manual and instrument adjustments, which are used to help push the vertebrae of the neck back into their proper positions after an auto accident, hard fall or other injury has misaligned them. The adjustments help maximize the range of motion of the affected vertebra while improving circulation and lowering inflammation around the affected vertebra.
Being in an auto accident can severely injure the soft tissues on your neck and upper back, causing them to become weak and stiff. Our car accident rehabilitation treatments can help restore movement and muscle strength while helping to alleviate your pain and discomfort. It starts with a complete physical evaluation and diagnosis. Once our chiropractor understands all of your injuries, a comprehensive treatment program will be developed.
Laser therapy is beneficial for healing Whiplash neck injuries. The low-level laser light penetrates deep into the cells where it is used to regenerate the soft tissues on a cellular level. This chiropractic treatment helps reduce inflammation and neck pain.
Massage therapy is extremely beneficial for Whiplash and neck injuries. It helps relax sore muscles while improving circulation, and if you receive a message before your chiropractic adjustment, the adjustment is more comfortable and lasts longer, which gives your body more time to heal.
To schedule an appointment for your neck and upper back pain, call our chiropractic clinic in Aurora at +1 (303) 627-7995.