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Whiplash 101
Table of content:
Definition
Symptoms
Avoiding Whiplash
Prepare to crash
Med Pay
Definition
whip-lash~n.
1.An abrupt snapping motion or change of direction resembling the lash of a whip. 2.
Also, whiplash injury, a neck injury caused by a sudden jerking backward, forward, or
both, of the head. Whiplash is most commonly associated with rear-end car collisions, in
which the impact suddenly forces the car occupants' heads to "snap" back and forth.
Other causes of whiplash include a sudden jerk of one or both arms, a violent blow to
the head or chin, a reflex jerking of the head due to fright or a sudden loud noise, or any
kind of fall that causes a forceful movement of the head and neck. Anyone can be
subjected to whiplash, even in a low-force car crash at speeds as low as 5 m.p.h.
Dynamic Spine Center can help. If you have been hurt in an accident call us now at
(758) 572-6000 (St Lucia) or (772) 933-1339 (Miami).
Symptoms
Where does it hurt?
The sudden, violent thrust and recoil of the neck and head damages the surrounding
and supporting tissues, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Whiplash most
commonly causes lingering (often serious) neck pain and stiffness, but there may also
be back pain, headaches, blurred vision, nausea, ringing in the ears, numbness, and
even dizziness.
Whiplash symptoms may or may not appear right away. After a night's rest or even
longer, you will usually experience stiffness or soreness of the neck. Often victims are
stunned immediately after an accident and do not note any of the whiplash effects. It's
possible that old whiplash injuries can be the cause of many physical and psychological
symptoms, even years after the accident, especially if a victim does not receive proper
care quickly.
In pain? call us now at (758) 572-6000 (St Lucia) or (772) 933-1339 (Miami) to
schedule your free comprehensive consultation with a whiplash injury specialists.
Avoiding Whiplash
Dr. Arthur Croft, a doctor of chiropractic who is a whiplash injury expert, shares six ways
to minimize pain and suffering before and after a whiplash accident.
1. Shop for a Safer Car
Before you buy your next car, compare vehicle structural design, vehicle size and
weight, and restraint systems – belts, air bags, head restraints, and crash avoidance.
features. Small cars put you and your passengers at greater risk, so consider mass and
crashworthiness. Also, check Insurance
Institute Highway Safety ratings.
2. Keep head rests in UP position.
Eighty percent of cars have the head restraint adjusted in the LOW position, yet
research reveals that having no head restraint is safer than having one in the LOW
position. Some add-on head restraints are available, but check first for safety and ease
of installation.
3. No crush, no crash?
Within a certain range of crash speeds, when there is NO DAMAGE to the vehicle,
whiplash injuries are more prevalent than when the vehicle is damaged. The reason is
that the energy that's used up in crushing parts of the car is not transmitted to the
occupant.
4. Seek treatment immediately.
It is a huge advantage to a victim's recovery to begin treating the whiplash injury within
two weeks after the accident by a doctor who specializes in whiplash injuries.
Immediate treatment will decrease the likelihood of a painful, chronic condition.
5. Do what your doctor orders.
Exercises, ice, nutrition, soft collars for the first few days, adjusted work stations, deep
tissue work in the early stages – do exactly what your doctor prescribes.
6. Think ergonomically.
Positions to avoid, how to sleep, conditions at work – these are everyday factors that
can hasten healing.
Dynamic Spine Center Can Help!
Dr Charles Isidore have had great success in helping people get relief neck pain and
other debilitating effects of whiplash. A recent study in the Journal of Orthopedic
Medicine revealed the superiority of chiropractic care in whiplash injuries. Repeated and
effective chiropractic adjustments have proved successful for many thousands of
patients. If you've experienced a whiplash episode, don't delay – Call (758) 572-6000
(St Lucia) or (772) 933-1339 (Miami) to see a whiplash injury expert today!
Prepare to Crash!
Most accidents happen lightning-fast, but if you do have time to prepare, use these tips
to minimize whiplash injury:
Put your head and your neck all the way back so that you are in contact with the seat
back and the properly adjusted head restraint. Straight-arm the steering wheel and get a
good grip.
If you are completely stopped, put your foot on the brake as hard as you can.
Look straight ahead, not in the rearview mirror. Do not have your head turned.
Put your neck back slightly so your eyes are looking at about the top of the windshield.
Scrunch your shoulders up toward your ears and brace for impact.
This tips were provided by Dr. Arthur Croft of The Spine Research Institute of San
Diego
Back to Health to Health
Vol. 11, No. 5
Copyright (C) September 2003
Colorado Chiropractic Association
Whiplash:
The Consequences of Past and Present Injury
Whiplash injuries occur when a person's spine, or neck, is hurt by being unexpectedly or
suddenly thrown very quickly in one direction, and then in the opposite direction. You
might say the head is "whipped around" on the neck.
Whiplash is one of the most common consequences of auto accidents; it is estimated
that 15%-30% of car occupants will suffer neck pain. Whiplash can be mild to severe
and can range anywhere from rapid healing to slow healing to long-term chronic pain
and impairment. It can cause serious problems because it can cause long-term
damage. Studies show that a large percentage of whiplash sufferers, from 50% to as
much as 88%, may continue to suffer from pain and some amount of disability for years
after the accident. When left untreated, the eventual result is serious degeneration, of
the neck and spine.
Whiplash symptoms may start as neck soreness or stiffness, perhaps accompanied by
a headache, immediately or even 24 hours after the accident. Along with these
symptoms, there may be pain and/or numbness, tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling
between the shoulder blades, arm and hand.
Some people may experience ear ringing, dizziness, or even hearing loss. Sometimes
the eyes can be affected and there may be pain behind the eyeballs, blurred vision,
sensitivity to light or other visual symptoms. Occasionally, there may be tearing or
running of the nose.
After the patient is out of danger of any other life-threatening injuries. The spine
desperately needs to be checked by a Doctor of Chiropractic for life-threatening spinal
damage, called the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Many whiplash sufferers live in pain for years after the injury, forced to survive on
painkillers, muscle relaxants, and various therapies, including surgery, because the
spinal damage a doctor of chiropractic can correct has not been eliminated. In many
cases, a visit to the chiropractor may give great relief safely, quickly and without drugs
or surgery. What is needed is chiropractic care (spinal adjustment) to re-align the spinal
column.
Old Whiplash
Anyone who has ever had a whiplash injury, no matter how long ago, should see
a chiropractor. The M.D.'s may have sent the patient home after x-rays and MRI or
CT scans and found nothing broken or ruptured. However, the spine may still be
structurally unsound. Without structural integrity, the spine will not heal properly,
and problems may develop years later. Arthritis and disc problems may develop
years after the accident (and the legal settlements) because chiropractors were
not consulted for spinal intergrity.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
A whiplash injury is a dramatic example of a subluxation produced by a sudden
accident or trauma. Other subluxations may be caused by poor posture, repeated
stressful movements, poor sleeping positions, bad diet, fatigue, constant
emotional stress, or even extensive dental work.
If you've ever been involved in a whiplash-type accident, see your doctor of
chiropractic as soon as possible to make sure you heal as completely as
possible.