Seattle Chiropractor

If You Have Been Involved In A Car Accident, You May Be Suffering From Whiplash.

Whiplash occurs when the nerves, discs, muscles, and ligaments in your neck are damaged after your head is rapidly moved backward or forward and then speedily “whipped” in the opposite direction. Whiplash causes ligaments and muscles in the neck to be stretched beyond the normal motion range. The soft tissues can tear or sprain leading to discomfort and pain. While whiplash most commonly occurs in auto accidents, high-impact sports, amusement park rides, or sudden falls can also cause whiplash.

Common symptoms of whiplash include:

• Neck stiffness and pain
• Pain in the arms, upper back, and shoulders
• Blurred vision
• Headaches particularly the back of the head
• Challenges in concentrating
• Extreme fatigue
• Vertigo or dizziness

It is important to see a chiropractor as soon as possible after an auto accident, as it may take days after an accident for whiplash symptoms to become evident. Left untreated, whiplash can develop into long-term complications such as:

• Constant, nagging pain that may affect your ability to do basic day-to-day tasks.
• Reduced range of motion around your neck region, which can lead to permanent disability if not treated.
• Lack of focus. Whiplash may cause a concussion. Untreated concussion causes frequent headaches, dizziness, feeling of confusion, seizures, and fatigue.
• PTSD. Many victims experience trauma and depression as whiplash-related disorders, oftentimes characterized as recurrent memories of the traumatic accident.

Whiplash treatment mainly involves carefully adjusting the affected joint into the direction it was restricted, relieving pain and improving your range of motion.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, visit our chiropractic office in downtown Seattle or call us at (206) 623-2225 to schedule an appointment. At Devine Chiropractic and Rehab Center we have decades of experience treating whiplash. Instead of masking your whiplash symptoms with painkillers or muscle relaxers, we will develop a personalized treatment plan that targets the root cause of your pain so you can regain full functionality and range of motion and get back to doing the things you love.