Pain Relief for Joint Disorders

If you were recently in a car accident, you may feel some pain in your neck. Neck pain after a car accident is common, but not always apparent right away. After several hours or a day, you may start to feel some pain and stiffness in your neck. This is due to whiplash. If you have whiplash, chiropractic care can help. Here is what you need to know:

How Do You Get Whiplash?

Whiplash occurs when there is a sudden jerk of the neck. If your neck is quickly and forcefully jerked around outside of its normal range, the tendons and ligaments in the neck will become overstretched. It results in soreness and inflammation. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries suffered in minor car accidents.

How Does a Chiropractor Treat Whiplash?

After you get into an accident, you need medical treatment even if you do not think you are injured. The chiropractor can help with your neck injury by first doing a full examination. The first step is getting a set of x-rays of your neck, shoulders, and back. After the examination is complete, the chiropractor will develop a treatment plan. This can include spinal manipulation to get your spine into proper alignment. You may also receive hot and cold therapy, where heating pads and ice packs are applied to the affected area. The chiropractor may also use ultrasound therapy to help promote healing. Electric stimulation therapy also helps your body heal itself. All of these treatments will help heal the damaged tissue and reduce inflammation.

Why Is Chiropractic Care for Whiplash Beneficial?

Chiropractic care has so many benefits. First, it is a natural way to treat your whiplash. The treatments offered by a chiropractor help release hormones in the body that help to relieve pain. It can have the same effect as pain medication without actually taking medication. The chiropractor also focuses on your specific problem areas. They will work on the scar tissue in your neck, which helps to break it down and help you feel better.

Your chiropractor will also help you have restored motion in your neck. When you get whiplash, you will have difficulty moving your neck around like you normally would. The spinal manipulation and adjustments will help to improve your range of motion by getting your blood flowing and oxygen moving through the damaged areas.

If you have suffered a neck injury and you think it might be whiplash, you should see your chiropractor as soon as possible. The sooner you receive treatment, the faster your body will heal.

To learn more, contact a clinic like O'Fallon Pain Relief Associates.