Chiropractic Therapy - Whiplash Explained
Written by Dr Cindy Berna
Chiropractic is one of my favourite therapies - aka one of the most effective therapies for me. For years I was able to have just one short session every 6 weeks to keep me completely pain free. If I let more than 6 weeks go by, my symptoms returned but for as long as I went regularly I was fine. Since my second accident I am still not pain free, however I am a lot better than I was and I'm confident that I will be able to reduce my weekly sessions soon without losing ground. My chiropractic sessions make a very big difference for me, thanks Cindy. by Julie...
The Cervical Linear Traction Pillow reduces neck pain and promotes deeper sleep - a must have for whiplash sufferers - read more about it by CLICKING HERE. ReBuildingYou depends on your support to grow - BUY HERE - the prices are exactly the same and you'll be supporting your RBY at the same time.
Sometimes your neck just hurts so much... It's almost impossible to get comfortable. And this Neck Real-Ease helps, really helps, at those times. Again, it won't cost you a dime more to buy it from THIS LINK and by doing that you support us here at RBY.
Whiplash by Dr Cindy Berna
Whiplash has three stages:
1. acute
2. healing
3. and resolution
On the initial visit to a Chiropractor a case history is taken, an examination performed, possibly x-rays are ordered. A diagnosis and prognosis follows.
Treatment varies according to the techniques used in each office. Referral from an acquaintance, lawyer or another medical professional is a great way to start.
How do you know if you need a Chiropractic evaluation following trauma? Chiropractic care treats musculo-skeletal and neurological conditions.
Muscle pain is dull and achy, worsens on movement, improves with rest and with a dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Neurological pain causes a change in sensation ( numbness, tingling, heat, cold, radiating, and can be severe in nature). It may be difficult to sit /stand still for periods of time. It may also be uncomfortable to get up/down and get in/out of a car. Nerve pain may improve with movement and worsen with rest.
To move we engage our muscles to propel us . The muscles act as pumps to flush out inflammation . When we are at rest ,the muscles relax allowing inflammation to accumulate. Relief is sought with ice and anti-inflammatories (ie Advil).
There are many effective therapies to treat muscular pain. Massage Therapy and Physiotherapy are specific to soft tissue injuries and may be gentle in nature to start. Acupuncture is great to reduce inflammation and clear up nerve pathway blockages.
Chiropractic helps soft tissue injuries through manipulation. As the Chiropractor manipulates the joint (ie vertebra), the soft tissues connected to that joint relax and relief can be very fast.
Nerve related pain can be treated by Physiotherapy, Acupuncture and Chiropractic. If a joint is misaligned there can be irritation to the surrounding nerve tissue. The Chiropractic Manipulation is specific for this condition.
In my treatment plan I offer two types of manipulation. Manual which results in an audible release commonly called a "crack". And Activator Technique which is much gentler in nature - there is no twisting or audible release. Not everyone loves the sound of the release!
Within a few hours/days of Whiplash, the soft tissues start to heal. The muscles heal first as they have a great blood supply - think of the red parts on an anatomy chart. The tendons and ligaments take days or even weeks to start to heal due to a lack of good blood supply - think of the white soft tissue parts on an anatomy chart.
I usually find people have hit the worst of their condition by day 30-33. With Whiplash, there is assault to the soft tissue and the result is microscopic tears in the muscle fibre. These tears heal with scar tissue formation.
All the treatments listed above help decrease the formation of scar tissue. Chiropractic Manipulation helps by aggravating the scar tissue . This causes elastic tissue to be put down, allowing a better healing in the longer term .
In most conditions the neck and shoulders experience discomfort first which may lead to headaches. The low back pain follows later due to the high concentration of ligament and tendon tissue. Ice and cold therapy are used in the first while and later moist heat can be applied.
Treatment of whiplash can last weeks, months - even years in severe cases. I find whatever conditions present 18-24 months later are usually permanent - although they may reduce in severity. If one therapy alone is not working try incorporating a couple of therapies together.
Good luck!
Sincerely,
Dr. Cindy Berna
Thank you!
The Cervical Linear Traction Pillow reduces neck pain and promotes deeper sleep - a must have for whiplash sufferers - read more about it by CLICKING HERE. ReBuildingYou depends on your support to grow - BUY HERE - the prices are exactly the same and you'll be supporting your RBY at the same time.
Sometimes your neck just hurts so much... It's almost impossible to get comfortable. And this Neck Real-Ease helps, really helps, at those times. Again, it won't cost you a dime more to buy it from THIS LINK and by doing that you support us here at RBY.
General Chiropractic Information:
Chiropractic cervical adjustment is hundreds of times safer than the most common treatments for neck pain, headaches and other musculoskeletal conditions.
To understand chiropractic you first have to understand how the body works. Our bodies have the knowledge and ability ( chiropractors call this 'Innate Intelligence') to keep us healthy. This power controls heart rate, breathing, digestion and every other vital function. Instructions from your brain via the spinal cord are sent to every organ and cell in your body.
If the instructions are received and followed properly, your body is able to reach and maintain its optimum level of health.
However, if there is any interference with the transmission of those instructions the result is less-than-optimum health. Your body can no longer function normally. The aim of chiropractic is to remove interferences and allow the body to function normally.
Messages to and from the brain are electrical impulses traveling along a complex system of nerve fibers including the spinal cord, which extends from the base of the skull down the center of the back.
It is protected by the spinal column -- sometime s called the backbone -- which forms a "tunnel" of small interlocking bones called vertebrae. Spaces between the bones allow nerves to branch off to various parts of the body. This tunnel has to be strong enough to safeguard the nerves from injury, but flexible enough to allow the body to bend and move freely.
You have approximately 200 bones in your body. Where these bones come together, either in the spinal column or elsewhere in the body, they form a "joint" or articulation which allows you to move. This area is where subluxation may occur.
The vertebral subluxation is an alteration of the normal position and/or motion of the spinal bones. This alteration creates interference to vital nerve signals on their way to and from the brain.
Chiropractic adjustment will make sure that no interference interferes with your health.
Thank you!
The Cervical Linear Traction Pillow reduces neck pain and promotes deeper sleep - a must have for whiplash sufferers - read more about it by CLICKING HERE. ReBuildingYou depends on your support to grow - BUY HERE - the prices are exactly the same and you'll be supporting your RBY at the same time.
Sometimes your neck just hurts so much... It's almost impossible to get comfortable. And this Neck Real-Ease helps, really helps, at those times. Again, it won't cost you a dime more to buy it from THIS LINK and by doing that you support us here at RBY.