You might not be surprised to hear that the number one cause of whiplash comes from car accidents. However, what you may not realize is how even seemingly small fender-benders can lead to a serious condition like whiplash. A general rule of thumb when it comes to car accidents is that if your car sustained any kind of damage then it is likely that your body did too.
Unfortunately, many car accident injuries affect the neck and spine, which can then radiate out pain and affect the rest of your body as well. That is why it can be helpful to seek treatment from chiropractors in Marietta, GA because they specialize in treating the spine through gentle and non-invasive techniques for maximum healing. If you’ve been in a car accident in the Atlanta area, there are teams of chiropractors in Marietta, GA who can treat your car accident injuries and help you experience true restoration.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash symptoms are tricky because not all symptoms appear immediately following the car accident. Because of the trauma of the accident and how overwhelming the aftermath can be, you may not begin to notice pain or discomfort until your adrenaline starts wearing off. Additionally, our bodies tend to experience swelling in response to injuries from forceful impact, so inflammation around the neck or spine may mask symptoms at first.
Common signs and symptoms of whiplash include pain and stiffness in the neck, often getting worse when you turn your head from side to side or forward and backward. You may even notice a decrease in range of motion when you attempt to move your head and neck. Headaches and dizziness are also common, as well as tenderness and tingling in your upper back, shoulders, and arms. If you experience any of these symptoms after a car accident, you should seek medical attention from a chiropractic doctor as soon as possible.
Diagnosing Whiplash
A combination of a physical examination and diagnostic imaging tests are common when diagnosing whiplash. While the condition of whiplash itself is not visible on imaging technologies, these do help chiropractors rule out other potential injuries, as well as identify how your potential diagnosis of whiplash may have led to other injuries or areas of concern. Common diagnostic imaging technologies used by chiropractors in Marietta, GA include X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.
Your chiropractor may recommend X-rays when your neck pain and symptoms seem to be related to bone damage. X-rays provide chiropractors with images of your bones, and in the case of whiplash, how the vertebrae in your neck and upper spine were impacted by the accident. CT scans are also a type of 3D X-ray that can provide more in-depth information about bone damage. MRIs provide chiropractors in Marietta, GA with an array of 3D images of soft tissues, which includes muscles, ligaments, tendons, and even discs in between vertebrae.
Chiropractic Care for Whiplash
When it comes to treating whiplash, chiropractic is a therapeutic treatment that is gentle and non-invasive. Chiropractors in Marietta, GA specialize in the musculoskeletal system and look at how an injury to the spine can affect the rest of the body. This holistic approach to your health and wellness means you are not just treated for the symptoms you come in with. Instead, chiropractors look for the root causes of your injury and seek to provide quality care to restore the spine to its proper position.
Techniques of chiropractic care for whiplash vary just as much as each individual’s presenting symptoms. Chiropractors focus on treating the individual instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach, so you can trust you are getting the care your body needs. Generally, a combination of gentle spinal adjustments and manual therapy techniques help restore the spine, encourage blood flow, and reduce inflammation in surrounding tissues.
Chiropractors in Marietta, GA identify spinal misalignments that may be the source of pain and discomfort you are experiencing. Spinal misalignments are common after an injury like whiplash because your head and neck are so forcefully jolted out of their natural resting positions. A highly skilled chiropractor will also help provide education and techniques for how to continue maintaining a proper spinal positioning even after your treatments are finished.
Whiplash Treatment and Recovery
Many people begin to experience pain relief from a whiplash injury after just a few sessions with a chiropractor because adjusting the spine to its proper position allows the body to more effectively communicate and heal. Chiropractors in Marietta, GA may recommend at-home remedies to compliment your chiropractic care such as alternating ice and heat and exercises to encourage improvement in range of motion. Marietta chiropractors at Marietta Chiropractor are highly skilled and dedicated to providing you with the best care so you can experience total body healing and continue to experience good health.