Treating Whiplash in Jacksonville, FL

The severe neck pain felt after a whiplash injury is due to a strain of the muscles in the neck. There are ligaments that normally connect the vertebra to each other and offer general stability to the skeleton. If these ligaments are torn, it causes a sprain. There are also joints along the spine known as facet joints that can be affected by whiplash injuries. On occasion, individuals may experience a torn or herniated disc. The nerves around the vertebrae may become inflamed or stretched out (nerve traction injury). In severe cases, the vertebrae may even be fractured or dislocated by the crash.

Avoiding falls and injuries can prevent whiplash, but there is no technique to always prevent an injury. Car accidents and injuries are generally unexpected, which makes them difficult to prevent. Wearing a seat belt and setting the headrest in the car to the proper height can minimize the severity of potential injuries.

Roughly two out of three people will experience whiplash symptoms following a car accident injury. The severity of the crash does not equate to the severity of the injury, although more severe injuries are often caused by worse crashes. Normally, the symptoms develop 2 to 48 hours after the accident although symptoms may arise even 2-4 weeks post injury. This is most likely caused by inflammation following the accident, delayed muscle soreness, and/or instability of the structure brought on by a ligamentous sprain.

• Neck pain (normally worse in areas that were hit first)
• Stiffness in the neck
• Severe pain and discomfort when neck is turned
• Headache on one or both sides of the head. 
• Pain or Stiffness on the upper chest, shoulders, upper back and arms
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness, Vertigo, Nausea
• Problems swallowing
• Difficulty concentrating

For some individuals, the doctor may recommend a soft-cervical collar for whiplash treatment. This type of collar prevents the patient from moving their neck. The collar should not be an excuse to avoid physical activity unless the doctor ordered it. Patients should generally wear the soft-cervical collar for just a week or less. Afterward, their body can begin the self-healing process.

In severe cases of whiplash, an injection procedure or surgical operation may be appropriate. These treatment options are generally reserved for individuals who have sustained severe injuries to their nerves, discs and/or vertebrae in their neck. This may also be a good option once conservative management strategies have been exhausted.

Ice and heat can help to limit the amount of pain experienced along with controlling inflammation. Physiotherapy techniques like therapeutic ultrasound or electrical muscle stimulation may also help to reduce pain, reduce inflammation and control muscle spasms. A chiropractor can perform spinal mobilization and manipulation to alleviate the pain.