There’s Nothing Phony about Whiplash

There’s Nothing Phony About Whiplash

Whiplash has a bad reputation and has become stereotyped over the years as something of an imaginary injury.

Why? Many of us associate it with litigious people in neck collars trying to pull off an insurance or disability scam. In truth, it is not only the real thing, but one of the most common forms of neck pain. And that pain is not restricted to the neck.

The name itself indicates that the neck has been snapped like a whip, therefore causing a lasting injury that may become chronic. But historically it has been hard to prove, which why it became so popular among injury fakers after automobile accidents. A sudden jerk of your head forward or backward from a blow, impact or a quick, spontaneous movement of the head may lead to whiplash.

Modern medical technology makes it easier for a legitimate whiplash victim to prove that there is a spinal misalignment beyond the traditional x-ray, thanks to CT scans and MRIs.

Left untreated, whiplash may evolve into a chronic condition that could rob you of healthful sleep, resulting in fatigue and dizziness, the pain of severe headaches, ringing in the ears and back pain, just to name a few common symptoms. Basic symptoms of whiplash include headaches, numbness and tingling in the neck, and pain in the neck, shoulder, jaw and even down to your arm and hand. There have even been documented cases of brain injury from whiplash. Sometimes the symptoms do not occur until days or weeks after the injury.

Diverse Prescribed Treatments Available

At Oakland Spine & Therapy we use a variety of approaches or protocols to determine the extent of injury and misalignment of the spine, starting with an internal look through X-ray studies. We can then proceed with a diverse combination of prescribed treatments, notably spinal manipulation and physical therapy, as well as adjunct treatments like massage and acupuncture. Then there is laser treatment for pain, and our LCT 1000 Deep Tissue (Class IV) Laser is the most effective treatment for pain on the market today

More than one million people are diagnosed with whiplash every year and as many as 25 percent of those deteriorate into chronic conditions. Meanwhile, so many people put up with reduced quality of life without ever having it diagnosed or treated. As noted previously, there is nothing phony about whiplash.

There are all kinds of ways to treat whiplash, although there is not necessarily proclaimed a cure. As with any ailment, many turn to prescribed or OTC medications, even injections, while others receive relief through massage, physical therapy and ultrasound. And what about the most visible treatment, the neck brace or cervical collar? That is immobilization, and even the most traditional treatments are now advocating movement as some kind of treatment.

Various forms of laser treatment are on the cutting edge of treatment, and chiropractic professionals offer more alternatives for healing and pain relief when it comes to whiplash. Laser treatment is offered by many modern practitioners of chiropractic care, as are spinal manipulation and physical therapy which have proven results.

—Call us today at (201) 651-9100 for an appointment at Oakland Spine & Physical Therapy…