What is Whiplash?

 

If you’ve suffered a neck injury, it may take a few days for symptoms to develop. But if they do, they may be worse or longer-lasting than if you’d gotten help sooner. At the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, Dr. Jay McClanahan and his staff offer a variety of non-invasive musculoskeletal treatments to help patients recover from injuries more comfortably and completely. Those include treatments for whiplash, so we want everyone to know why they should seek help quickly if they’ve potentially suffered it.

The term “whiplash” is used to describe overstretching and tearing in the neck tissues that occur when a person’s head gets thrust forward and then snaps back. It includes injuries to several different kinds of soft tissues, many of which also connect to the head and shoulder, and can potentially include misalignments of the spinal vertebrae. Weakness in the neck’s ligaments and tendons may cause the neck to become stiff and experience persistent pain that becomes worse with movement. A subluxation in the neck vertebrae may also result in impingement of the nerves leading to the head, causing radiating headaches, or the nerves to the shoulders, causing stinging or numbness along an arm.

Although whiplash injuries may require rest in the short-term, keeping the neck immobile will allow the muscles to further atrophy. Immediate care following a car crash or other potential whiplash often includes cold and heat therapy to reduce swelling, with the goal of allowing the patient to begin physical therapy to rebuild their neck and shoulder muscles. Our office offers massage therapy to help loosen tight muscles, in addition to chiropractic adjustments to relieve nerve impingements. We also provide spinal decompression therapy to unblock trapped cervical fluids, further reducing pressure on the nerves in the neck, allowing the patient to remain active with less pain.

Dr. Jay McClanahan is the owner and chiropractor of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Our office is located in Nitro, WV. To schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan visit our website or call 304-776-1520.