Most of us sustain some form of whiplash at some time in our lives. From the fall off the bicycle to the rear-ended motor vehicle accident, the extent of injury can vary from mild to sever. The symptoms include the obvious; neck pain and stiffness, headaches, shoulder and upper back pain to the not so obvious; numbness in hand/arm, dizziness, ringing in ears, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating or remembering, sleep disturbances and fatigue.
If you symptoms were significant enough you most likely sought first aid from a medical center where you were diagnosed and treated with muscle relaxants, pain killers and a cervical collar. But often days and weeks later the symptoms may persist or change and you should definitely be seeking further treatment. All too frequently a patient will tell me, “I had a whiplash but that was 10 years ago, so my arm pain now can’t be related”. “Oh, really” I will say. What the patient and many doctors do not understand is that when a structure of bones, muscles, and ligaments is injured the mechanics of that joint are altered permanently unless you actively pursue correction. You actually heal incorrectly and that will come back to haunt you in some way or another years from the original injury.
The best treatment is to rehabilitate the entire area that was mechanically insulted. Chiropractic manipulation, nutritional support, massage and exercise therapy all contribute to a speedy and more thorough correction. So, if you’ve had a whiplash you can see me now or 10-15 years from now when degeneration has already taken place.
Randy Schaetzke, D.C., D.I.B.A.K.