Can a Chiropractor Cure My Whiplash?
Whiplash is a common injury that can affect anyone because it usually results from a traumatic event, such as a car accident. Whiplash occurs when the head is suddenly and aggressively pushed forward and backward. Sometimes its symptoms show up immediately, but that’s not always the case.
This article goes over the following:
How we get whiplash
Whiplash symptoms
At-home whiplash pain remedies
Chiropractic solutions to treat whiplash
And more
If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident, it’s always best to seek chiropractic care as soon as possible to ensure your body is safe and injuries have not been sustained. Accidents typically cause adrenaline release that can hide pain for hours, even days. Learning how your body is functioning immediately after your accident can help prevent further dysfunction.
Do I Have Whiplash?
With the surprising and significant thrust of the head, the cervical spine (the portion of the spine in the neck) and the neck's soft tissues can become unnaturally stretched, causing pain and loss of range of motion.
Common reasons for whiplash include:
A rear-ended car accident
A slip and fall
A sports accident
A lifting accident
When the arms are pulled aggressively
A violent hit or blow to the chin
These traumatic events can cause numerous whiplash symptoms, including:
Neck pain
Neck stiffness
Shoulder pain
Low back pain
Pain or numbness in your arm or hand
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Irritability
Insomnia and lethargy
And others
Working with a chiropractor is the responsible next step when you see signs of whiplash; however, if you want to help the healing process and find natural pain relief right now, you have options.
3 Natural, At-Home Whiplash Treatments to Reduce Pain
We know time isn’t always on your side when it comes to getting into the chiropractor’s clinic. If you’re looking for safe, effective, and organic solutions to increase your comfort, these tips will help.
Apply ice
Ice is a natural healer that reduces inflammation that comes with damaged soft tissues. Inflammation hinders movement and flexibility, which can put increased demand on areas not meant to support it.
Use an ice pack on the neck, upper back, and shoulders to prevent blood flow to the area. Blood promotes swelling in already agitated tissues. Ice will also serve as a numbing agent, which decreases pain.
For fast inflammation control, use ice for about 15 to 20 minutes per session, three or four times a day for at least 24 hours.
Stretch the neck
After the first 24 hours, gently stretch the neck. This will help keep the tissues and spine active, as too much downtime can restrict movement and flexibility and reduce strength that’s hard to recover.
Stretches to try:
Turn the head from side to side (don’t crank or force)
Drop the ear to the corresponding shoulder and hold
Draw a circle with your nose one way, then the other (allow the circle to get bigger as comfort allows)
Cat cow exercises will move the spine
Roll the shoulders
Again, these stretches should be controlled and gentle. If your pain increases, stop.
Get a massage
Massage is a great way to reduce pain in the body, help restore function, and mentally unwind. Pain causes stress, and stress shows up physically in several areas of the body, the neck being one of them.
A soothing massage will release pressure on soft tissues and soothe and relax the neck muscles, helping you heal physically and mentally.
We have two amazing massage therapists in our office to help you recover from whiplash.
Visit Our Boulder Chiropractor for Whiplash Relief
For long-lasting, reliable whiplash treatment, our Boulder chiropractic clinic has you covered. We’ve seen firsthand how the right in-clinic strategy combined with take-home guidance can heal your whiplash injury quickly.
Non-invasive chiropractic services to treat whiplash include:
And others
We understand the importance of your active lifestyle and want to get you back to it using trusted services that heal the injury rather than mask the pain.
Contact our whiplash chiropractor in Boulder today; you deserve to live pain-free.