Are whiplash injuries common?
The economic impact due to whiplash is about 30 Billion dollars a year in the US. About 6 million people are injured in automobile accidents each year in the United States. It has been estimated that 3 million of these automobile accident victims have a whiplash injury. Whiplash is caused when the head and neck are whipped rapidly back and forth or from side to side. Rear-end automobile accidents are the type of automobile collision most likely to cause serous neck injury. Part of the reason that rear-end collisions are more serious is because the automobile occupants are often caught off guard and they are unaware of the impending collision. Hyperextension and hyperflexion of the neck can injure the cervical spine facet joints and the joint capsule as well as the muscles and ligaments. The intervertebral discs can be torn due to the shear force of the whiplash.
What are the symptoms of whiplash?
Some of the most common symptoms caused by whiplash are neck pain, back pain, headaches, and dizziness. Whiplash can also be the cause of fatigue, ringing of the ears, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and insomnia. The psychological aspects of a whiplash injury are often neglected. One of the most serious consequences of whiplash injuries is drug dependence. Opioid addiction can occur from chronic use of these narcotic medications.
Do whiplash injuries cause permanent problems?
Some experts report that 10 percent of whiplash victims will have permanent chronic neck pain but other experts claim the number is much higher. Michael D. Freeman PhD., an assistant professor of Oregon Health Science School of Medicine, believes that 45 percent of individuals with chronic neck pain were injured in automobile accidents.
What is the best treatment for whiplash injuries?
Patients should be encouraged to take part in their own recovery. Early treatment using cervical range of motion exercises lead to a better and quicker recovery. Prolonged use of a neck brace or a cervical collar has ben shown to delay recovery. Chiropractic treatment is very effective in treating whiplash injuries. Chiropractic treatment is designed to improve range of motion and restore joint motion. Spinal adjustments help to relax tight muscles and improve the movement of the spinal facet joints. Exercises are used to strengthen the muscles and help improve proprioception. Acupuncture can be very effective at controlling the pain cause soft tissue injuries.The sooner the automobile accident victim starts chiropractic treatment the better chance they will have of a full recovery. In some chronic, unresponsive cases, injections are used by orthopedic surgeons and pain management specialists to locate the exact nerves causing neck pain or back pain. If the nerve causing the pain can be isolated, the nerve can be selectively cut using a surgical technique called radiofrequency ablation.
If you have any questions concerning whiplash or chiropractic please contact Dr.Greg L. Crawford D.C., D.A.B.C.O.. at Foothills Chiropractic, 1337 East Prospect Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (970) 493-2105 http://ftcollinschiropractor.com