Unintentional injuries happen in the home, at work, and in your car, and the damage they can cause ranges from minor bruises to chronic, debilitating pain. They account for nearly 25 million physician visits and over 26 million ER trips annually, and rank third for overall cause of death. Car accidents occur frequently and account for many injuries and fatalities annually.
The impact from auto collisions can leave lingering effects all over your body, with neck injuries like whiplash being among the most common. If you somehow leave an accident scene and feel fine, you may think you don’t need to get looked at for problems like whiplash, but there are many good reasons this may not be a good idea.
Dr. Corey Skinner and the dedicated staff at Action Chiropractic Dallas serve the residents of Dallas, Texas, with a range of musculoskeletal needs, including helping you cope with the effects of auto injuries such as whiplash.
Named after the motion of a cracking whip, whiplash describes a neck injury that occurs when your body undergoes a sudden back-and-forth jerking motion from an impact. It’s typical of rear-end collisions, but can happen from the impact of other accidents and numerous unintentional injuries not auto-related. These include physical altercations, assaults, and contact sports.
This injury can affect anyone, but people more likely to suffer more severe problems from it include those with a history of the condition or other neck injuries, older people, those with other forms of back and neck pain, and impact from a high-speed injury.
The motion caused by whiplash damages the muscles, ligaments, and other tissues and joints in the neck, leading to strains, sprains, fractures, and numerous other problems depending on the severity of impact. This leads to several different symptoms that vary with the grade of injury (from zero to four):
Even if you feel no pain after the accident, understand that many injuries won’t present immediately after such an event.
The symptoms can start appearing hours, days, or weeks after the accident happens, and getting diagnostic care can help assess your current health, and follow-up care can monitor the progress of your post-accident health.
Mild cases of whiplash can fade with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, hot or cold compresses, and rest, but even then, you should keep track of any new symptoms and keep us in the loop to make sure things are OK.
Whether you’ve had a minor accident or a major collision, medical care is a first and vital step to preserving your long-term health. If you’ve been in an accident, schedule an appointment online or by phone with Dr. Skinner and Action Chiropractic Dallas today to get the medical care you need.
