Neck Pain After A Car Accident – Can Chiropractic Help?
Pain that occurs in the neck and/or base of the skull after a motor vehicle accident (MVA) is commonly known as whiplash. There are also many other symptoms associated with whiplash:
- Headaches
- Arm & Hand Numbness
- Upper Back Pain
- Lower Back Pain
- Dizziness
Whiplash is not a simple problem as 30% of people have not recovered after 1 year and 18% have not recovered after 2 years post accident.
The most common source of pain in whiplash is the discs and the facet capsules or facet joints. Interestingly, there is a poor relationship between the appearance of the facet joints on an x-ray and whether the joints are painful. If you go to urgent care after a car accident and they tell you your neck x-ray is negative or normal, that may not be the case.
So, what is the best treatment for the facet joints and discs? The best form of treatment for these structures is one that involves the restoration of movement and motion. The chiropractic adjustment is one of the best forms of treatment for providing motion to the discs and facet joints. The improved motion accomplished by the adjustments helps to close the pain gate and inhibit the neck pain.
The adjustments, when performed early after the whiplash, are the most optimal for helping with whiplash. Thus, even if the pain is minimal it would be a smart idea to be evaluated and treated as soon as possible. Chiropractic has also been shown to be the most effective treatment for chronic whiplash symptoms. As a chiropractic physician, I help people suffering from neck pain and headaches after a motor vehicle collision. I focus on short term care and the goal is to get you out of pain in the fewest visits possible. Please call my office today to begin the process of experiencing neck pain relief. My office has helped many patients from Falcon Heights, MN, Shoreview, MN, Roseville, MN, Arden Hills, MN, and Saint Paul, MN.