Sources of Whiplash Pain

Neck Pain - When Should I Come In?

Neck Pain – When Should I Come In?


Neck pain is one of the most common complaints patients have when they come to a
chiropractic office for the first time, second only to low back pain. Neck pain
affects all of us at some point in life, and for some, it can become a chronic,
permanent problem that can interfere with many desired activities and lower
their quality of life. There are many different causes, and prompt evaluation
and treatment is important is some cases.

Neck pain and stiffness are the two most common symptoms that present for
evaluation and treatment. This can be located in the middle of the neck and/or
on either side and can extend down to the shoulders and / or chest. It can
contribute to or cause tension headaches that can travel up the back of the head
and sometimes behind the eyes. Pain often increases with neck movement, such as
when turning the head to check traffic while driving and/or it can hurt at rest
while held in static positions, such as when reading a book. Neck pain can come
on gradually or quickly and often cannot be traced to a specific injury or cause
making it a challenge to figure out. While neck pain is often not serious or
life-threatening, there are causes that should be evaluated promptly. If you
wake up with acute neck pain associated with very limited range of motion, this
may be due to torticollis, or wry neck, and prompt treatment helps it resolve
more quickly than “waiting it out.” Torticollis can be caused by exposure to a
draft, changes in weather, trauma, or after a cold or flu. When in doubt, come
in for an evaluation and treatment, as anxiety associated with the “fear of the
unknown” only adds to the stress associated with neck pain and it’s ALWAYS best
to be “…safe than sorry!”

Numbness or tingling may accompany neck pain and can be located in the face,
arms, hands, and/or fingers. This is one of those times to come in promptly, as
these symptoms may indicate the pinching of a nerve root in the neck. There are
MANY chiropractic treatment approaches that effectively treat nerve root
pinching, and treatment should NOT be delayed. Other common symptoms may include
clicking, crunching, or grinding noises, technically called crepitus, which may
or may not be benign. If the noise is accompanied by pain, especially if it
radiates down to the shoulder blades or arms (either side or both), it’s time to
promptly come in. Any time symptoms occur acutely or come on fast, it’s best to
get evaluated as soon as possible.

Dizziness is another common symptom that can result from neck problems and is
often associated with movement such as rising from laying or sitting. Certain
positions of the neck can also bring on dizziness. This is sometimes caused by
the “stones” in the inner ear shifting out of position and is technically called
BPPV or “benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.” When this occurs, we can usually
manage it very well with treatment and specific BPPV exercises. Other times,
dizziness may be due to a restriction in blood flow reaching the brain. In which
case, a prompt evaluation is VERY appropriate, especially if blackouts occur.

Sleep interruption or difficulty falling asleep are other good reasons to seek
prompt evaluation and treatment. Sleep loss can lead to many problems such as
excessive fatigue, tiredness, irritability, and just generally feeling poor!
Remember, prompt care usually results in prompt resolution!

We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision
and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.
If you, a friend, or family member requires care for neck pain, we would be
honored to render our services.  Visit http://www.olsonchiropracticcenter.com for
more information.

Why Does My Neck Hurt So Much But My Car Only Got A Dent? | Yankton Chiropractor | Brian Olson DC

Whiplash pain can be much different from other types of injuries. When a car
accident is severe, the pain will come on right away. If the injury produces a
mild or moderate sprain, sometimes it takes a few days for the pain and
inflammation to reach its maximum. Sometimes it is stiffness that is the
prominent symptom and the patient notices this in the first few weeks after the
accident. The delay in pain is often seen in low speed collisions where
typically there is very less damage to the vehicles.
There are a lot of factors that determine the extent of injury following a low
speed whiplash. One of these is the neck posture prior to impact. Was the head
turned? This can occur if the patient was looking at the rear view mirror during
the collision. Low speed collisions can occur in parking lots. If the patient
was turned to see if a space was clear, this can make a simple trauma result in
a significant injury.
Besides the position of the patient prior to the collision, the speed and amount
of vehicle damage are sometimes good criteria for the severity of the trauma.
However, it may not be in many cases because of crumple zones. Cars are built
with crumple zones. These areas are crushed during the collision and absorb the
energy of impact. In some low speed collisions, there is less crumple and more
of the force is transmitted to the occupants. This is but one reason why vehicle
damage won’t always equate with the spinal damage.
Another factor in whiplash is whether the head-rest was properly positioned. A
proper headrest should be close to the back of the head and its high point
slightly above the top of the head. The reason for the high position is that in
a rear-end collision, the patient who is being hit will rise slightly with
impact. If the headrest is too low, then the neck will bend around it like a
fulcrum causing even more injury. The same thing happens if the seat is reclined
too far and the head whips backwards before hitting the headrest.
Because symptoms can come on slowly and minor vehicle damage is not a good
indicator of injury, a thorough examination is required. It is important to be
checked by a competent health care provider after any motor vehicle collision.
Visit http://www.olsonchiropracticcenter.com for more information.

Traction DTS Non-Surgical Decompression Back Pain | Yankton Chiropractor | Brian Olson DC

Visit http://www.olsonchiropracticcenter.com for more information.

"My Accident Was 2 Years Ago... Could that Cause My Neck Pain Today?"

The short answer is yes. But let’s look at how the neck is injured in whiplash and why a trauma from years earlier can produce symptoms today. Even in more moderate motor vehicle collisions with substantial car damage, symptoms rarely come on the day of the injury. When symptoms do occur immediately, this is a sign that the injury to the neck was more severe. In most accidents, we initially feel a bit shaken up and shocked more than anything else. When the vehicle has substantial damage, this can completely occupy our thoughts. How are we going to drive to work the next day? We may not think to see a doctor immediately because a more pressing concern is to get the car into the shop and arrange for a rental. If a pain in the neck begins, we take a few pain pills such as ibuprofen and the pain seems much better, even cured. But whiplash is much less straightforward than a simple tight muscle from over exertion. Whiplash causes the neck bones to displace from the stretched ligaments and discs. Over months the bones gradually creep further into the direction of the damaged ligaments. Since gravity is working all of the time, the tendency over time is for the misalignments to get worse. Once a critical threshold is reached, the nerves become irritated and pain develops. An initial little problem has now become much worse because the neck has healed in this abnormal position. The scar formation that occurs after injury is now holding the neck in an abnormal position. When injury occurs we may adapt or compensate to the abnormal position. But over time the limits to this compensation are passed, producing pain. Because of the scar formation that develops after injury, the joints of the spine may not move normally. To compensate for this limited motion at some joints, others have to take up the slack. These joints then become hypermobile, producing irritation to the nerves and spinal cord. The hypermobility is produced by stretched-out ligaments. As months, and even years, pass the stretched ligaments become even more stretched due to the effects of gravity and the movements of our head in every day life. The athlete may notice these changes right away because their physical performance is something they are very accustomed to. In someone with a more sedentary life-style, the neck pain, stiffness, or headaches may come on months or even years after the injury. Visit www.olsonchiropracticcenter.com for more information.

Whiplash - Rest or Treatment?

Whiplash, or WAD (whiplash associated disorders) results from the rapid movement of the neck and head resulting in injury. This is the net result of the “classic” motor vehicle collision, though other injury models (like slips and falls) can result in similar injuries. Last month, we listed basic facts, of which one was better results (less long-term pain and disability) occurred from initial active treatment of the neck with mobilization/manipulation, exercise, and encouraging movement vs. placing a collar on the patient and “resting” the injured neck. Though there are a few studies that suggest there is no difference in results, the majority state that it is BEST to actively treat the patient and encourage movement (of course, assuming no unstable fractures have occurred) rather than to place the patient into a collar and limit activities. The first question that we’ll address this month is, why is this important? The simple answer is that you, as an advocate for an injured friend, family member or as a patient yourself, may NOT be offered “the best” treatment approach by the ER or primary care physician. In fact, one study cited a survey regarding the management of whiplash injuries in an ER and reported that between 23-47% of physicians prescribed a soft cervical collar for acute whiplash rather than promoting immediate active treatment. By knowing this information, the knowledgeable patient can refuse the collar method of care and seek care that emphasizes the use of early mobilization and manipulation, like chiropractic! Though referrals to chiropractors are increasing as more research becomes available, chiropractic care is still significantly ignored or not considered by many practicing ER and primary care physicians. As always, you need to be your own “best advocate,” and the only way to do that is to be informed, hence the intention of this Health Update! Some studies even report that the use of a collar may have deleterious or “bad” side effects and can actually make you WORSE (this was reported by the Quebec Task Force)! The majority of studies on the subject of whiplash report that encouraging “normal activity,” as opposed to immobilization, IS the best approach. We will certainly help steer you in the right direction! Next, let’s talk about WHY does this method works better? The research supports that soft tissues injuries heal better and with less scar tissue formation when patients receive active treatment/early activity types of care (like manipulation / chiropractic). In general, any treatment approach that reduces patient suffering sooner, encourages one to return to “normal activities” faster, and promotes independence and self-care methods earlier is the best approach! We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires care for Whiplash, we would be honored to render our services. Visit www.olsonchiropracticcenter.com for more information.