Should You Go To A Chiropractor After A Car Accident

Should You Go To A Chiropractor After A Car Accident

By Dr. Anderson | November 21, 2021

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained during car accidents—and often one of the hardest to treat. Nearly 300,000 whiplash injuries occur each year, many at low speeds. It takes only a 2.5 mile-per-hour change in speed to injure the neck.

Although half of all whiplash injuries are the result of rear collisions, they can occur from an impact in any direction. Frontal crashes account for 30 percent of motor vehicle neck injuries.

When a part of the body is whipped back and then forward beyond its normal limits, micro-tears can develop in the surrounding ligaments. Yet many accident victims don’t notice any pain at first. It’s not until the micro-tears start to swell that the symptoms set in.

Soft-tissue injuries like whiplash can take a long time to heal. One study found that more than 70 percent of people who visited the emergency room after a car accident were still in pain six weeks later. Other researchers have noted that nearly half of whiplash sufferers continue to experience symptoms three months later, while 25 percent remain symptomatic for six months.

Without proper treatment, some injuries can continue to cause pain for years. As soft tissue injuries heal, they develop scar tissue. If the spine is not aligned and full range of motion isn’t recovered before scarring sets in, it can ultimately inhibit normal functioning and even lead to spinal degeneration.

This is where chiropractors excel: We are the foremost experts on treating injuries of the neck and spine without invasive surgeries or drug therapy. So, if you have been in a car accident of any severity (this includes basic “fender benders”) then you should go see a chiropractor for an initial physical evaluation. If you are already working with a chiropractor then they are perfectly positioned to compare your pre-accident function with post-accident function, and help develop a plan to address any underlying injuries that will eventually lead to problems for you down the line.

NECK PAIN: HOW TO FIX, POTENTIAL CAUSES, AND HOW TO TREAT IT

Neck pain can seriously affect your comfort of living and can become a severe problem if it goes on for a more extended period. Therefore, you need to do something about it as soon as possible, so greater, more expensive procedures such as surgeries are not required to ease the pain.

WHAT IS NECK PAIN?

The neck is made of vertebrae that extend all the from the skull to the upper torso, and has cervical discs to absorb any shocks between the bones. Moreover, the bones, muscles, and ligaments support your head and allow you to move it freely. However, if there is any inflammation, injury, or other abnormality, it may become stiff and cause intense pain.

Although many people feel stiffness and a moderate amount of pain, that is often due to overuse or a poor posture for a long time and not taking care of their health. Other times, contact sports, minor injuries, or whiplash can also cause some discomfort. 

If the problem is not that serious, it may take only a few days for you to feel the improvement. Sometimes, if you don’t feel any improvement and the pain gets worse over time, it is best that you get an appointment with the doctor for expert medical advice. After all, a constantly paining neck is really annoying and does not let you live comfortably. 

CAUSES OF NECK PAIN

Here are some of the most common reasons!

MUSCLE STRAIN AND TENSION

One of the most typical reasons is constant muscle strain or tension. Here are some activities that may strain your muscles.

  • poor posture
  • sleeping on your belly regularly
  • shaking your neck while exercising
  • constantly working at a desk without relaxing

These everyday activities can lead to neck pain in the long run!

INJURY

The neck is a pretty vulnerable part of the body, and any injury, even if it is insignificant, can cause stiffness or pain. An injury can be caused y many reasons, for instance, an accident, playing sports, falling, etc. 

HEART ATTACK

This may come as a surprise to you, but neck pain is one of the several symptoms of a heart attack. However, don’t if you have some other symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, as well, it is best that you call an ambulance ASAP!

MENINGITIS

Meningitis is basically inflammation of a thin tissue that surrounds the spinal cord and the brain. People suffering from this disease often have neck pain, along with headaches and fever. Also, keep in mind that this condition can be fatal, so it is essential for you to get expert medical advice ASAP!

SOME OTHER CAUSES

Here are some of the other causes for constant neck pain:

Osteoporosis, which is a condition that weakens bones leading to minor fractures

Fibromyalgia, which causes severe muscle pain in the body

Spondylosis, which causes the cervical discs to degenerate that narrows the space between the vertebrae causing severe stiffness and pain

Not taking care of your health can cause weakness and other problems, including pains neck. So, take care of your health at all times.

In some rare instances, pain can also be caused by tumors, infections, abscesses, and congenital abnormalities.

HOW TO EASE NECK PAIN AT YOUR HOME

If you have minor stiffness or pain that recently started, here are a few steps you can take to help ease it.

Try cold/hot therapy by applying ice for some days. Later, start applying heat using a heating pad or by simply taking a hot shower for the next few days.

Take over the counter pain killers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Have some rest by giving a break to sports and other such activities like heavy weight lifting.

Maintain good posture.

Try using a special neck pillow to help relieve pain.

Give your neck some gentle massage and try exercising  every once in a while.

Don’t stay in the same position for a very long time. Try changing it every once in a while.

Take care of your health by sleeping timely and adequately and eating heathy food.

Start doing these little things, and you will soon feel a difference in the pain! If your pain does not start to improve, it is best that you contact a doctor as soon as you can to prevent any serious injury!

WHAT CAUSES A STIFF NECK AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

Similar to a painful neck, a stiff neck can also take away your ability to get a good night’s sleep and to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. Nowadays, with more and more usage of gadgets such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, neck related problems are at an all-time high. Constantly looking down at the screen can cause serious stiffness. Some other reasons for a stiff neck may include clenched jaw, repetitive neck motion, stress, osteoarthritis, and neck or spinal injury.

HOW TO PREVENT NECK STIFFNESS

There are some little things that you can follow or make a habit in your everyday life to help prevent stiffness. For instance, maintain a good posture, use ergonomic workplace tools, exercise regularly to make your neck muscles stronger, and quit smoking! 

Let’s now see what changes you can make to prevent neck stiffness in more detail.

CREATE AN ERGONOMIC WORKPLACE

Office workers often spend about 8 to 10 hours a day sitting at a desk and rarely changing their position or posture. So, to prevent any stiffness, here are some of the tips you can follow to make your workplace ergonomic.

Adjust the chair in a position that makes you comfortable and keeps your feet flat on the floor while keeping your knees a little above your hips.

Adjust the computer to keep it directly at your eye level.

Keep your arms at the desk and your back straight at all times.

Use an ergonomic mouse and keyboard.

Stretch every hour and stand for a couple of minutes every now and then.

LIMIT YOUR PHONE USAGE

Constantly looking down at your phone will hurt your neck, especially in the long run. So, try and hold your phone at eye level whenever you can, so you don’t have to look down. Use headphones more often for hands-free usage and prevent holding your phone between your ear and shoulder while on call. Once you are done using it, give your neck a little stretch. Also, limiting phone usage will give your health a boost too!

PREVENT DRIVING FOR LONGER PERIODS WITHOUT TAKING A BREAK

Constantly driving can also cause stiffness. Therefore, try stretching every now and then while on a long trip. Also, maintain a good posture while driving and keep your back straight. Most importantly, never text and drive!

If you think you may forget, you can set alarms or reminders too! 

ALTER YOUR SLEEPING POSITION

If nothing helps you, you can try altering your sleeping position. Sleeping on your back or sideways puts the least amount of strain. So, prevent sleeping on your belly and get a neck support pillow to further assist you.

STRETCH

Lastly, stretching can prove to be very beneficial and prevent any stiffness. Roll your shoulders back and forth, move your ear towards the shoulder both ways, and turn your head side to side slowly to help relax your neck muscles!

REMEDIES FOR A STIFF NECK

Here are some of the remedies you can try at home to help relieve a stiffness.

  1. The first thing you can do to relax your stiff neck is to apply ice and heating pads on alternate days. This will help cure inflammation and help reduce pain.
  2. You can take over the counter medicines to relieve pain.
  3. Try stretching every now and then and abstain from making any sudden movements as it can have an adverse effect.
  4. Try getting massaged by a trained professional to help relax and smoothen the muscles in your back and neck.
  5. Try acupuncture, which is a common practice in the Eastern part of the world and has been around for thousands of years. It involves inserting needles in the body at specific pressure points and has proven to be very useful.
  6. Consider going to a licensed chiropractor so they can manipulate muscles to help them relax. However, it can be uncomfortable or painful for one, so it is best if you ask a doctor before you go to a chiropractor.
  7. Limit your physical activity such as sports and weight lifting, but try and exercise reasonably every day without causing strain to your back and neck. It will help strengthen your muscles rather than causing intense strain.
  8. Try and reduce stress and do things that give you a sensation of relaxation and comfort. Listen to music, meditate, go for a walk, take a break from work, go on a vacation, or literally do anything that gives you comfort.
  9. Adjust your sleeping environment to make it significantly more comfortable. You can try getting a sturdier mattress, sleeping on your back or side, getting a neck pillow, and relaxing before you sleep! 
  10. You can also consider going to a physical therapist for physical therapy.  A physical therapist is trained to provide physical therapy in a way that relaxes and soothes your body and has been proven to be effective against several kinds of pains, including pain of the neck.
  11. Lastly, take care of yourself every day. Prevent doing things that enhance the pain or makes your neck uncomfortable and take extra care of your health.

WHEN TO CONSULT A DOCTOR

If the symptoms and the pain persist for over a week, and none of the remedies or activities helps relieve it even a bit, it is best that you go consult a medical doctor as soon as possible. Along with neck pain, if you have any of the following symptoms, you have to go to a doctor as it can turn out to be something much serious that may require immediate medical attention.

  • lump in your neck
  • swollen glands
  • fever
  • headache
  • vomiting
  • nausea
  • trouble breathing or swallowing
  • tingling
  • numbness
  • pain that radiates throughout the body
  • inability to touch your chin to your chest
  • bowel or bladder dysfunction

Better be safe than sorry and get professional help if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

  • How long does a neck remain stiff?
    There is no definite answer to the question. However, if the problem is not so serious, it may go away within a week. If the problem is severe, it may last well over a month! So, try out the remedies and activities to help relieve some of the pain. If nothing helps, go to a doctor!
  • How to relieve the pain in the neck?
    There are several home remedies to relieve neck pain, for example, do hot/cold therapy, give yourself some rest, keep stretching and doing light neck exercises, eat over the counter pain killers, use phone less often, don’t shake your head suddenly and try to keep a good posture at all times.
  • Does neck pain heal by itself?
    If the neck pain is very minimal, chances are it will heal by itself with just a little bit of care. However, if it is severe, you may have to take some steps to prevent it from worsening over time and healing.
  • How to know if the neck pain is severe?
    If the neck pain is constant and severe for a long time and none of the activities or remedies helps you out, it is time for you to go see a medical doctor as soon as you can.

CONCLUSION

In a nutshell, if you have minor neck pain, you can follow the remedies and activities mentioned above to help relieve it. If none of these works out for you, it is highly recommended that you go see a doctor for professional medical advice. Also, stretching and relaxing even if you don’t have any neck pain will only keep your neck healthy for a much longer time!

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I’m Dr. Anderson — thanks for reading!

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