Skip to content

Whiplash

Chiropractic Treatment – Common Conditions That Chiropractors Can Treat

A number of years ago, people claimed that nearly every disease and condition could be remedied with chiropractic treatment. While this is true to some extent because chiropractic treatment helps the whole body function better, it was sometimes taken to exaggeration and made chiropractors the odd-man-out in the medical community. They were ridiculed and viewed as quacks.

This was unfortunate because chiropractic does a lot of good. However, with such negative comments from many in the medical community (some of whom even tried to destroy chiropractic as a profession), many people refused to see the good that could be done by a chiropractor.

Thankfully, the winds are changing! More and more doctors, surgeons, physical therapists and other medical professionals are recognizing just how much good chiropractors can do.

6 Conditions That Can Be Treated with Chiropractic Adjustments

While a chiropractor is not able to cure diseases or treat every condition imaginable, the list of what they can accomplish is quite extensive. Here are just a few things that chiropractors are very successful at treating.

1. Back Sprains and Whiplash

Lifting, bending, twisting, playing—they all can result in a back sprain. The muscles and ligaments end up torn or overstretched resulting in some pretty incredible pain. A similar thing happens during a rear-end car accident—the neck is hyper-extended and sprained. A chiropractor can offer suggestions to help ease the pain.

2. Headaches

A patient dealing with TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder may deal with chronic muscle and jaw joint pain. The pain can radiate throughout their face and head, and be very debilitating. Another cause of headaches is from neck pain. When a person’s neck is out of alignment, their head will ache around the temples, at the base of the skull, behind the eyes, and, of course, the neck. With gentle adjustments, a chiropractor can realign bones within the head and neck to both ease the pain and help prevent re-occurrences.

3. Tailbone Issues

Slipping and falling on one’s tailbone is an extremely painful experience. Pain can continue for years down the road from an injury like this. A chiropractor will make sure the bone isn’t cracked or sheared with x-rays. If not, adjustments can often ease the pain experienced from this type of injury.

4. Sciatica

The sciatic nerve runs down the back, buttocks, down the leg and to the knee. At times, the nerve can become inflamed and irritated, causing shooting, electric shock-like pain. A chiropractor can adjust the lower back and release the muscles to ease the pain.

5. Leg Length Discrepancies

If one leg is longer than the other, it can put an enormous amount of strain on the lower back, hips, knees and ankles. Oftentimes, the cause is not one leg physically being longer than the other but the result of bad posture. The chiropractor can help determine the cause and help correct the problem. Some things they may do is adjust the pelvis, recommend shoe inserts, and suggest exercises to ease pain and improve posture.

6. Degenerative Disc Disease or Herniated Disc

These conditions come about because of age, overuse, or accident. Chiropractors help patients avoid further damage through adjustments, exercises, and muscle relaxation techniques.

Finding Relief with Chiropractic Treatment

Whether a person has been in a car accident, has had a fall, or just woke up on the wrong side of the bed, a chiropractor can help get them out of pain. Chiropractic treatment is a valid form of treatment for anyone experiencing neuromusculoskeletal issues. Give us a call and give it a try today!

Reference

http://www.chiro.org/research/FULL/Evolution_of_Chiropractic.html

Signs And Treatments For Whiplash

Whiplash refers to a painful injury of the tendons and ligaments of the neck. It is often due to a sudden jolting of that part of the body. It accounts for over three-fourths of injury claims following auto accidents. The following are some signs of whiplash, along with treatments that can help with pain reduction and recovery.

Pain In Just About Every Direction – But Sometimes Not at First

A whiplash injury causes pain when the neck is moved in just about any direction – front, backward and side to side or any combination thereof. However, the pain of whiplash may not be immediately felt right following the accident. Sometimes it can take a day or two for this type of pain to manifest, or occasionally even longer. The pain may come on gradually or suddenly and then get worse as time passes.

Whiplash Symptoms

Other symptoms of a case of whiplash include neck stiffness, tenderness, pain, constricted movement and minor to severe headaches. Interestingly, women seem to be more likely than men to experience whiplash after an accident. While traffic accidents are the main cause, other possibilities like a hit to the head, slipping and falling, or trauma experienced while playing a sport can also result in whiplash. Any movement that causes a sudden jolt can potentially cause a case of whiplash.

A list of many whiplash symptoms is as follows:

  • Neck pain
  • Neck stiffness
  • Upper back/shoulder pain or stiffness
  • Numbness/pain in arms or hands
  • Headaches
  • Lower back pain
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Dizziness
  • Blurry vision
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Memory loss
  • Irritability
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Sleep disturbances/insomnia

Whiplash Injuries

Whiplash consists of injuries to the soft tissues like neck muscles and ligaments as well as the disks in the spine. These injuries cannot be seen with a standard X-ray and are most often diagnosed by considering the signs, symptoms and circumstances that led to the injury. Tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans can assist with diagnosis, but are not typically used unless a more serious spinal injury is a possibility.

Treating Whiplash

Using ice packs on the neck followed by a heating pad or warm bath can assist in reducing swelling and pain, and a pain reliever (over the counter, prescription or even a natural or herbal remedy) can reduce discomfort. A multifaceted approach utilizing massage, physical therapy and chiropractic treatment in Colorado Springs offers the best healing and can also help profoundly in reducing discomfort. Recovery time will depend upon the severity of the case of whiplash.

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial
LinkedIn
Share