Your spine is a long chain of bones, discs, muscles, and ligaments that extend from your skull down to your tailbone. 

Your neck, or cervical spine, supports your head and shields the nerves that supply your arms, shoulders, and face.

Postural changes, arthritis, and sudden injuries are a few of the primary causes of neck pain. 

The majority of the time, the pain is caused by an issue with your neck’s muscles, bones, discs, or nerves.

That’s important to remember when considering how to recover from whiplash injuries naturally. 

That’s probably a big part of what has you considering seeking chiropractic treatment for whiplash in Austin, Texas.

Whiplash injuries can occur during a sports accident or during a slip and fall.

Furthermore, as the most of us are aware, whiplash injuries are frequently received in car crashes.

These injuries can cause damage to the delicate structures in your neck and lead to symptoms such as headaches, neck pain and stiffness, shoulder pain, and numbness and tingling or pain in your arms and hands. 

That pain is your body’s way of saying “pay attention inside now!”

Let’s examine more closely at what happens after a whiplash injury and, perhaps more significantly, how to heal from one naturally.

Why it Matters:

Over 1.5 million whiplash injuries occur each year, many from low impact collisions.

Research does in fact show that low-speed crashes can create the force necessary to cause pain and injury.

Many people tend to neglect whiplash injuries and have never learned how to heal from them naturally because they can happen at moderate speeds and in events other than auto accidents.

That’s why many of your neighbors who were recently in a car accident are probably looking for chiropractic care for whiplash in Austin, Texas.

The truth is that even minor damage to the ligaments of your neck can take up to 12 weeks to heal. 

In some cases, the partial tearing of the muscles, tendons, or ligaments around your spine can take several months to heal.

Depending on the severity of the ligament tearing, these injuries may also be classified as permanent.

Whiplash can also cause damage to your facet joints and spinal discs by stretching them beyond their normal range of motion. 

Almost every bone in your neck has a pair of sliding joints towards the back called facet joints. 

Your body will attempt to make up for any adhesions or blocked joints.

A stiff neck after an accident is a good clue that a whiplash injury may have occurred. 

Keep an eye out for swelling and bruising, which can take up to 24 hours to develop. 

Many people may already know what symptoms to watch for, but most people may not really know how to recover from whiplash injuries naturally. 

How to Recover From Whiplash Injuries Naturally

It’s essential to control any inflammation early in your treatment and improve your range of motion. 

In other words, it’s key to use movement as medicine. 

While it may seem strange that movement can be a good thing even if it causes discomfort, we know that controlled movement can limit the amount of scar tissue that forms and may even increase the healing rate. 

Still wondering exactly how to recover from whiplash injuries naturally?

Let’s recap the key principles we just discussed. 

• Obtaining an accurate diagnosis with a complete examination and spinal imaging is the first step towards determining the best plan of care to heal from your injuries.
  
• Inflammation is often the primary factor that causes pain and restricted movement after a whiplash injury.
  
• Controlling inflammation naturally and reestablishing your range of motion can help reduce your pain and improve the results of your care. 

Next Steps:

With the right healthcare team, most people can get back to their full life and activities without the need for drugs or surgery.

Chiropractors focus on the structure and function of your spine. 

When your spine is functioning optimally, your body is able to heal itself, no medications needed. 

When looking at how to recover from whiplash injuries naturally, a chiropractor’s care is key. 

We take a holistic approach to help you recover from whiplash by examining and treating the injured muscles, ligaments, discs, and more. 

Depending on the type of accident, we may choose to take x-rays or an MRI of your neck to evaluate your injuries better. 

Chiropractors are considered essential after an accident because of our focus on improving your movement, biomechanics, and functional ability while reducing your pain. 

Schedule an appointment to receive chiropractic treatment for whiplash in Austin, Texas today if you are someone you know has been injured in a car accident. 

We’re here to help guide your recovery process and theirs every step of the way.

Science Source:

The Treatment of Neck Pain and Whiplash-Associated Disorders. JMPT. 2016. 

Bottom Line:

Whether you are just driving to work or taking a big family vacation, an unexpected car accident can cause painful injuries that impact you for months and years to come. 

The weight of your vehicle combined with motion and speed can create a tremendous amount of force. 

Even low-speed collisions can generate enough force to cause significant injury. 

Whatever the details, one thing remains true…

Your body is the primary recipient of that force!

If you’ve recently been in an auto accident, the first thing you should do is make an appointment with a chiropractor specializing in collision accident injuries in Austin, Texas.

The violent forces that occur during an auto accident can cause damage to your spinal discs, ligaments, tendons, and bones-even at “low” speeds. 

After a collision event, the most frequent injuries occur from the rapid whipping of the head back and forth.

This rapid back and forth motion frequently results in ligament tearing and spinal disc injuries. 

Symptoms such as neck pain, back pain, headaches, confusion, and even depression may indicate that you’ve suffered a whiplash injury.

Why it Matters:

You may be surprised to learn that shoulder injuries are among the most common ones received in auto accidents, in addition to whiplash.

With its many bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, the shoulder is one of the body’s most complex structures.

If you are the driver and have your hands on the wheel at the time of the crash, the sudden force created by the accident can lead to a torn rotator cuff. 

Seat belt related injuries are also some of the most common injuries after a collision accident.

Your seat belt can irritate impingement syndromes in the shoulder and contribute to other spinal injuries. 

That said, remember this. 

Wearing a seat belt is imperative whenever you get into a car since it saves millions of lives annually.

In addition to head and shoulder injuries, a sudden stop or change in direction during an accident can also place a tremendous force on your chest. 

What’s more, since your arms and legs are more than likely unsecured, they can strike the interior of your car, causing additional injuries. 

Common Injuries After a Collision Accident

So, here are a few of the most common reasons we recommend you see a chiropractor specializing in collision accident injuries in Austin, Texas after any collision accident. 

• Head Injuries: Striking your head against the steering wheel, dashboard, or window can result in a severe head injury such as a concussion (which is considered a mild traumatic brain injury).
  
• Spinal Injuries: The forces that occur during a car accident can cause spinal injuries like instability, whiplash, or herniated discs.
  
• Arm or Leg Injuries: Injuries to your shoulders (if you’re holding the wheel) or your knees (if they hit the door or dashboard) are very common after a car accident.

Next Steps:

Ignoring any injury, whether it’s on our list of the most common injuries after a collision accident or not, is not a good idea.

Getting checked is crucial if you are involved in an automobile accident, regardless of how minor it may be.

Taking the right action steps as quickly as possible can make a huge difference in your overall well-being and healing. 

In actuality, most accident injuries can be managed conservatively, and many don’t even need surgery.

Research has shown chiropractic care to be very effective at treating injuries like neck and back pain, headaches, whiplash injuries, and extremity issues.

If you’re searching for a chiropractor specializing in collision accident injuries in Austin, Texas, know that our doors are open and our expert team is here to help, right now. 

In addition to treating the majority of frequent injuries sustained in collision accidents, our goals are pain relief, mobility restoration, and long-term rehabilitation.

A complete evaluation is how we determine the extent of your injuries and begin your journey towards recovery. 

What’s more, our practice’s evaluation process and assessment tools can help us fully document your injuries for your records, your medical doctor’s records, your insurance providers records, and, when needed, your attorney’s records. 

Then with a combination of conservative treatments designed specifically for you, we can help you find relief as quickly, safely, and naturally as possible.

Science Source:

The Impact of Musculoskeletal Injuries Sustained in Traffic Crashes. BMC. 2018.