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chiropractic, whiplash, injury

Why Chiropractic Is a Great Choice for Whiplash Injuries

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If you have ever had to deal with the pain of whiplash you know how it can impact every aspect of your life. Daily tasks can be painful or even impossible to carry out. Even milder cases can make it difficult to turn your head from side to side. Whiplash can cause chronic pain and keep you from doing many of the activities that you enjoy.

Chiropractic is a very effective treatment for whiplash that not only helps with pain management; it also helps you heal faster. Your chiropractor can recommend exercises you can do at home between treatments and other lifestyle changes that will facilitate your healing and improve flexibility.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a term that describes an injury that is typically focused in the neck and spine. It is caused when the head and neck is thrown in one direction very unexpectedly and quickly, then is thrust in the opposite direction. The head is whipped quickly, usually front to back. It can be whipped from side to side though.

Most people associate whiplash with car accidents, but even just turning one way while a child tugs your arm in another direction can cause it. Anything that jerks your head suddenly has the possibility to cause whiplash.

What Damage does Whiplash Cause?

The damage that is caused by whiplash is called a vertebral subluxation. It is the most common source of discomfort and pain that is caused by injuries due to whiplash. There are different kinds, caused by tension and emotional stress, poor sleeping positions, bad posture, weak muscles, and inadequate diet. This type of subluxation is caused by injury and a chiropractor can diagnose the injury and treat it.

The injury from whiplash is in the neck and spine, but the pain can extend to the head, arms, shoulders, hips, and legs. You can experience frequent headaches, numbness and tingling in your hands, and have difficulty walking or moving about. The pain can range from stiffness and soreness to stabbing and sharp. The injury can affect various nerves, causing blurred vision, dizziness, low back pain, ear ringing, and even problems with your internal organs.

Chiropractic Treatment for Whiplash

Chiropractors will use different techniques to relieve the pain of whiplash and help with healing.

  • Chiropractic Adjustment – The chiropractor performs spinal manipulation to gently move the joints into alignment. This will help to align the body to relieve pain and encourage healing.
  • Muscle Stimulation and Relaxation – This involves stretches the muscles that are affected, relieving tension and helping them to relax. Finger pressure techniques may also be combined with the stretching to relieve pain.
  • McKenzie Exercises – These exercises help with disc derangement that whiplash causes. They are first performed in the chiropractor’s office, but the patient can be taught how to do them at home. This helps the patient have some degree of control in their own healing.

Each whiplash case is different. A chiropractor will evaluate the patient and determine the appropriate treatment on a case by case basis. Different cases of whiplash have different symptoms. The chiropractor will determine the best course of treatment that will relieve your pain and restore your mobility and flexibility.

Any accident that causes whiplash can result in the vertebrae moving out of alignment. This can damage and irritate the spinal nerves. Even whiplash from years ago can still affect you if you never saw a chiropractor. Your spine can still be out of alignment and injury or trauma from years ago can cause problems that seem unrelated. Whiplash can be far more serious than you may realize.

Check out our website @ www.ocwc.ca for more information on our services. Feel free to give us a call @ 780-455-2112 to book your consultation and assessment today.

How Chiropractic Relieves Neck Pain

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If you have pain in any part of your body, it can range from uncomfortable to downright debilitating. In the case of your neck, any degree of irritation can impede your ability to function. Because of this, it is important that you learn about how chiropractic relieves neck pain so that you can find the assistance you need.

When you first visit a chiropractor, you should take along medical records that relate to your neck pain. This includes any medical history that outlines the description and symptoms of your condition by another physician. For instance, whether the pains are sharp or dull, throbbing or steady can provide valuable information to your chiropractor.

You should also make sure to get a copy of your latest x-rays. If you do not have any, that is okay because most chiropractors will either perform them on-site or refer you to a radiology clinic off-site.

Depending on the chiropractor’s approach, a typical first visit includes an initial consultation, examination and x-rays. If the chiropractor has time, he or she may go over the results of the aforementioned the same day.

However, many chiropractors prefer to study and review your case before determining if they can or cannot help you. So, even though you’re in pain, be patient for the chiropractor’s full recommendations which may not be available until the following day.

With that said, most chiropractors won’t leave you hanging. They’re compassionate to your pain. In other words, they’ll administer some form of pain relief the same day as your initial visit until a complete diagnosis is available.

During this initial waiting period, your local chiropractor may administer the following pain relief methods for neck pain:

  • Ice
  • Light soft tissue work using a topical analgesic like BioFreeze®
  • Interferential therapy, electrical stimulation and/or other physical therapy modalities
  • Heat (if the condition isn’t acute)

Additionally, your local chiropractor may make pain relief recommendations that you can use back home to help reduce your neck pain until your next visit. These typically include the proper use of ice as well as the administration of a topical analgesic like BioFreeze®.

During your subsequent visit, a detailed treatment plan will be presented to you if your chiropractor believes he or she can help correct the problem. If so, be consistent with the treatment plan your diagnosis warrants so that your neck pain is not only relieved but potentially corrected.

Remember, your local chiropractor is not only concerned about relieving your neck pain but even more concerned about finding and fixing the cause of the problem. Misalignments of the spine (aka vertebral subluxations) don’t just happen over night (unless there is some form of blunt force that caused it). So correcting these subluxations through multiple chiropractic adjustments may take time, even when the pain disappears.

Regardless, when people are experiencing neck pain, it can diminish their quality of life. It becomes difficult to perform regular tasks such as driving. Visiting a chiropractor and allowing them to treat the area is a smart choice. These professionals have undergone extensive training in their field and are capable of treating neck pain effectively. So if you or a loved one are experiencing neck pain, give us a call. We’re here to help!

Back Pain? Chiropractor or Massage Therapist?

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Anyone who has suffered moderate to severe back pain knows it can range from discomfort to absolutely debilitating. Many people find themselves in a doctor’s office or even an Emergency room seeking quick relief of their back pain. Often they are sent home with pain pills, muscle relaxants and instructions to “take it easy.” Though the quick relief may be welcome, it does not address the root of the problem, and the false sense of relief may even make it worse.

 

When to Use a Massage Therapist:


• The pain is muscular in nature, possibly from overwork or stress
• The pain is caused by a muscle spasm
• The pain is not chronic or debilitating
• You do not have a history of back pain

 

A Massage Therapist will be able to increase the blood flow that will help stop a spasm and loosen the muscles to promote faster healing.

 

When to Use a Chiropractor:


• There is a notable problem with body alignment
• Your posture or mobility is impacted
• The pain is caused by an injury or accident
• The pain is caused by repetitive motion-(office workers and musicians are prime candidates)
• You have a history of back pain
• You have a family history of back problems, such as scoliosis

 

A Chiropractor will help your condition long term with proper diagnosis, alignment and adjustment techniques and provide you with at home exercises to help manage your condition. He may also inform you of what exercises and activities to avoid to aid in your recovery. If you follow the prescribed program, your Chiropractor provides, you will also help prevent further occurrences.

 

We all experience occasional aches and pains and sometimes a hot bath and a good night’s sleep is all that is needed. But if the pain continues or increases it is best to seek help from a professional. Start your recovery today!

 

Schedule an appointment at Oliver Chiropractic Wellness Clinic
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