Whiplash and low back pain are the two main items I blog about. Why? They are prevalent and often times treated late and poorly. I have been a chiropractic for 19 years, 12 of those in Everett and had the opportunity to take care of thousands of patients that have been involved in a car accident. Here are some simple facts:
1. Most people wait too long before seeking out care for the neck pain they have from the whiplash. "I thought the pain would go away." Is one of the most common phrases I hear. The truth is the sooner you start care the sooner your pain will go away. Also, the sooner you begin care the less neck range of motion you will loose.
2. Many people are afraid to exercise after a whiplash. This is usually because they feel that if they rest the pain will go away. Opposite of this, if you rest you will loose muscle tone and again range of motion. If you do not want to loose what you have, start or continue some form of exercise soon after the whiplash.
3. Most patients will use heat on the neck. This is bad, very bad. You have just had your neck whipped around and the muscle, tendons and ligaments are inflamed and swollen. Putting heat on the area of pain is like throwing gas on a fire! Your pain will decrease short term, but the inflammation will increase and you will cause more tissue damage and again loose range of motion.
This is just a small amount of information in regard to whiplash type accidents. If you have neck pain, upper back pain, low back pain or headaches that you can contribute to a whiplash type accident (or other life events) it would be my pleasure to sit and chat with you about chiropractic care and my 19 years experience can do for you.