Whiplash and Neck Pain Treatment with Nuneaton Chiropractors and Nuneaton Physiotherapists here at Central Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Clinic. View our 3d animated models for (1) Neck Pain and Whiplash, (2) Bulging disc, Cervical disc injury (3) TMJ Temporomandibular Jaw Disorders (they can be found under the listing” Types of Pain” in our Neck Pain Section). For the management of Neck Pain, here at Central Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Clinic we use the latest Low Level Lasers which provide Pain Relief, this also accelerates recovery, healing and significantly reduces the inflammatory process. A 5 star rating has been awarded to Low Level Laser Therapy, our laser section can be found listed under “Pain Relief”, please also view our “Low level Laser Testimonial Video
Whiplash - Associated Disorder (WAD).
Many people involved in rear-end car shunts will suffer “whiplash”(WAD) injury as a result. Sometimes they will be unaware that they have suffered whiplash injury and would fail to seek medical advice. Many people do recover from the condition with time. However many do not, and the condition becomes chronic and may affect them for the rest of their life.
It is imperative therefore, for anybody to seek medical advice immediately if the ate suffering any of the following symptoms after a car crash:
· Neck pain and stiffness.
· Headaches
· Numbness or pain in the arm or hand
· Dizziness
· Blurred vision
· Shoulder pain
· Concentration difficulties
· Ringing in the ears
· Irritability
“Whiplash”(WAD) injury occurs when the body reacts to sudden deceleration or acceleration force causing hyper- flexion or hyper-extension of the neck.
“Whiplash”(WAD) injuries are associated with car accidents. The “Whiplash”(WAD) injury is sustained when the muscles of the neck and shoulders do not have enough time to brace and hold the head during sudden acceleration or deceleration force application, leading to injuries of the muscles, ligaments, capsule of the facet joints and discs of cervical spine.
Uncomplicated cases
“Whiplash”(WAD) cases that are uncomplicated are the result of sprained ligaments in the neck. The muscles spasm naturally to form a protective mechanism for the neck. The “whiplash”(WAD) injury may cause a stiff neck and pain may be present down one or both arms if the nerve roots of cervical part of spinal cord get compressed.
Relief for “Whiplash”(WAD) can be found with chiropractic treatment, physiotherapy or pain medication.
****** Studies have shown that 35 of 39 patients, or 91%, of patients with chronic “whiplash”(WAD) benefited from chiropractic treatment ********
Severe cases
In severe cases of “Whiplash”(WAD) may last for a month or more with persistent and in some cases constant pain. This may indicate that the “whiplash”(WAD) injury has extensive damage and resulting in discs rupturing and trapped nerves in the neck. This may also predispose to a “slipped”, ruptured or herniated disc in the back.
(See our Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy Section listed under “Pain Relief”.)
What are the symptoms?
- Pain or stiffness in the neck, jaw, shoulders, back, or arms
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision or ringing in the ears
- Tingling or numbness in the arms, hands or shoulders
- Memory loss or difficulty concentrating
- Nervousness or irritability
- Difficulty sleeping
- Fatigue
- Burning or prickling or tingling, particularly around your neck
- Depression
- Vertigo
What if I don’t feel anything at first, but start to have symptoms later?
This is typical of “Whiplash” (WAD) Symptoms may occur right away but often do not begin to develop for several hours after the incident and then worsen over the next 36 to 72 hours.
How long do the symptoms last?
Most neck and head pain symptoms clear up within a few days or weeks,. For others, the recovery can take up to three or four months. But about 35 percent of people with whiplash report symptoms for up to a year, and about 15 percent of patients report permanent symptoms as a result of their injuries.
Diagnosis
Determining the source of the pain is essential to recommend the appropriate treatment and rehabilitation. Therefore, a comprehensive examination is required to determine the cause of neck pain.
“Whiplash”(WAD) is difficult to diagnose since most injuries are to soft tissues like muscles and ligaments and will not show up on an x-ray. If an x-ray fails to reveal a problem, doctors will sometimes order specialized tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). But more often they will make a diagnosis based on your symptoms.
Your Chiropractor will take a complete history of the symptoms you are having with your neck. The Chiropractor may ask you about other illnesses, any injury that occurred to your neck, and any complaints you have associated with neck pain. Previous treatment for your neck condition will also be noted.
X-rays often will be obtained to allow your Chiropractor to look at the bones in your neck. This entails simple diagnostic imaging study (radiography) and aids your Chiropractor to determine the cause of neck pain and to prescribe effective treatment.
Further evaluation may involve the following:
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). This non x-ray study allows an evaluation of the spinal cord and nerve roots.
- CT (computed tomography). This specialized x-ray study allows careful evaluation of the bone and spinal canal.
- EMG (electromyography). This test evaluates nerve and muscle function.
Treatment
The treatment of neck pain depends on the diagnosis. Most patients are treated successfully with Chiropractic Treatment. Also rest, medication, immobilization, exercise, activity modifications, or a combination of these methods can be very useful.
Inflammation is a result of stretching muscles and ligaments beyond their limits, (See also Cold Laser Therapy listed under Pain Relief; this therapy is extremely affective in the treatment of inflammation). Surgery is required in very few cases to relieve neck pain. For most patients, a combination of Chiropractic treatment, rest, medication, and physical therapy will relieve neck pain. Surgery may be necessary to reduce pressure on the spinal cord or a nerve root when pain is caused by a herniated disc or bony narrowing of the spinal canal. Surgery may also be required following an injury to stabilize the neck and minimize the possibility of paralysis, such as when a fracture results in instability of the neck.
If you’ve seen your doctor about your injury and the symptoms persist for more than four weeks, it may be time for you to see a specialist. Such as a neurologist or chiropractor who can help diagnose your condition.
What is the treatment for Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) common term “whiplash?”
Doctors often prescribe anti-inflammatory painkillers or muscle relaxants. You can apply ice to the injured area to reduce pain and swelling for up to 15 minutes every hour. Chiropractic treatment is very effective in the management of “whiplash”(WAD).
What can I do to help prevent Whiplash (WAD)
Since the most common cause of the injury is car crashes, experts say safe driving, seatbelts, and properly adjusted headrests are your best protection against whiplash. Seatbelts help keep you from being thrown forward; a low headrest in your car allows your head to pivot backwards over the top during an accident: Always raise or lower your car’s headrest until the centre of the rest meets the centre of the back of your head.
Neck Pain and Whiplash -Associated Disorders (WAD). Commonly known as “Whiplash” (WAD).
Cervicalgia
The neck muscles are constantly placed under tension, although this tension helps to keep the head in position i.e. upright. However the muscles in the neck are more prone to becoming stiff and painful as a result of this tension. As a result of violent movement or sudden impact (known sometimes as “whiplash” (WAD)).
Cervicalgia is a localised pain that does not radiate through into other areas of the neck.
Symptoms include:
- A sharp pain in the neck
- Neck ache
- Pain resulting from head movement
- Pain radiating to the shoulders, arms and fingers
It also may radiate pain into other areas; this is usually caused by a trapped nerve or nerves. Nerves can become trapped by tight muscles, disc damage, or the formation of bony deposits. Radiating pain in the neck which affects the shoulders and arms may also affect the fingers.
Neck dysfunction can result in dizziness, nausea or headaches but it can be successfully treated by Cold Laser Therapy, one of the treatments offered by Central Chiropractic Clinic
Cervicogenic headaches
Cervicogenic headaches are defined as headaches originating from the neck. The location is typically at the back of the head, sides and top of the head as well as around the forehead and eyes affecting one or more of the above regions at once. These headaches can be located on one or both sides of the head. Cervicogenic headaches are usually associated with dysfunction of the upper neck which can present itself as neck pain or local tenderness, reduced neck range of motion and exacerbation of the headaches by neck movement. The past history of neck trauma is typical for this type of headaches.
The cervicogenic headaches are caused by irritation of nerve endings of injured joints, ligaments, muscles and discs of the neck. The nerve endings in the injured areas send pain signals up the upper nerves of the neck to the brain causing “cross wiring” with the fibres of the trigeminal nerve (one of the nerves in the head) which is responsible for perception of the head pain thus causing the headaches.
Cervical Disc Injuries
Most cervical disc injuries are caused by hyperextension, which results in compression of the cervical area
Flexion injuries in the cervical area do not result in nerve compression.
Symptoms of Cervical Disc Injuries
The Pain may cause loss of sensation or tingling/pins and needles to the arms, and weakness are the main symptoms and signs of cervical disc injury. The pain is most noticeable symptom and it is usually the only one. Cervical disc injury can complicated by compression of either a cervical nerve root or by a compression of the spinal cord, but this reported injury is very infrequent. When compression of the nervous tissue occurs, patients may report different sensations other than pain. Weakness to the legs/leg this is called spinal cord compression. if the arms/arm are affected this is called nerve root compression
Pain can be felt in the neck or arm.
Pain is always in the area of the neck and upper back between the shoulder blades. This is due to inflammation of the disc and the cervical vertebra joints. Sever inflammation can flare up after a minor added injury or for other unknown reasons. Neck and shoulder pain are due to the disc bulges that herniates, and stretches the posterior longitudinal ligament.
b. Rarely, the pain will be felt down the arm. This pain can be lightning, caused or aggravated by movements of the neck, or can be dull and persistent. Pre-existing neck pain is also present in many individuals. After the arm pain starts, some people report feeling less pain in their neck. When arm pain is present, it is usually because of a combination of disc herniation and bony spurs compressing a nerve root. A free disc fragment can also intrude on a cervical root and cause quite a bit of pain in shoulder or down the arm.
2. Sensory symptoms other then pain.
When felt in only one arm, they are due to compression of a cervical root and felt in the territory of the cervical root. The C4 root mainly supplies the shoulder with nerves, while the C5 root supplies primarily the arm. The C6 root supplies nerves to the radial side of the forearm, the C7 root addresses the arm and forearm, and the C8 and the T1 root handle mostly the hand. Broadly speaking, two types of sensory symptoms are felt: loss of sensation and new sensations. A loss of sensation is simply numbness. New sensations include tingling (pins and needles), heat, or cold sensations.
If the spinal cord is compressed, most patients report losing sensation in their hand and in the lower part of their body. (Numbness) They have difficulty feeling the floor when they walk and cannot feel that their bladder is full or inconstancy this is an emergency and patients should be brought to the hospital right away.
3. Motor symptoms and signs.
Weakness of one arm (the other one being normal) only signals a compression of a nerve root. A compression of C4 results in a weak shoulder; C5 indicates a weak bicep muscle; C6 represents a weak wrist, thumb, and index finger; C7 is a weak tricep extension of the fingers, and pectoralis muscles; C8 designates weak flexion of the fingers; and T1 corresponds to a weak hand.
Emergency treatment.
If the spinal cord is compressed, patients report having difficulty walking and weak legs and hands, numbness these can be the only symptoms and should be treated as an emergency.
Although neck pain can be caused by injury, such as ‘whiplash’(WAD) injuries, it is often caused by the cumulative effect of improper sitting posture, reading in bed, poor work habits, stomach sleeping, lack of proper exercise and other lifestyle-related factors. All of these factors cause misalignments in the spine and eventually pain. In fact, the most important factor producing neck pain appears to be spinal misalignments. Even for people who complain that “stress” is causing their pain, the great majority of those have significant spinal misalignments that are contributing to their condition.
Uncorrected chronic spinal misalignments can eventually cause neck pain. As a spinal misalignment worsens, pressure can be put on delicate nerves, sending the surrounding neck muscles go into painful and movement-limiting spasm, headache, even numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or hands
Neck pain as well as “whiplash” (WAD) injuries and both conditions can result in headaches and all three are commonly treated by Chiropractors.
The treatment is focused on the small joints in the back of the neck called facet joints that are responsible for neck pain. When these joints dysfunction but injury to the muscles he nerve fibres that innervate / act as sensors for these facet joints also serve to act as sensors to parts of the head. When these facet joints dysfunction these sensors become active, the brain cannot clearly differentiate between the facet joints and the mapping of the head and create the sensation of pain in a broader area- Headache.
Whiplash associated Disorder (WAD) common term “Whiplash’ (WAD)
FROM: Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine 1999; 21 (1): 22–25 university Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Bristol UK
Khan S, Cook J, Gargan M, Bannister G
Objective: To determine which patients with chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) will benefit from chiropractic treatment.
Design: Retrospective review by structured telephone interviews of 93 consecutive patients seen in chiropractic clinic.
Setting: Independent chiropractic clinic in a large city.
Subjects: 93 patients, 68 female.
Main outcome measure: Gargan and Bannister grading pre and post treatment.
Results: Three groups of patients were recognised. Group 1 consisted of patients with isolated neck pain associated with a restricted range of neck movement. Group 2 consisted of patients with neurological symptoms or signs associated with a restricted range of movement. Group 3 comprised patients who described severe neck pain but all of whom had a full range of neck movement. Patients in this group often described an unusual group of symptoms, with a bizarre, non-dermatomal pain distribution. There was a significant difference in outcome between the three groups (p<0.001) with only groups 1 and 2 improving following chiropractic manipulation.
Conclusion: “Whiplash” (WAD) and Neck injuries are common. Chiropractic is the only proven effective treatment in chronic cases. Our study enables patients to be classified at initial assessment in order to target those patients who will benefit from such treatment.
Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine 1999; 21 (1): 22–2 university Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
