Whiplash and Neck Pain Treatment for Nuneaton with Coventry Chiropractors and 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). From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Bristol UK, also the Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine U.K.
Whiplash -Associated Disorder (WAD) Common term “Whiplash”
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.
Listed on this Page are the following;
Cervicalgia, Cervicogenic headaches,
Cervical disc injuries,
Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) and commonly known as”Whiplash”,
What is neck pain?
Neck pain is a very common medical condition, and one seen many times by chiropractors Coventry. Neck pain can come from many different disorders and diseases which affect the tissues in the neck, such as degenerative disc disease, neck strain, whiplash, herniated disc, or a pinched or trapped nerve or nerves. Neck pain is also referred to as cervical pain.
Symptoms
Neck pain is associated with a dull ache or aching around the afflicted area and will become worse as the neck is moved. Other symptoms associated with neck pain include numbness, tingling, tenderness, sharp and shooting pains, headaches, difficulty swallowing, pulsations, dizziness or light headedness. It is also possible for the neck glands to swell.
Treatments for Neck Pain
Neck pain treatment options include rest, ice applications, physical therapy chiropractic manipulation, local injections of cortisone or anaesthetics, muscle relaxants, analgesics, and surgical procedures. Cold Laser Therapy is also a possible form of treatment.
Neck and back pain are usually common conditions or injuries to the neck and back. The pain may come on gradually, or it may be acute and come on suddenly. Bad posture is a common cause in the onset of this pain but it is not the only cause. Chiropractors understand the various causes of neck pain, and can offer advice.
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 will 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 triceps, 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’ 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
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, this may be a result of violent movement or sudden impact (sometimes known 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 or Low Level Laser Therapy, one of the treatments offered by Central Chiropractic and Physiotherapy 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 fibers 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 disk 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 may 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.
