If you need help finding a reliable chiropractor, call (516) 764-7760 to schedule a consultation.
Do you have pain after a car wreck? Contact our Long Island medical center today for quality chiropractic care. We understand how stressful a car wreck can be, from unexpected expenses to ongoing pain and discomfort.
Unfortunately, Suffolk and Nassau counties in Long Island, NY, are at the top of the state’s list for total auto fatalities in 2020, with 113 and 78 car-related deaths, respectively. In 2018 alone, Nassau County experienced over 40,000 car accidents that caused over 11,300 injuries. Even a minor auto collision can result in neck pain, one of the country’s most common car accident-related injuries.
Chiropractic care for neck pain can help alleviate pain and discomfort after an accident. As a leading chiropractor in Oceanside, NY, Comprehensive Healthcare Group routinely treats patients with neck and spine injuries. We strive to help patients improve their lives and general wellness through chiropractic treatment.
Here, we explain car accident-related neck pain and what chiropractors can do to relieve it.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is the most common neck injury that occurs after a vehicular collision. It refers to a neck strain caused by sudden movements to the neck and spine’s ligaments, nerves, or muscles. When a car crashes, even at a relatively slow speed, the abrupt stop causes the head and neck to jerk, leading to injured tissues, joints, and nerves.
Though whiplash is a temporary neck sprain, it can develop into a chronic condition. Injuries to the neck and spine are medical emergencies, so first responders to the car accident scene will treat it as such. However, it’s possible to have a neck sprain and not notice the aches and discomfort until days after the accident.
Whiplash symptoms can extend beyond pain and discomfort. You could also experience the following symptoms with neck pain:
- Tenderness in your upper back, shoulders, or arms
- Dizziness
- Worsening pain when moving your neck
- Headaches starting at the base of your head
- Reduced range of motionin your neck
How a Chiropractor for Neck Pain Can Offer Relief
Chiropractic care for neck pain comes in many forms. Experienced chiropractors understand the intricacies of the spine and its nerves, tissues, and bones. After a car accident, the patient can expect to undergo a thorough examination at the chiropractor’s office, including a physical exam, diagnostic imaging like X-rays, medical history, and movement tests.
The exam helps a chiropractor understand their patient’s injuries to create a customized treatment plan. Chiropractic care for neck pain and whiplash involves non-invasive and non-surgical treatment methods such as the following.
Cervical Manipulation
Your cervical spine is the upper portion of your spine that makes up your neck. For many cases of whiplash and neck injuries, cervical spine manipulation is an ideal chiropractic treatment option. It helps improve the neck joint’s flexibility and range of motion.
Before manipulating the cervical spine, the chiropractor will identify which neck joints are misaligned. Then, they will gently push on the affected areas to realign the cervical joints, stretch the neck muscles, and release tension.
Massage Therapy
Massage or manual therapy provides a hands-on approach to alleviating whiplash and neck pain. The chiropractor will apply various therapeutic massage techniques to reduce your neck’s swelling, stiffness, and discomfort.
They could promote relaxation in tense muscles by using gentle pressure and rubbing motions to activate trigger points in your neck. After a few sessions, you will notice an improvement in your neck’s flexibility and comfort.
Spinal Decompression
Spinal manipulation and decompression can minimize neck pain. To apply this treatment, the chiropractor will use the flexion-distraction force technique.
It can help your spine stretch and relax, relieving compressed spinal nerves that could be causing pain in your neck. Thanks to spinal decompression, nutrients, water, and oxygen can reach damaged tissues quickly to encourage healing.
Ultrasound Therapy
Ultrasound therapy is a non-invasive chiropractic treatment that uses sound waves to help neck tissues recover naturally. When the chiropractor applies ultrasound equipment to the affected areas, the sound waves penetrate the neck muscles and produce mild heat. The deep-seated warmth helps rid the inflamed muscles of swelling and promotes blood flow.
Increased blood flow promotes natural healing by allowing white blood cells to flood the affected area to heal damaged tissues.
When to Visit a Car Accident Chiropractor
It’s best to schedule an appointment with a car accident chiropractor as soon as you experience pain in your neck or shoulder region after an accident. According to a CNN interview with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, adrenaline reduces pain during stressful situations, including car wrecks. It could take a day or two to realize your neck has an injury.
The effects of whiplash compound over time, so it’s crucial to seek chiropractic care immediately. Request an appointment for chiropractic treatment if your neck has a limited range of motion, stiffness, or pain. You should also request an appointment if your neck pain comes with tingling or numbness in an arm or hand because that could indicate cervical nerve damage or a pinched nerve.
Treat Your Neck Pain with an Oceanside Chiropractor in Valley Stream, NY
Chiropractic adjustments and other treatments can help minimize the effects of whiplash and other neck injuries after an accident. At Comprehensive Healthcare Group, our physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists believe in treating the whole patient by combining medicine and natural approaches. We offer various services to meet our patient’s unique needs, including chiropractic care, physical therapy, and diagnostic services.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection).
Comprehensive Healthcare Group in Oceanside, NY, at (516) 764-7760 or call the Valley Stream office at (516) 593-7990 to request an appointment for chiropractic care for neck pain. Same-day appointments may be available.
For more information about delayed pain from neck injuries and other car accident complications, consult our blog.
