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What's the best way to treat whiplash in Athens?
Dr. James ToneyFeb 16, 2021 4:03:03 PM3 min read

How To Treat Whiplash Injuries in Athens

Whiplash is an injury that occurs after a sudden back and forth movement of the neck.

It commonly occurs during car accidents, especially rear-end collisions.

Here's how to prove a whiplash injury in Athens.

Our Athens Whiplash Injury Chiropractor is an expert at treating this condition.

If you ever suffer a whiplash injury in Athens, GA, what's the best way to treat your injury?

We'll take a look at that question below.

Table of Contents

 

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a type of neck strain.

When your neck suddenly stops, jerks, or turns due to an impact or a collision, the result could be a strain to the neck.

The sudden force applied on the neck and head can result in stretches, tears, and injuries to the muscles and tendons in your neck.

Common symptoms of a whiplash injury include

  • Pain moving your head or neck
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Tightness or tenderness in your neck
  • Headaches, typically at the base of the skull that could radiate up towards the forehead

Whiplash can be an excruciating injury, but symptoms do not always appear immediately.

The stress of the situation and an adrenaline rush can mask the symptoms of whiplash, making you think you escaped without injury.

However, pain can sometimes appear hours or even days after an accident.

That's why you should seek medical treatment after a car accident right away, even if you feel fine.

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Managing The Pain From Whiplash

After sustaining a whiplash injury, there are a few remedies you can do at home to relieve your pain.

Rest can help the first 24-48 hours after your injury, but too much rest will likely delay your recovery.

You can also apply heat or cold applied to your neck for 15 minutes every three or so hours to relieve pain.

Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen or prescription painkillers are a good short-term option for pain relief.

Just keep in mind that pain medications just mask your symptoms without treating the issue.

Short-term use of muscle relaxants can help loosen tight muscles and ease the pain.

If your pain is severe, an injection of lidocaine, which is a numbing medicine, into the painful areas may be used to reduce your pain so you can do physical therapy.

Your doctor may also prescribe a stretching and movement exercises you can do at home.

The exercises will help restore your range of motion and return you to your normal activities.

Exercises you can perform may include:

  • Neck rotations
  • Tilting your head side to side
  • Bending your neck toward your chest
  • Rolling your shoulders

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Athens Whiplash Injury Doctor

Whiplash and Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors can use different techniques to help ease the pain of whiplash and treat the problem at its core.

Spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments identify the neck joints that are misaligned and position them back into their proper place.

This is done by gently moving the affected joint into the direction it is constrained.

Sometimes the chiropractor may apply swift but gentle thrusts, or they could apply a slow mobilizing movement.

Whiplash injuries have also been know to aggravate a herniated or bulging disc.

If this happens to you, your chiropractor will use the flexion-distraction technique.

The flexion-distraction technique is a hands-on, gentle, non-thrusting spinal manipulation to ease herniated discs.

Chiropractors can also include soft tissue therapies in your treatment plan.

Soft tissue therapies will restore proper muscle function by applying pressure or stretching the muscles in your neck that have excessive tension.

Therapeutic massage is a common soft tissue therapy used to relieve muscle tension.

Your chiropractor may include muscle energy therapy or different stretch-and-resist techniques.

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Contact Arrowhead Clinic In Athens, GA

If you are experiencing whiplash pain, a chiropractor with Arrowhead Clinic in Athens can treat your whiplash at the source.

Your chiropractor will examine the underlying cause of your whiplash injury and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Arrowhead Clinic also believe that an emphasis on prevention and self-care is the key to maintain your well-being. 

To schedule your Free Consultation with Arrowhead Clinic, click the button below.

Free Athens Chiropractic Consultation 
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Dr. James Toney

Dr. Toney is Arrowhead Clinic’s Midtown Atlanta Chiropractor who specializes in helping accident victims and patients who suffer from chronic pain conditions, such as chronic back and neck pain. Dr. Toney didn't grow up wanting to become a chiropractor. After a financial hardship hit his family before starting his freshman year of college, Dr. Toney turned to exercise as an outlet. He would run three to five miles three to four times a week to cleanse his mind and body of all the afflictions he was experiencing. When he found out his college tuition fees included the benefit of the Recreational Activity Center, he decided to put the opportunity to good use. The rest is history. Dr. Toney soon discovered his love for weightlifting and started to see results immediately. Gaining 20 lbs of muscle the first three months of lifting fueled his development into becoming a bodybuilder. Through bodybuilding, Dr. Toney was able to improve his appearance while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. After 18 months of bodybuilding, Dr. Toney suffered every athlete's worst nightmare, an injury. This wasn't just any injury, but a back injury, due to improper form on a cable machine workout. At the time, Dr. Toney had no health insurance and couldn't afford to see a medical doctor. He did some research and stumbled upon chiropractic treatment. During his first exam, Dr. Toney was given an X-ray and an adjustment. He was back in the gym in less than a week. That's when he discovered his newly found love for Chiropractic. Dr. Toney graduated from Georgia Southern University with a BA in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Business Management. He then finished up his education at Life University, where he received a Masters in Exercise Science/Sports Chiropractic with an emphasis in Sports Injury, and a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine. One of Dr. Toney’s accident patients recently left a review stating, “I was involved in an accident and was referred to Arrowhead Clinic by a friend. Upon walking in the clinic, I was greeted with a smile and superior professionalism. Dr. Toney was thorough, making my recovery extremely successful. If you are looking for a chiropractic clinic, call to schedule your appointment.” Dr. Toney provides all potential patients with a free, same-day consultation. He takes the time to listen, discuss, diagnose, and treat a person’s injury or condition all during the same appointment. Dr. Toney is available for appointments Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. "You never know where life is going to take you, so enjoy the journey." -Dr. James E. Toney Jr., DC

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