Whiplash is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip. Whiplash is most commonly associated with rear-end car accidents.
The pain can be felt in the neck and upper back.
Looking for a Whiplash Injury Chiropractor Near Me?
A whiplash injury may only feel like a sudden bump, but this specific neck injury requires diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible by a licensed chiropractor in Newnan, GA.
Whiplash occurs because of a rapid and harsh movement of the neck, which damages the soft tissue and may cause a sprain or strain.
If you live in or around Newnan, GA, traffic is a daily concern. The city has over 35,000 residents, and the greater Coweta County area has nearly 150,000 people. Traffic problems occur around the city on an almost daily basis, and whiplash injuries are common.
A whiplash injury usually occurs after a driver or passenger(s) gets rear-ended from another vehicle. Whiplash can also occur from sporting events, fights, physical abuse, or other traumas, though most cases happen in traffic.
Surprisingly, whiplash injuries can affect anyone, even if you:
The long-lasting effects of whiplash are not known until an in-person diagnosis is given, but could be anything from light pain to chronic neck pain with more severe complications. Most whiplash sufferers can address pain with medication and physical exercise.
The problem is that drivers will often not know immediately if they had a minor whiplash incident, a neck sprain, or more severe damage.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states whiplash symptoms might delay by several days. However, bad whiplash cases may also damage discs, muscles and ligaments, nerve roots, and intervertebral joints.
Some drivers have even experienced memory loss or brain changes like concentration impairment. Car accidents, even apparently minor ones, have caused mental duress in the past. In these events, you must know for sure.
Symptoms could be delayed or immediately experienced. The Mayo Clinic lists the most common whiplash symptoms as:
More dramatic changes could include:
Not only are symptoms invisible early on, but in some cases, standard X-rays may not reveal the damage to soft tissue areas. Your chiropractor may recommend CT scans or an MRI, to make sure you didn't suffer damage to muscles, discs, or ligaments.
Depending on the severity, exercise, or other physical therapy is sometimes enough to alleviate the pain.
In other cases, though, sharp pain can be reduced by over the counter medications such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen, as well as other therapies, such as traction, massage, heat/ice, and ultrasound.
While some people figure that keeping very still or even wearing a cervical collar is an easy way to avoid a doctor visit, the newest medical evidence quoted at WebMD suggests moving the neck around safely is critical to faster recovery. Dr. Autera, will discuss these options in further detail with you during your free consultation.
Doctors may also prescribe prescription treatment for some cases, including muscle relaxants, more potent anti-inflammatory drugs, or even antidepressants.
Don’t trust your instincts to brush off the incident, just because damage seems minimal. The best course of action is to:
We recommend making an appointment within 72 hours of the accident, not only for your health but also for legal advantage in recovering damages.
Whiplash injuries lead to swelling, which peaks within 72 hours.
Ignoring possible whiplash injuries could lead to permanent tissue scarring, which is harder to treat if you wait, and is more susceptible to re-injury.
For insurance and legal purposes, it’s also wise to report whiplash injuries within the same day (or within three days), since it’s harder to prove when an injury happened the longer you wait.
The legality of leaving a scene depends on the severity of the accident. States have differing laws on whether an accident should be reported, depending on the extent of injury or property damage.
For example, in the state of Georgia, you have to report an accident if someone died or was injured, or if property damage exceeds $500.
In some cases, you may have to fill out an accident report at the very least. In any event, it’s always wise to stop, get out, and make sure everyone involved in the accident is in good health and understands the damage sustained.
Your whiplash injury may call for a chiropractor in Newnan, Georgia. Contacting a clinic for whiplash care is the safest option, and in our office, you can see Dr. Autera for a same day appointment.
Arrowhead Clinic will work around your schedule without disrupting your daily routines or job. We a convenient office in Newnan located just off of Route 34 and can see patients from nearby areas as well. Our chiropractors have years of medical experience in treating whiplash injuries and know the signs to look for when treating a patient.
Furthermore, we bring the experience you can count on, especially with the process of documenting injuries so that the paperwork directly corresponds with an attorney consultation. Our Newnan, GA chiropractors communicate directly with insurance companies and attorneys to help you through the process as painlessly as possible.
If you were in an accident and believe you may have suffered whiplash injuries, contact our chiropractors for a medical evaluation before making any decisions. We can help you through this process. Give us a call at (770) 637-5678
