Whiplash and car-crash injuries

What it usually is

Out of the blue, you are in a car accident. Now what? Who do I call? Should I get checked? What if I feel OK? Whiplash is what happens when your head gets flung forward and back faster than your neck muscles can catch it. The joints, muscles and ligaments of the neck get strained, and sometimes the upper back, jaw and low back come along for the ride.

What it often feels like

Immediately after an accident people often report feeling okay, and it isn't until a couple of weeks later that they start to feel the effects of the trauma that they have experienced. Stiff and sore neck, headaches, sore shoulders, sometimes dizziness or pins and needles. A lot of people also feel jumpy, tired, or can't sleep, and that is part of the injury too.

What we look at

First, whether you need imaging or a medical doctor before anything else. Then how your neck and back move, which tissues are sore, and a full check of your nerves. We also screen for concussion, because a head that got whipped around may have been bumped too. Make sure that everyone in the car is assessed; kids and babies can be affected as well.

What usually helps

The usual tools are adjusting or mobilization, soft tissue work, and exercise that gets harder as you get better. Neurodynamics if a nerve is cranky. And understanding pain, mindfulness and stress management, because a crash is scary. You are worried - fear of movement can make pain worse, this is called kinesiophobia. Your brain can learn that turning your head is dangerous, and part of our work is helping it unlearn that.

What you can do at home

Keep your neck moving within what is comfortable. Pace your return to work and activity, a bit more each week. Protect your sleep, because poor sleep and pain feed each other.

When it's not a chiro problem

Call 911 or go to emergency after a crash if you were knocked out, are confused or vomiting, have a severe headache, or have numbness or weakness in your arms or legs. Get checked by a medical doctor first if you are 65 or older, it was a high-speed or rollover crash, you can't turn your head both ways, or there is pain right in the middle of the back of your neck. Take care out there, and make sure that if things go sideways, you keep your chiropractor in the loop.