7 Signs You Have Whiplash and Need to See a Chiropractor
Whiplash is the most common auto accident injury, affecting approximately three million Americans alone annually. Half of those people experience chronic pain and over a quarter million develop disability due to whiplash pain. Whiplash produces a wide range of symptoms that aren’t always obviously related, making it easy to mistake them for another cause. Our Chamblee chiropractors can help you avoid becoming one of those statistics, so here are seven signs you have whiplash and need to see a chiropractor.
1. Neck Pain and Stiffness
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury in the neck leading to neck pain and stiffness. Your neck muscles reflexively try to hold your head steady in response to the sudden impact, but the force of auto collisions even at speeds as low as five miles per hour is enough to cause whiplash.
2. Headache and/or Dizziness
Whiplash can cause headaches because your neck muscles—which are connected to your head—are strained or sprained, and your head may have hit part of the car. Headaches can become chronic without proper treatment. You may experience dizziness as well due to a spinal misalignment.
3. Shoulder or Back Pain
Whiplash can cause shoulder or back pain because of the way nerve roots run from your neck down into your shoulders and back. These forms of pain may indicate nerve damage, inflammation, swelling, or a spinal misalignment.
4. Burning, Numbness, and/or Tingling
Burning, numbness, and tingling are a sign of nerve compression, impairment, or injury, all of which benefit from swift chiropractic care.
5. Fatigue and/or Sleep Struggles
Recovering from injury is a tiring process, which is why whiplash can lead to fatigue. Whiplash can rob you of sleep due to pain, stress, and anxiety.
6. Memory Loss
Whiplash jolts your head in addition to your neck, and your head doesn't have to be hit hard to cause memory loss. If you experience memory loss, it can be a sign of a traumatic brain injury that needs immediate treatment.
7. Cognitive Impairment or Mood Changes
Our chiropractors will have you be on the lookout for difficulty concentrating, brain fog, irritability, depression, and anxiety.
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