Whiplash is an injury that results when the muscles and ligaments of your cervical spine extend rapidly beyond their normal range of motion.
Your head and neck is forced forward and backward, similar to the cracking if a whip.
At our Marietta Chiropractic Office, most patients begin experiencing symptoms 24-72 hours following their Accident or Trauma.
It's important to pay attention to any physical changes for a few days following any Car Accident Injury, even if you feel fine immediately afterward.
Whiplash can happen in fender benders as well, not just high speed accidents.
It has been reported that many common Whiplash Injuries happen in Car Accidents between 6-10 mph.
In the article below, we will take a look at several whiplash symptoms we see in our Marietta office.
Table of Contents
- Neck and Upper Back Pain
- Headaches and Migraines
- Shoulder Pain and Stiffness
- Shooting Pain
- Fatigue and Insomnia
- Jaw Pain
- Fluttering of the Eyes and Ringing in the Ears
- Anatomy of the Neck
- Treating Whiplash
Neck and Upper Back Pain
Pain in the neck and upper back is the most common symptom of a Whiplash Injury.
Your neck and upper back is the localized spot where the associated damage took place, so it harbors most of the pain.
Headaches and Migraines
Headaches due to neck problems are called cervicogenic headaches.
Cervicogenic headaches are due to injury of an upper cervical disc, facet joint or higher joints called the occipital joints.
They are very common after whiplash.
These types of headaches typically make migraine symptoms worse as well.
Shoulder Pain and Stiffness
Pain or stiffness in the shoulders is typically due to referred pain from the central injury in the neck or upper back.
After a Whiplash Injury occurs, your body uses surrounding groups of muscles to help secure the injured area through a process called splinting, which can cause pain in those surrounding areas.
Shooting Pain
Arm pain due to whiplash is caused by nerve compression from a bulging or herniated disc in the cervical spine.
This type of Whiplash symptom is diagnosed by a Chiropractor through X-Ray or by another health care provider through an MRI.
Fatigue and Insomnia
Whiplash has been known to even cause fatigue and insomnia.
Fatigue symptoms can be a direct result of not being able to sleep well because of your injuries.
Also, when the nerves in your upper neck get irritated, it will disrupt regular deep sleep patterns.
Jaw Pain
The focal point of the force associated with the rapid and sharp movement in a whiplash injury is the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ.
The TMJ is the hinge at the back of the jaw. It's susceptible to any violent force trauma to the neck or jaw.
It's common to feel pain in the TMJ after a whiplash injury.
Fluttering of the Eyes and Ringing in the Ears
When the Upper Cervical Spine is damaged through a Whiplash Injury, the Trigeminal nerve system is strained and can lead to many strange symptoms in the facial area.
Many people experience fluttering of the eyes or ringing of the ears after a whiplash injury.
Anatomy of the Neck
The spine is a long chain of bones, discs, muscles and ligaments that begins at the base of the skull and extends to the tip of the tailbone.
The cervical spine supports your head and neck, and protects your delicate nerves and spinal cord.
It also allows the natural function of the neck during activity.
Your major structural support from the spine comes from the seven cervical vertebrae.
Your discs are a spongy cartilage shock absorber between two adjacent vertebrae.
In the back of your vertebra are two facet joints, one on each side.
Your facet joints are designed to allow for smooth motion for bending forward, backward and rotating.
They are also meant to limit excess motion.
Your spinal column is surrounded and supported by various muscles and ligaments.
All of these structures have nerve supplies, and Whiplash Injuries are a common cause of pain to any one of these areas.
Treating Whiplash
If you are suffering from whiplash or you would like more information, let our team of Medical Doctors and Chiropractors in Marietta take a look at your injuries.
Also, if you need to be referred to a quality Whiplash Attorney in Marietta, we can help with that as well.
Our team of Marietta Whiplash Chiropractors are highly skilled in treating Whiplash and Accident Injuries.
If you would like relief from your whiplash injuries, visit our Marietta office for a free consultation.
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