Our Bellevue Chiropractor Explains What Whiplash Feels Like

As your local Bellevue chiropractor, we are very familiar with diagnosing and treating both whiplash and neck strain. Through advanced chiropractic care, we can help you find relief from your whiplash symptoms and regain mobility after an auto accident or personal injury.

What Causes Whiplash and Neck Strain?

In most cases, whiplash occurs when the muscles in your neck are strained during an auto accident. Due to a rapid movement backward and then forward, the tendons in the neck and other ligaments can stretch and tear, resulting in whiplash. While auto accidents are the most common cause of whiplash, other instances that can lead to this type of injury include:

• Contact sports like football, boxing or karate
• Horseback riding
• Cycling accidents
• Falls or other accidents where the head violently jerks backward
• Physical altercations that result in personal injury

What Does Whiplash Feel Like?

For most patients that are experiencing this condition, the first symptoms usually appear within 24 hours following the incident which caused the whiplash. However, in certain cases, it may take several days before any symptoms appear. This is one reason that it is important to not refuse medical attention following an auto accident. Often the most severe symptoms resulting from whiplash can last anywhere from several days to several weeks. However. in certain cases, whiplash can lead to chronic pain symptoms that last for several years or more. 

Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Neck pain and/or stiffness
• Jaw pain
• Back pain
• Headaches )especially focused at the base of the skull)
• Dizziness
• Constant weariness
• Blurred vision

Other symptoms that are associated with chronic whiplash can include:

• Concentration and memory problems
• Ringing in the ears
• Irritability
• Inability to sleep well
• Chronic neck, shoulder and head pain

At Chiropractic of Bellevue, we recommend speaking to your doctor immediately if you believe that your symptoms are spreading to the shoulders and arms, you’re experiencing numbness or weakness in the arms or feel that moving your head is painful.

How is Whiplash Diagnosed?

Typically, after an accident, a patient will be taken to the hospital or doctor's office for an exam. During a chiropractic exam, the doctor will examine the affected are to determine if there are any injuries that require treatment. Based on the patient’s symptoms and the examination findings, the doctor may find it necessary to place a collar on the neck to provide additional support.

X-rays and additional diagnostic tests may also be needed to rule out more serious injuries. If the X-rays come back normal but the neck pain and other symptoms continue, the cervical collar may need to stay in place.

How is Whiplash Treated?

Because each patient is different and the severity of the injury can vary greatly, there is no one “perfect" treatment for whiplash. However, with close monitoring, our team may suggest a treatment plan that incorporates a combination of chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy and at-home exercises to build strength and flexibility in the neck.

Complications Associated with Whiplash

While many patients are lucky to see their whiplash symptoms clear after a few days or weeks, others may experience chronic pain or headaches for years after their initial accident. This is often caused by damaged neck joints, discs and ligaments. If you are experiencing prolonged symptoms of whiplash, chiropractic care may be a viable treatment option to reduce or eliminate your chronic pain.

Schedule an Appointment with Your Bellevue Chiropractor Today

Are you experiencing some of the common symptoms associated with whiplash following an accident? Call (425) 802-5432 or visit the experienced and friendly team at Chiropractic of Bellevue online today to schedule an initial consultation!