The Long-Term Effects of Whiplash

Whiplash on its own is bad enough, but such an abrupt painful injury to the neck can lead to debilitating side effects down the line. It doesn’t just end at that one day period between the accident that causes the whiplash, and the whiplash itself. While recovery is rarely more than a few days to a few weeks, there are a number of more lasting cases. If you’re looking for a chiropractor in Imperial, MO, because you’ve suffered whiplash from a car accident, here is what you have to look forward to on the off chance the long-term effects kick in.

Whiplash and Chiropractic

Chiropractors, obviously, are your best bet for handling whiplash. They handle pressure points, muscles, and bones as a specialty, and are thus best equipped to handle this problem. Visiting a chiropractor as soon as possible is the best way to prevent any long-term effects.

For instance, say you’ve had an auto accident in Imperial. Even if you don’t feel any pain at first, this does not guarantee that none will come later. In fact, if you had a moment during the crash where your head jerked forward harshly, even if it didn’t hurt, you have encountered whiplash. Whiplash symptoms are sometimes delayed, and pain will start typically around 24 hours after the accident has occurred.

A whiplash chiropractor will typically inspect the area where you feel the pain, apply chiropractic care to the affected area, and then give you two things: some prescription painkillers to ease the pain until it goes away, and if need be, a foam collar to keep your neck stable. Under normal circumstances, this is the end of the story. You give it a few days, and then the pain goes away. However, in certain circumstances, the effects can be much longer lasting.

Long-term Pain

Not all whiplash injuries are created equal, and some are more severe than others. These are usually caused by internal damage, suffered from the accident that caused the whiplash in the first place. This can range from damaged neck joints, to frayed ligaments. It can even be caused by not going to see your whiplash chiropractor when you first notice the pain.

This pain can last several years, so seeing your chiropractor to get checked out as soon as possible is important. Otherwise, your auto accident injury may just be following you around for quite some time.

The good news is that this is unlikely to happen. The only time whiplash has such lasting effects on the human body is when the accident is incredibly severe. And if the accident is that bad, whiplash may be the least of your problems. However, that does not eliminate the possibility, so don’t start thinking that it’ll never happen to you. There is still a chance that a seemingly harmless sudden stop may cause some lasting damage.

Contact Dr. Paul Amato For Your Auto Accident Injuries

If you have recently experienced an auto or sports injury that has lead to neck pain or whiplash, contact your Imperial chiropractor, Dr. Paul Amato for relief today. Call 636-464-5900 today.