Whiplash Treatment Brisbane

Whiplash is a neck injury which is caused by rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip. Recovery periods can vary depending on the severity of the injury and a chiropractor may be able to assist in the diagnosis and offer non-surgical treatment options for relief.

As previously discussed in Whiplash Complications, Treatment and Recovery, it is an injury commonly associated with vehicle accidents involved in a rear-ending, however, it can also be incurred during sports accidents in rugby and football and other types of trauma. Less common causes include being thrown from a horse, knocked off a bicycle, skiing crashes, poorly executed dives or even a slip or fall. Ultimately, it can occur in any situation where the neck is forced back-and-forth at high velocity.

Whiplash is a condition of the cervical spine (neck) brought on by a distortion of the neck, often from severe acceleration or deceleration of the body, causing the cervical spine to excessively extend, flex, or both. The “jarring” or “whipping” motion drives the neck into extreme extension and injures the muscles, ligaments and spinal joints making up the neck.

The symptoms can be debilitating and make it difficult to complete everyday tasks but some treatments have been proven to be effective. Most of our chiropractic patients recover from whiplash in a few weeks by following a treatment plan that includes manipulation, muscle release, various exercises and ergonomic and lifestyle changes. However, some people have chronic pain and other long-lasting complications.

Dr Miki Humphrey is a qualified chiropractor that works with a diverse group of patients to provide the plans for Whiplash Treatment Brisbane has to offer.

How Does A Chiropractor Diagnose Whiplash?

Diagnosing Whiplash begins by the chiropractor evaluating your spine as a whole to determine which regions may be affected, including neck pain following trauma. This test identifies any areas of restricted joint motion, intervertebral disk injury, muscle spasm, and ligament injury. These diagnostic techniques involve touch and feel for tenderness, tightness and joint movement. In severe cases, your chiropractor may order an x-ray or MRI to further diagnose what structures have been injured in your neck.

All these analysis methods help to build a deeper understanding of the unique situation and help formulate an effective treatment plan.

Symptoms of Whiplash

After an accident, the pain from a whiplash injury often starts after 6 to 12 hours. You may notice discomfort in your neck on the day and find that pain, swelling and bruising increase over the next few days. Healthdirect.gov.au states common symptoms of whiplash include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Swelling and tenderness in the neck
• Temporary loss of movement, or reduced movement, in the neck
• Headaches
• Muscle spasms
• Pain in the shoulders or arms
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Pins and needles, numbness or pain in the arms and hands
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulties swallowing
• Blurred vision
• Vertigo (a feeling you are moving or spinning) and dizziness
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Symptoms typically subside within a few days or weeks, however if pain and stiffness continue, it is advisable to seek professional treatment otherwise the effects of whiplash can go on for months and become chronic injuries.

Treatments For Whiplash

You should begin treating whiplash injuries as soon as possible. Start with an ice pack on the neck for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Frozen peas wrapped in a towel is a handy way to avoid cold rash and can be modified to curve around comfortably. Follow up by ensuring you maintain correct posture – this means keeping your back straight when you are sitting, standing or walking. If you spend a lot of time at a computer, be sure to take regular breaks to stand up and move your body. Both of these simple actions will help to prevent stiffness and swelling. If symptoms persist, you may want to seek help from a chiropractor.

When developing a treatment plan, your chiropractor will take into consideration the outcome of your physical assessment and any scans and develop a solution tailored to your unique injury. Chiropractic is an alternative treatment option that avoids invasive surgery and drug prescription.

It’s common for chiropractors to use a combination of chiropractic treatments for whiplash including manipulation, muscle release, various exercises and ergonomic and lifestyle changes.

Keeping active is also an important part of recovering from whiplash. In NSW Health Whiplash Fact Sheet, it recommends finding creative ways to adjust the way you do you usual daily activities to stay active, like carrying the shopping inside with more trips and changing posture when working on your computer or watching TV.  Gradually build back up to your normal activities as your neck improves.

Finally, your chiropractor will likely also advise practising gentle neck exercises. They usually only take about 10 minutes each day to complete but are helpful to reintroduce motion back into your strained muscles.

Heal Your Whiplash Injury With A Chiropractor

If you are suffering from a stiff neck or experiencing pain resulting from a whiplash injury, chiropractic treatments may be able to help. Book a consultation with Dr Miki Humphrey to begin your whiplash treatment in Brisbane.

Contact Our Chiropractor in Brisbane

If you have any questions about seeing a  chiropractor in Brisbane, don’t hesitate to contact us. Book online or get in touch today!

View our other treatment services:

• Knee Pain Treatment
• Pinched Nerve Treatment
• Hip Injury Treatment
• Calf Cramp Treatment
• Spine Pain Treatment

Brisbane CBD Chiropractic Clinic Location

• Opening Hours:

  Monday: 12:00-6:30pm
  Tuesday: 12:00-6.30pm
  Wednesday: 9:00am-2:00pm
  Thursday: 12:00-6.30pm
  Friday: 7:30am-2:00pm

  Address:

  300 Elizabeth Street
  Brisbane CBD, 4000
  QLD