Auto Accident

Whiplash/Auto Accident Injuries

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Dr. Austrager is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist with over 12 years experience treating people involved in auto accidents. If you are suffering with any symptoms following an auto accident its imperative that you get yourself checked. People involved in an auto accident who don't receive treatment are much more at risk to develop degenerative arthritis and disability in the future. We offer same day appointments and handle all of the confusing insurance paperwork. Don't suffer another day. Call today!

During a rear end collision, a tremendous strain is placed on the joints of the spine. These strains can result in ligament and disc injury and chronic pain. In this video, we show what happens to your neck during a crash, and how chiropractic can help you recover.

Injury to the body is caused when one part of the body moves too quickly in relation to another part of the body. In whiplash, the head and torso are moving in different directions, resulting in damage to the tissues of the neck.

NECK PAIN AFTER WHIPLASH

During a rear-end collision, the head and torso are thrust in opposite directions in a very short period of time. So it is not surprising that most of the symptoms of whiplash are centered in that part of the body between the head and the torso — the neck.

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The neck is a very complex structure, though, and there are many important nerves and blood vessels that travel through the neck to other parts of the body. Damage to these tissues can cause a complex set of symptoms that can be difficult to diagnose. In addition, other parts of the body—such as the shoulder and lower back—can be subjected to dramatic forces, as well. This can result in pain in different parts of the body.

Muscle Injury

This is probably the most common type of injury from a crash. Muscle injury often heals quickly after whiplash, but in some cases, recovery can be more difficult. Scar tissue of the neck muscles can lead to nerve problems, like thoracic outlet syndrome.

The muscles play an interesting role in the neck and especially in whiplash injury. The neck muscles are responsible for keeping the head up and maintaining posture.

The muscles of the neck can be exposed to dramatic stretch forces during an auto collision, as we can see in the movie to the right. As the torso is moved forward during the crash, the head rotates backward, stretching the large muscles in the front of the neck.

Immediately after a crash, many patients will complain of neck muscle pain, and this is often from this stretching motion. Unfortunately, scar tissue can develop in these muscles leading to other problems. Studies have found that this scar tissue can affect the nerves of the neck, leading to conditions like thoracic outlet syndrome.

Neck muscle pain can also be due to injury to the ligaments or disc in the spine.

Neck muscle injury from whiplash can also result in shoulder pain

Ligament Injury

The ligaments are the fibrous bands of tissue that hold the bones of the spine together, and a number of studies have shown that the ligaments can be stretched or torn from whiplash injury.

Disc Injury

The discs are the "shock absorbers" of the spine, padding the space between the vertebrae. The discs can be injured when the spine is rapidly accelerated during whiplash. Disc injuries can result in numbness or tingling in the arms, and can even become herniated from a crash.