Learn how we can help with your neck pain.

One of the most common injuries resulting from a major or minor car accident is a whiplash injury. This is true of rear end collisions, front end, or side impacts.

About 1 million people suffer from whiplash injuries each year, usually after being involved in minor fender-benders. Yet for the numerous whiplash cases reported, it can still be difficult for many doctors to diagnose and harder still to pinpoint an effective treatment. Although 90 percent of patients with whiplash injuries get better within a year with little or no treatment, other people appear to suffer lingering pain. That may be why one medical magazine has called it “the enigma of whiplash injury.”

At Revive Chiropractic & Rehab, we treat a variety of injuries related to auto accidents, including Low Back Pain , Headaches, Shoulder Pain, and Knee Pain.

What Causes Whiplash?

One of the most common traumatic injuries to the neck, whiplash can happen when a vehicle must stop very suddenly, or a stopped car is rear-ended by another. An injury typically occurs when the force of the impact snaps the head of the driver — or that of a passenger — violently forward and then back by the impact, causing a moderate to severe strain to the neck region. The bones, disks, muscles, nerves, and tendons of the neck may be injured in whiplash and whiplash-associated disorders (WADs), according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

You don’t have to be driving fast to suffer whiplash. Some whiplash injuries happen when a car travels at speeds as low as 5 mph. Although whiplash is associated with driving, it can also be caused by sudden stops in roller coasters or other amusement park rides, by sports injuries, or by being punched or shaken. When small babies are shaken violently, they can also suffer whiplash injuries or brain damage.

Whiplash Symptoms

Symptoms may include one or more of the following:

• Pain or stiffness in the neck, jaw, shoulders, back, or arms
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision or ringing in the ears
• Tingling or numbness in the arms, hands or shoulders
• Memory loss or difficulty concentrating
• Nervousness or irritability
• Difficulty sleeping
• Fatigue
• Burning or prickling, particularly around your neck
• Depression
• Vertigo
• Whiplash can even result in lower back pain.

What if I don’t feel anything at first, but start to have symptoms later?

This is typical of whiplash: Symptoms may occur right away but often do not begin to develop for several hours after the incident and then worsen over the next 24 to 48 hours.

How Long Does Whiplash Pain Last?

Most neck and head pain symptoms clear up within a few days or weeks, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). For others, the recovery can take up to three months. But about 25 percent of people with whiplash report symptoms for up to a year, and about 10 percent of patients report permanent symptoms as a result of their injuries.

Visit Our Offices in North Huntingdon and Murrysville

Before any treatment can be recommended, an accurate diagnosis of your injury is essential.

Dr. Preston Mullens, a top-rated chiropractor in the Pittsburgh region, will help to properly diagnose your whiplash pain. This can include ongoing medical conditions, any current medication you are taking, any type of traumatic surgery, and your current lifestyle factors.

At Revive Chiropractic & Rehab, it’s our mission to provide you with the best lower whiplash pain relief treatment in the area. Get in touch with us to schedule a chiropractic appointment to treat your auto injury today.

We treat a variety of injuries related to auto accidents, including Lower Back Pain, Headache Pain, Shoulder Pain, and Knee Pain.

Call us today at either 724-382-5576 (North Huntingdon Office) or 724-387-8215 (Murrysville Office).  Visit our Contact Us page today.