Whiplash & Personal Injury Specialist Information

Whiplash

This information is provided to broaden the understanding of whiplash injuries.

Whiplash - Neck Break - Best Los Angeles Chiropractor

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash occurs when the head is violently snapped back and forth. Since your neck is the most flexible part of the spine, it is more vulnerable to injury.

Four Major Types of Injury Occur

  • Muscle Injury

    During an accident your muscles are often stretched or strained. This can lead to painful swelling and tenderness in the muscles of the neck and shoulders.

  • Nerve Injury

    As the muscles are stretched, so are the nerves. Nerves can be stretched too far or “pinched.” This occurs more often if your head was turned during the impact or your headrest was not positioned properly.

  • Joint Injury

    The key to the movement in your neck is the joints located in each of your cervical vertebrae. They allow the bones to move smoothly over each other. Injury to these joints may cause pain in the area of the affected joint and/or pain in other areas of the body such as the arms and shoulders.

  • Disc Injury

    Discs function as shock absorbers and spacers between the vertebrae. They make space for the sensitive nerves to exit the spinal cord. A whiplash injury can cause these discs to bulge, herniate or rupture, which may lead to painful nerve irritation.

New to West Los Angeles Chiropractic ®

Download Our New Patient Form

Symptoms of Whiplash

  • Dizziness
  • Disc Bulge
  • Headaches
  • Sciatic Pain
  • Blurred Vision
  • Muscle Spasm
  • Herniated Disc
  • Neck / Leg Pain
  • Reduced Mobility
  • Nerve Pain "Pinched Nerve"
  • “Pins and needles,” Numbness Tingling

How Can Chiropractic Care Help?

Proper treatment of any condition involves treating the cause and not just the symptoms. As a chiropractor, Dr. Karr is specially trained to pinpoint the root cause of your symptoms. Your symptom may stem from a new injury or one sustained years ago. Dr. Karr will review your complete health history and perform a thorough physical examination to reveal any underlying physical problems.

  • Chiropractic care is a safe, effective treatment for whiplash
  • Increased mobility and flexibility allow your body to heal faster.
  • Chiropractic care can help restore the normal forward curve of your neck without the use of drugs or surgery.
  • Chiropractic care can provide pain relief (Pain Relief for Sciatica Symptoms / Pinched Nerves) and increase your mobility and flexibility.
  • Spinal Decompression, on the DRX9000, is considered one of the Best Treatment’s for Sciatic Pain Relief and is Cleared by the FDA.

Whiplash Facts

  • Most rear-impact car accidents occur between 1/2 mile to 5 1/2 miles per hour.
  • An impact at 5 miles per hour can cause soft tissue damage. In a rear-impact car accident, your head can accelerate up to 2 1/2 times faster than your car.
  • A significant percentage of people with whiplash will suffer chronic symptoms and 10% will suffer disability.