Don’t Let Your Pain Get Chronic
One of the top 5 disorders in the United States is neck pain. Finding someone who has never ever experienced any neck pain in their life is a rarity.
Unfortunately, even though neck pain affects almost every individual, when people get injured in a car accident and suffer from neck pain, they do not take it seriously. While some think the pain will disappear on its own, others wait it out before they can visit a chiropractor.
A neck pain should never be self-diagnosed or underestimated, especially after a car accident. Even a slight delay in diagnosis can lead to chronic pain and sometimes also lifelong difficulties. It is good practice to immediately seek an appointment with your chiropractor after a car crash.
Never assume that since the accident you were involved in was a low impact accident, that you did not really injure your neck. Even the slightest of impact during a car accident can cause a lot of harm and damage to your neck.
Do You Know Your Neck?
An average neck is 10 to 12 centimeters in length. For that small an area, your neck sees a lot of action. From moving your head in 90 degrees of flexion and 90 degrees of extension to rotating your head 180 degrees, your neck mobility is matchless!
The cervical spine that runs behind your neck and helps you hold your neck, is made up of 7 vertebrae. Each of the vertebrae are protected or cushioned by an intervertebral disc.
Your neck also has 32 muscles along with tendons and ligaments that stabilize your neck.
Did You Know This About Neck Pain?
If you have neck pain it does not mean the pain will be restricted to your neck area. It can radiate down to your shoulders, arms, and even chest. Neck pain can also cause headaches.
Oftentimes after a car accident, victims do not feel any pain in their neck immediately. This ‘no pain’ symptom does not mean you have not injured yourself.
Usually during a crash, the body experiences an adrenaline rush. The hormone epinephrine that is released during an adrenaline rush is what masks the initial pain after an accident. That is why you feel hardly any pain, and assume you escaped unhurt.
This assumption can prove to be costly in the long run if you do not seek medical attention promptly. Getting to a chiropractor on time does not only save your neck pain from worsening but also saves you from losing out on your personal injury claim. To know more you can speak to our chiropractic experts at our accident clinic in Pompano Beach.
Causes Of Neck Pain
One of the most common causes of neck pain is the kind of lifestyle you are leading. A stressed and tense body, with poor posture and weight issues is a recipe for a painful neck. If not checked on time, these causes of neck pain can lead to bigger problems with your neck.
Another major cause of neck pain is injury from auto accidents. Whiplash is the most common neck injury that results from a car crash. And what is surprising is that even if you were involved in a low-impact collision your neck can still get injured.
The large amount of pressure that your neck has to bear during an accident can cause the neck muscles to get strained or even result in a ligament tear. This can lead to pain and stiffness which can get chronic if not treated for a prolonged period of time.
Neck pain can also result from nerve compression or from a fractured cervical vertebrae. Nerve compression occurs when a herniated disc or a broken bone presses against a nerve leading to immense pain and discomfort.
Know These Symptoms
Some of the common symptoms of neck pain after a car accident include:
- Pain in the neck
- Soreness and stiffness in the neck and upper back
- Radiating pain to the shoulder and arms
- Numbness in the shoulder and arms
- Headaches
Keep a look out for these symptoms so you can visit your chiropractor on time for treatment. Even a slight delay can cause immense pain and could even become life-altering.
You can also utilize some easy and everyday techniques to manage your neck pain and if you are lucky, to totally say good bye to it. These include:
- Get plenty of rest and sleep
- Do some stretching exercises daily
- Delegate work to others while you catch up with some rest
These strategies become even more useful when you are recovering from your neck injury. Never assume you can treat yourself or self-diagnose. Also, never do exercises or stretches when you are in pain. Wait for the pain to subside before you can exercise again. Follow the advice of your chiropractor at all times.
Holistic Chiropractic Care
When you present yourself with neck pain to your chiropractor, the first thing they want to know is if you were involved in a car accident. Whiplash is one of the most common neck injuries sustained during a car accident.
Chiropractors carry out spinal manipulations and neck adjustments to alleviate your neck pain in a holistic way. During your chiropractic treatment you may also be advised to do simple and easy exercises at home. These exercises help strengthen the neck muscles. Simple and easy stretches also restore range of motion to your injured neck.
Experienced chiropractors at our accident clinic in Pompano Beach have been helping neck injury victims for years to get rid of their pain through chiropractic care. We utilize your body’s potential to self-heal to treat your internal injuries as well as help you with your chronic pain to prevent it from affecting your lifestyle.
If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, get in touch with our experts at 305-389-9040 today. You can also email us at DrDean@MiamiAccidentCenter.com
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