In the context of a car wreck, your neck is one of the most sensitive and vulnerable parts of your body. Short of a full airbag inflation, there’s simply no way to protect your neck and head in the same way that a seatbelt protects the rest of your body from the shock of impact. Hence, many victims of car accidents receive neck injuries in varying degrees of severity. Read on for a closer look at the most common of these injuries and a discussion of the benefits of chiropractic care for healing and recovery.
- It’s not uncommon to see bruises form after a traumatic injury. Bruises are nothing more than damaged blood vessels underneath the skin, and you may see some discoloration around your neck and throat areas.
- Stiff Muscles. Car accidents involve rapid deceleration, and your neck may undergo rapid back-and-forth movement known as whiplash. The muscles that hold your head up and support your neck can suffer severe trauma due to whiplash, resulting in sore or stiff muscles.
- Herniated Disc. Discs are flexible pads that sit between the individual vertebrae in your back and neck. They can absorb the shock of any violent impact to the body. A herniated disc occurs when the disc bulges, slips, or ruptures due to traumatic injury.
- Pinched Nerves. A shift in bone or muscle can cause the nerves that run up and down your spinal column to become pinched.
- Fractured Vertebrae. A broken or fractured vertebrae may occur after trauma of tremendous force, as seen in virtually all car accidents.
- Damaged Facet Joint. The facet joint sits in your neck, allowing you full range of motion: up and down, and side to side. Damage to the facet joint can severely decrease your range of motion. You may find that it is uncomfortable or painful to look in certain directions or hold a cortina position for any extended period of time.
Chiropractic has had great success in assisting patients with post-accident injuries. The back, neck, and shoulders are all well within the scope of the practice. Spinal adjustments and therapies are the perfect tools with which to treat pinched nerves, subluxation, stiff muscles, and any other musculoskeletal ailments that surface as a result of traumatic injury.
If you’ve been in a car wreck and start having neck pain, we recommend seeking a chiropractor immediately. Contact us here at Wirth Chiropractic to schedule your free initial consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!
