In the United States, over one million people suffer from whiplash injuries every year, and most of these injuries are caused due to auto accidents. Studies suggest that about $29 billion is spent managing these injuries, but the outcome is not so golden since many people seem to end up with chronic problems because many of these people rely too much on their medical doctor and pills to resolve this burden and physical body issue. Unfortunately, this is not the right course of action to take.
The main reason for this could be that many people are not aware of the right diagnosis and treatment options available for whiplash trauma which was just slightly illustrated above. While most people think whiplash injuries can be treated by a regular doctor, it may not be the case. The right doctor for these injuries would be a Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville, NC, who specializes in treating soft tissue injuries.
Peculiarities of Whiplash Trauma
Whiplash trauma is most commonly caused by rear end collisions, even when the vehicle is travelling at a low speed of around 10 mph. The impact causes the head to be thrown back and forward violently, which causes hyperflexion of the neck. This sudden stretching results in injury to ligaments and muscles of the neck, rupture of disc, and even misalignment of the spinal column.
What happens when You Visit a Regular Doctor?
After an auto accident, you will be rushed to the ER where a regular doctor will attend to your injuries. This doctor can effectively treat bleeding, fractures, bruising, and so on; but has limited knowledge for treating whiplash. This doctor might prescribe pain medication for your neck pain and other symptoms of whiplash. However, such medication will provide some symptomatic relief, but will not treat the root cause.
Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville, NC is Your Best Option
First, a chiropractor is the right doctor for correctly diagnosing whiplash and the extent of the injury. A thorough physical examination is conducted, which will reveal decreased range of motion, muscle tightness and spasms, and weakness or numbness in certain muscles. A chiropractor will also evaluate the medical history of the patient, since it will reveal susceptibility to the injury and other related disorders. Lastly, scans and x-rays are also ordered to correctly assess the alignment of the spine, detect neurological deficit, and for confirming diagnosis.
Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville, NC will then chart out an effective and proven treatment plan. This will usually include chiropractic manipulations and adjustments, physical therapy, massage, electrical stimulation, and application of heat and ultrasound therapy. When whiplash is diagnosed correctly and the right treatment is provided in time, there is much less a chance of developing chronic issues, and other serious debilitating conditions.
These are conditions that can plague you until you speak to a chiropractor and deal with this issue properly.
