Whiplash Injury Treatment in Knoxville, TN
Any neck strain or sprain is typically given the term whiplash injury. It involves painful tears and stretches in the muscles as well as tendons in your neck. While most people associate this with a car accident, whiplash injury can result from a contact sports injury trauma, a fall or other physical activity.
Whiplash Prevalence
Over one million people in the United States suffer from whiplash injuries. Many of these injuries result from a car accident. Many people are surprised to find out that whiplash injuries can take place in a vehicle going as little as five miles per hour, or even when completely stopped if hit by another vehicle. Women tend to suffer from a whiplash injury more often than men because a woman's neck muscles are generally not as hardy as a man's.
Symptoms of a Whiplash Injury
Because it can take up to 24 hours for the pain from whiplash to fully manifest, people often minimize the potential seriousness of the injury. There is a wide range of possible symptoms, depending on how severe the whiplash is and whether or not the injury causes a herniated or ruptured disk. Here are some of the symptoms that can accompany a whiplash injury:
- Neck stiffness or pain
- Decreased range of motion
- Muscles that feel knotted or hard
- Headaches at the skull's base that radiate to your forehead
- Shoulder pain
- Lower back pain
- Tingling in hands or arms
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- In severe cases, difficulty concentrating, sleeping, memory loss and permanent disability
Whiplash Injury Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider will typically start with a general physical exam when checking for a whiplash injury. This can include:
- A statement from you about how the injury occurred
- Various range of motion tests, including neck, arms and legs
- An X-ray to check for damaged vertebrae
- An MRI to check for soft tissue damage, spinal cord damage and nerve root damage between the vertebrae
- A CT scan to check for spinal canal and bone damage
- A Myelogram (combines X-ray and dye injections) to check for additional detail on potential spinal canal and nerve root damage
- EMG to discover health of nerves and muscles
Whiplash Injury Treatment
Luckily, your whiplash injury will often heal on its own. To aid in the recovery process, there are several options available utilizing both traditional and alternative medicine. Here are a few of the possibilities:
- Aspirin or ibuprofen for pain management and to reduce swelling
- Soft cervical collar (c-collar)
- Various therapeutic exercises
- Therapeutic massage
- Electronic Muscle Stimulation
- Heat and ice
- Traction
- Ultrasound
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Flexion-distraction technique (option for herniated disk)
- Spinal manipulation (may be instrument assisted)
- Trigger point therapy
Recovery depends on the severity of your injury and can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. During that time, refrain from any activity that might disrupt the healing process such as intense physical activity.
Request more information about whiplash injury treatment today. Call (423) 482-8711 or contact AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center online.
AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center
Address
1604 Lamons LaneSuite 202
Johnson City, TN 37604
(423) 482-8711
www.awaremed.com
Hours
Mon:
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tue:
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wed:
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thu:
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Fri:
9:00 am - 5:00 pm