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Whiplash from a car crash is one of the most common complications following a motor vehicle accident. It can present in a number of ways, but is most commonly defined by:
Whiplash from a car crash can be challenging to treat effectively long term because there are often several factors affecting the neck. There can be structural, functional, and neurological issues. It can be confusing who to see for each issue, and even more troubling when the relief only lasts for a short period of time.
One of the most effective ways to treat long term whiplash symptoms, especially if there are more symptoms than just pain, is to entertain the idea that whiplash and concussion go together. 6 of the top 7 most common whiplash symptoms are the same symptoms associated with a concussion. Choosing a clinic that offers relief for as many of those symptoms as possible is an easy way to ensure you don’t come out of care with ongoing symptoms.
The harsh reality of whiplash care is this: you only have so much time and money to get back to normal before you start paying out of pocket. By opting for a clinic that can simultaneously address a majority of whiplash symptoms, you have a better chance to get out of pain and manage unwanted symptoms without having to see 3-5 different providers.
The Neural Connection offers this type of care, and we work with auto insurance companies to ensure you’re covered for the long haul. Click here to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors.
Delayed whiplash symptoms are common and challenging to the long term recovery of anyone living with them. The initial care might be enough to get you out of pain. However months may pass and new symptoms can emerge, causing physical, emotional, and financial stress.
Common delayed whiplash symptoms include
The reasons for these symptoms is due to compensations your brain and body make in response to the initial injury. We compare it to spraining your ankle and walking with a limp. While the ankle may heal, the limp may persist, eventually causing pain somewhere else.
When you have a whiplash injury, more than just the neck is affected. The force from the rapid acceleration/deceleration of the head can cause damage to the structures in the brain stem, which is just above the neck, or to the brain itself. Functions that live in the brainstem include balance, digestion, eye movements, heart rate and respiration.
When these areas are damaged, other areas jump in an compensate for their lack of function. These compensations break down over time, leading to delayed whiplash symptoms weeks, sometimes months later.
The key to unwinding these troublesome symptoms is to identify which areas are being propped up and rehab them directly. This is what we specialize in. If you’re dealing with delayed whiplash symptoms, click here to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation with one of the doctors at The Neural Connection.
If you’ve sustained a whiplash injury, you may wonder “how long does whiplash last?” Many factors go into how long whiplash lasts, including:
If the injury didn’t damage any soft tissue and there was no concussive damage, PT and pain management is often enough to resolve symptoms in a matter of weeks. If there is structural damage and signs of concussion, the process may take months and often requires several types of providers.
As a general rule, if you’re unsure, always rule out dangerous complications first. This may include imaging studies like x-ray, MRI, or CT. Once you’re sure there are not life threatening complications, seeking out conservative care is a good next step.
From there, seeking out conservative care for symptoms is a good next step. Conservative care may include:
It’s essential to figure out the best type of care early in the process. Many of our patients report seeking out care that gives short term relief without ever addressing the underlying cause of the pain or symptom. This will leave you in a continuing search for long term relief after your insurance benefits are exhausted.
If you’re unsure of where to turn, schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation with one of our doctors. We’ll be transparent and precise in our recommendation, and guide you to the type of care that will give you the most relief right now.
Can whiplash cause nausea? Absolutely. There is more to whiplash than just neck pain and headaches. Due to the mechanism on injury, whiplash is often associated with symptoms nearly identical to concussion. When the neck is rapidly accelerated and stopped abruptly, the force traveling through the neck can continue up into the brainstem which houses many vital functional like balance, eye movement, and digestion.
Furthermore, if the neck, eyes, and balance centers are injured, they often send incorrect signals into the brain which is interpreted as danger. A relatable example is when you’re parked at a stop light and another vehicle pulls up next to you. When the other vehicle begins to move and you see it, its often accompanies by a sense of nausea and disorientation because you’re not sure if your care is moving.
This phenomenon, called a “sensory mismatch” is what occurs when one sensory system says one thing, and the others say something different. In the case of whiplash that affects the neck and brainstem, nausea can come from the following sources
Any single or combination of these post whiplash issues can cause nausea, and its essential to get screened by a qualified specialist to pinpoint which issue needs attention now.
If you’re unsure of how to move forward, contact us to set up a complimentary 30 minute consultation with one of our doctors. We have treated hundreds of whiplash cases and can help direct you to the right person, even if its not us.
