whiplash

When the soft tissues of the neck become injured and produce pain and dysfunction, the condition is referred to as whiplash. This term is not a medical term but since its first usage in 1928, most people have used the term whiplash to describe cervical soft tissue injuries. Someone can sustain whiplash during a car accident, during a fall, an assault or participating in sports. The most common cause of whiplash is being involved in a motor vehicle accident as the speed of the cars during a collision causes sudden movement to the otherwise stationary bodies within the cars. The soft tissues of the cervical spine become injured when an abnormal or sudden movement to the neck causes the muscles to be strained beyond their normal range of motion. Because whiplash involves abnormal movement in the neck and often times with sudden forceful movement, whiplash is also referred to as acceleration flexion-extension injury, a cervical sprain or strain or a soft tissue cervical hyperextension injury. Whatever the name, the result is the same, pain and tenderness in the neck, inflammation, muscle spasms, headache, difficulty in moving the head and possibly radiating pain into the shoulders and upper extremities.

Neck Pain

Even though whiplash is a sprain or strain of the neck muscles, it is advised to seek medical attention immediately following the onset of neck pain. While for most people, the pain is a result of acutely sore muscles that have been strained beyond their normal range of motion, some neck pain may be a sign of something more serious. If the symptoms of neck pain are accompanied by dizziness or a feeling of numbness, tingling and weakness into the arms or legs, a trip to the emergency room is recommended. If serious conditions are ruled out during an emergency visit, a patient will be sent home with instructions to ice the cervical muscles for 20 minutes per each hour during the initial 24 hours, separating the ice from the skin with a thin towel. OTC medications will also be recommended such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce the pain and inflammation in the neck. Follow-up treatments such as chiropractic care or massage therapy may also be helpful in speeding the recovery time and helping to relax the strained muscles of the neck. Chiropractic modalities such as ultrasound, electric stimulation, mild traction and physical therapy exercises will be offered for pain relief. In general, people who have sustained a whiplash injury will fully recover within a time period of 6 weeks. A small amount of people will experience symptoms on and off for up to a year. There is no way to know how long symptoms will last but it is thought that if symptoms of whiplash appear very soon after the injury, then the healing process may take longer.

References Cited in this Article

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Are you pregnant and experiencing agonizing and unrelenting back pain?  You’re not alone; Pregnancy and Back Pain almost always go hand-in-hand.  The reasons why this happens is due to the following: you’re gaining weight, you’re walking in a different way, and your hormones are relaxing the muscles and ligaments in your body. 

How to ease back pain at home

There’s absolutely no reason to do nothing about the back pain while pregnant.  Here is a list of some common things to perform at home to reduce the effects: sleep on your side holding a body pillow between your legs and arms, sit and stand appropriately, always practice good posture by tucking the buttocks under bringing the chin and head to anatomical position, when lifting lift with your legs and also only objects that aren’t too heavy, wear proper fit shoes with a good arch support, exercise regularly but not strenuously, perform pelvic tilt exercises, and try heat or cold compresses at home. 

How to ease back pain outside of the home

While performing at home regimens is necessary, sometimes it’s just not enough to ease the pain and discomfort of back pain.  Some women choose to seek out the care of Chiropractors, Massage therapists, and Acupuncturists.  Some Chiropractors are skilled in the Webster technique, a technique which stabilizes the women’s pelvis by adjusting the sacrum and performing soft tissue techniques to the ligaments of the pelvis like the round, broad, and the sacro-tuberous ligaments.  Massage therapists may receive additional training in the art of pregnancy massage.  In these classes, the massage therapists are trained in proper bolstering of pillows, proper draping, and techniques to not only reduce the patient’s back pain but also the therapist who is performing the massage session.  It is always important to obtain clearance from the OBGYN before administering massage therapy, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy.  Skeptics claim that it could possibly cause a spontaneous abortion and must be contraindicated.  However, this has not been proven recently.  In addition, Acupuncture may provide the pregnant patient with reduced back pain and a sense of calm as well.  Acupuncturists will help to balance the patient’s chakras and meridians.  In the third trimester upon the delivery date, they will be able to induce delivery by applying pressure to specific points on the hands and feet.  These points may also reduce the pain that the pregnant women feels while laboring.   

It’s time to take control!  Some common conditions about Arthritis include but are not limited to the following:  What is Arthritis, who is at risk, What are the types of Arthritis, What are my treatment options, What can I do?  Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body.  The word “arthro” means joint and the suffix “itis” literally means inflammation.  46 million Americans of 1 in 5 people are affected with some kind of Arthritis.  Over the age of 65 years old, 2/3 of Americans are affected.  This is the most common cause of disability in the United States.  Medical costs for this condition top $81 billion annually and accounts for $47 billion in lost wages annually.  There are 750,000 hospitalizations per year due to Arthritis and 36 million out-patients cases annually.  The percent of adults with Arthritis is expected to increase in 48 states between 2005 and 2030. 

Types of Arthritis

There are two types of Arthritis primary and secondary.  Primary Arthritis includes the following subtypes: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout, AS, and Septic Arthritis.  Secondary Arthritis includes: Psoriatic, SLE, Reactive, and autoimmune disorders. 

Signs and Treatment of Osteoarthritis (DJD)

DJD can cause joint pain, stiffness, crepitus, loss of motion, and eventual weakness.  What are my treatment options for Arthritis?  Go see a doctor now, determine your current status, discuss your course of action, and direct you mind and focus to getting better.  Treatment goals should be reducing pain, promoting healing, restoring function, regaining strength and stability, changing your habits, and maintaining homeostasis or balance within your body.  Your diet should include the following: lean protein, complex carbohydrates, good fats, multi-vitamins, flaxseed oil, Glucosamine Sulfate, and at least 6-8 hours of rest per night. 

Alternative Treatment

The Archives of Internal Medicine said the number of people seeking alternative healthcare is on the rise.  Recent studies have shown that people are seeking natural healthcare providers that offer a drug-free approach to pain relief rather than a traditional medical approach.  Thomas Edison once said, “The doctor of the future will give his patients no medicine, but will interest his or her patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”  Furthermore, Mark Twain stated, “Be careful about reading health books.  You may die of a misprint.”  Chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture are all great adjuncts in helping to treat and manage the signs and symptoms of Arthritis.    

Whiplash or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorder) is a serious condition that can affect an individual’s activities of daily living and their overall quality of life.  Most people associate whiplash with an automobile accident and that of course is the number one way to receive whiplash; however, whiplash (WAD) can also be from other accidents including: falls from ladders, roofs, horses, bicycles, skiing and diving accidents, etc.  The signs of symptoms of WAD can be very vague immediately following the accident.  Some sufferers don’t even seek medical care because their completely pain-free.  However, the hours following the accident and typically the next day, victims complain of increased pain in the neck, head, shoulders, headaches, pins and needles in their neck sometimes traveling down their arm into the hands, and even light sensitivity. 

Whiplash treatment

In Whiplash, the muscles and ligaments of the neck get stretched with the acceleration and deceleration and the tiny cervical spine bones can even fracture dislodging segments into free space.  This type of injury, called a tear-drop fracture is extremely unstable and must be treated with a hard cervical collar and possible surgery to correct.  In contrast, most whiplash cases are not severely unstable and can be treated through the use of Chiropractic care.  The Chiropractor will assess the extent of damage through palpation, range of motion evaluation, orthopedic testing, and x-rays if needed.  He/she will then establish a treatment protocol based on the severity of injury and whether it’s acute or chronic.  They will most likely apply some form of hydrotherapy and of course manipulate the cervical spine.  Massage therapy is also an excellent adjunct to treating Whiplash.  The anterior and posterior muscles of the cervical spine get stretched causing micro-tears within the muscle.  Once the patient is no longer in the acute stage, massage therapy may be administered in accordance to the severity of the whiplash and the patient’s pain tolerance.  The massage therapist may also incorporate stretching and trigger point release in order to further release tension.  A Whiplash of even five miles per hour can take a normal cervical spine and completely reverse the curvature.  When this is visible on x-ray, cervical mechanical traction should be introduced as soon as the musculature has had adequate time to heal.  Cervical mechanical traction stretches the deformed ligaments allowing the bones to move and the muscles to maintain in a normal stance.  Ligaments are elastic and very resilient to change; a ligament doesn’t even begin to stretch until six minutes of traction.  This is slowly increased in gradual steps to a maximum of twenty minutes. 

Vertigo is a dizziness feeling when a person is standing completely still.  Vertigo is caused from a dysfunction with the 8^th cranial nerve called the Vestibular-cochlear nerve.  The dysfunction ultimately lies within the vestibular, or balance portion of the nerve and not the hearing portion. 

Symptoms of Vertigo

Vertigo presents the following signs and symptoms: nausea, vomiting, difficulty standing and walking, patient will feel like their swaying when standing still, and feeling of passing out.

Causes of Vertigo

Some known causes of Vertigo include but not limited to the following: Benign paraoxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular migraine, Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, and excessive alcohol consumption.  Vertigo is divided into two classifications: either central or peripheral.

What is Central Vertigo?

Central Vertigo arises from the brainstem and can cause neurological symptoms.  These symptoms can range from slurred speech, double vision, and pathologic nystagmus which is eye fluttering. 

What is Peripheral Vertigo?

Peripheral Vertigo is caused by dysfunction within the inner ear or vestibular system.  Some causes include Meniere’s disease, BPPV, labyrinthitis, and inflammation. 

Nystagmus

Most vertigo sufferers will experience reoccurring symptoms.  This can be detrimental to one’s quality of life.  Nystagmus may be unilateral, bilateral, asymmetric, vertical, horizontal, congenital, or acquired.  Horizontal nystagmus occurs in patients suffering from a unilateral cerebral hemisphere disease, especially with posterior lesions.  Their eyes will drift horizontally towards the side of the lesion. 

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of the vertigo symptoms.  Vertigo can be treated with pharmaceuticals taken by mouth, a patch on the skin, or an IV administration.  A bacterial infection causing symptoms will require an antibiotic, Meniere’s disease sufferers may also be required to be on a low salt diet in addition to meds, a hole in the inner ear will require surgery, and BPPV patients will have a maneuver performed on them called the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver.  This is where the doctor places the patient in a certain position in order to move the small stones to their correct position since they become displaced with this condition.  This particular movement is repeated until there is no longer visible eye movement or dizziness symptoms.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic Care may be utilized to decrease the symptoms of Vertigo.  Since the C1 vertebra is in such close proximity to the brainstem, when this bone is mis-aligned or subluxated it may cause dizziness or nausea.  C1 has many muscles that attach to it and when they become taut they can pull this bone out of its normal alignment causing a subluxation.  When this happens, some individuals will complain of headaches, nausea, dizziness, eye pain, ear aches, and general fatigue.

What is TMJ?  TMJ stands for Temporal-Mandibular Joint Disorder.  TMJD can be caused from trauma, disease, general wear and tear due to the aging process, and habits like chewing gum or motions with the mouth.  Trauma may be divided into two types such as micro-trauma and macro-trauma.  Micro-trauma is like teeth-grinding or clenching.  Macro-trauma would be described as a blow to the face in which the jaw is contacted.  This can break the jaw or even damage this disc (joint).  This area connects the lower jaw to the skull and allows for the jaw to open and close.  Two conditions which can affect the TMJ and cause significant pain and discomfort include both Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

Symptoms

TMJ Disorder is a general term clustering many different types of symptoms a patient may experience including but not limited to: locking of the jaw, clicking of the jaw, earaches, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, permanent speech abnormalities, toothache or loss, facial pain, and headaches.  Things you may notice are the following: pain on one side of the face, difficulty opening the mouth, your bite may feel off, you may feel dizziness, nausea, or even experience vomiting. 

Treatment

There are many treatment options available to TMJ sufferers and they include the following: Arthocentesis which is considered a non-invasive procedure by some which lasts about fifteen minutes in which the doctor drains the fluid that accumulated in the joint, Arthoplasty (surgery) may include repositioning of the disk itself, discectomy or removal of the disc, and joint replacement.  Some conservative treatments include the following: massage therapy, acupuncture, and Chiropractic care.  Massage therapists will work the facial muscles, and Chiropractors will re-position the joint itself either manually or with a specialized instrument.  Another effective treatment includes wearing a mouth-guard at night while sleeping.  This allows the mouth-guard to take the shock of the bruxism, or grinding.  These may be custom-fitted at dentist offices or basic mouth-guards may be sold at retail chains for a much-reduced fee and sell for around twenty dollars.  However, these mouth-guards require boiling in hot water prior to fitting them yourself.  Both are extremely effective in the treatment and management of TMJ Disorder. 

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Do you ever wonder what exactly a Pinched Nerve is?  Well, a pinched nerve happens when a boney prominence puts added pressure on a spinal or accessory nerve.  This is also what happens sometimes with a spinal or extremity subluxation.  A subluxation is a mis-alignment of the spine and/or extremities that may or may not put pressure on a spinal nerve root or accessory nerve.  A pinched nerve will almost always cause local pain and inflammation.  In addition, a pinched nerve may cause the patient to suffer from reduced range of motion in the affected area. 

The Chiropractor’s Role

The Chiropractor will take a detailed case history and perform a through physical exam to obtain a diagnosis in order to deliver a tailored treatment plan accordingly.  The doctor will perform static and kinetic palpation to effectively determine the level of the subluxation and where the restriction lies.  After this, they will perform a HVLA (high velocity low amplitude) thrust to that particular segment in order to correct the mis-alignment.  They will re-check the segment post adjustment to see if the correction has indeed been made.  The Chiropractor may also choose to incorporate some physiotherapy modalities to further heal the pinched nerve and speed up the recovery process.  These modalities may include but not be limited to the following: electrical muscle stimulation to calm down spastic muscles, ultrasound (which is the deepest of the deep heaters working from the bone to the muscle interface), cold laser (this is also a deep heater modality), whirlpool bed, inter-segmental traction (this opens up the facet joints of the spine, taking the pressure off the nerves), and spinal decompression (this machine opens up the disc spaces allowing blood and nutrients to replenish the spine and promote healing to the disc and surrounding structures).  They may also choose to add acupuncture and/or massage therapy to add to the treatment plan.  Massage therapy will help to alleviate any muscle spasms, reduce pain and inflammation, and reduce or eliminate any tender or active trigger points found within the muscle belly or tendinous structures.  After the treatment plan has been sought out, the Chiropractor will perform a re-evaluation to notate the progression and see if the care should be altered, if the patient should be released from care, or if the patient should be referred to another health care provider. 

Mid Back Pain is a common complaint among many Americans.  Individuals who suffer the most include: office personnel, students, hair stylists, laborers, weight-lifters, and more.  There are many ways of treating Mid Back Pain but the source must first be sought.  Mid back pain may be caused from the following things such as: strain/sprains, Scoliosis, intercostal neuritis, rib subluations and/or fractures, repetitive stress injuries, trauma, tumors, lung disorders like bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, collapsed lung, atelectasis, etc. 

Chiropractic can easily treat Mid Back Pain

Chiropractors treat this complaint each and every day within their offices.  This is an extremely common complaint mainly due to people’s posture.  Most people exhibit an emphasized hyper-kyphosis, or extreme thoracic curve along with anterior head carriage.  This causes some muscle to become to taut/restricted and others to be weak; this is called Upper-Crossed Syndrome in the medical community.  The tight muscles include the Suboccipitals of the posterior neck, the upper Trapezius muscle, and the Rhomboids.  The weak muscles are the anterior muscles of the neck like the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and Scalenes, the Pectoral muscles, and the Latissmus Dorsi.  They will first begin by taking a through case history and physical examination; this may include x-ray analysis, orthopedic testing, and range of motion evaluation.  Next, they will use static and kinetic palpation to determine the level of subluxation with the thoracic spine as well as the rest of the spine and/or extremities.  They will then deliver a manual thrust to correct these areas of mis-alignment, thus correcting the subluxation.  Since the nervous system controls and coordinates every organ system and body part in the human body this will restore function to those body areas that weren’t functioning at optimal capacity.  They may also use physiotherapy modalities to decrease any pain and inflammation in the area like electrical muscle stimulation (E-Stim), cold laser, ultrasound, inter-segmental traction, and whirlpool bed.  They may also employ the help of a massage therapist and/or acupuncturist to bring homeostasis back to the body and promote healing on different levels. 

What is Vertigo? 

Vertigo is a condition that affects the inner ear.  Our inner ear is responsible for maintaining our balance so when the inner ear is dysfunctional; it causes people to have balance problems.  Vertigo is also common in patients who’ve had neck and head injuries.  About 20-40% of patients who are diagnosed with whiplash will experience vertigo symptoms.  The condition is known to cause dizziness and sometimes nausea, sweating and vomiting.  In most cases the condition is treatable.  Chiropractic treatment is an affective way to assess the problem but the chiropractor must do a thorough examination first.  The physician will interview the patient to find out medical history and then he/she will perform a neurological exam.  Sometimes patients are referred to a neurologist for further opinions but typically patients react well to chiropractic treatment.  Sometimes there are serious causes of vertigo including stroke, neurological diseases and tumors.  These conditions present other symptoms and are usually caught during a chiropractic examination.  Some of these symptoms include severe episodes of dizziness, ringing in the ears, feeling light-headed, and feeling imbalanced.  These symptoms usually occur suddenly after waking up from sleep.  Episodes start because of sudden movements with the head.  Getting out of bed or turning while sleeping are two contributors to symptoms.  The condition is treatable by reposition exercises performed by a chiropractor.

Chiropractic Treatment

During a treatment session, the chiropractor will move the client into different positions. The position depends on what was found during the assessment.  Seeking a chiropractor is a great option because it will not cause further discomfort for the patients.  Patients must do these exercises at home to stay consistent with treatment and to get the best results.  The treatment is most effective by the third or fourth session.  Typically, 80 percent of patients are free of symptoms by the fourth session.  It is unlikely that patients will experience vertigo episodes after treatment has been completed as the recurrence rate is only 15 percent per year.  Chiropractors see many cases of dizziness per year and treatment is the same as it would be with a medical physician who specializes in vertigo.   

Other Treatment Options

Another effective treatment is physical therapy because it focuses on exercise and proper posture methods.  Some doctors suggest trigger point injection.  There have been positive results with this treatment, as 75% of people have seen an improvement in symptoms.  Physical therapy sessions must be gentle because vigorous movement could make vertigo worse. 

About Shin Splints

An individual might have a hard time running, walking or doing anything active if they have shin splints.  For some people, the pain might be overbearing and prevent them from performing everyday activities.  Shin splints are the result of several factors including fallen arches, running on hard surfaces, weak leg muscles, or wearing shoes that are too small and tight.  They can even be caused from a lack of cushioning in the heel of a shoe.  If shin splits aren’t given proper attention, it can cause problems in the long run.  Fortunately, with the correct use of foot orthotics and massage techniques, pain relief is possible!   

Treatment: Foot Orthotic

Medical studies have shown that foot orthotics offer pain relief for shin splints because of the cushioning and support it provides to the arch.  This treatment works well because pain is caused when there isn’t enough foot support for active people.  For example, a foot orthotic will help an athlete who overuses his or her legs and feet during a sport.  The stress is absorbed into the orthotic rather than the joint, alleviating pressure from the legs and feet.  Individuals who have low or fallen arches can purchase an orthotic that provides corrective arch support.  Our feet function better when there is there is proper arch support. 

Treatment: Massage

The massage used to treat shin splints is an underwater massage.  The individual will place their lower legs in a bucket of water and ice cubes.  The cold water and ice reduce fluid retention and reduce irritation in the nerves.  There isn’t any touching involved in this massage because it can cause a great deal of discomfort.  Instead, the person will point their toes and flex their foot in alternative directions under the water.  During this treatment the muscles are stretched out and soothed. 

Treatment: Massage Device

Another way to sooth shin splints so to use a massage device that vibrates.  It can be battery operated or plug in, either one is effective for pain relief.  Because this type of injury is so sensitive, it is smart to avoid hand-to-hand contact because it will cause more pain in the affected area.  There are some different types of massagers an individual can purchase.  Some massage devices will wrap around the leg like a sleeve while others are square shaped and are placed on the floor or directly on the skin.  The vibrations relieve irritated joints and muscles.     Roller massagers work well on calf muscles and are highly effective is reducing pain.