My Asheville NC Chiropractic office sees many individuals who have been injured in auto accidents.  They are often confused by how they can hurt so bad while having no external signs of an injury.  So I have enclosed some information to help explain what causes the pain and dysfunction following the whiplash injury.

What is whiplash?

Whiplash injuries are very common in car accidents. The whiplash injury is in part due to the fact that the muscles do not have enough time to brace. Whiplash, or "Cervical Acceleration/Deceleration" (CAD) accidents most often occur when a patient is stopped at a light or a stop sign and is rear-ended. Often is the case where a car skids and slams into another car or pole and still another common scenario is when a person is driving and gets "T-Boned" by another moving vehicle in the side. *MVC=motor vehicle crash.

What creates the Sprain/Strain in Asheville NC?

Uncomplicated cases of whiplash are the result of sprained ligaments in the neck. The muscles naturally spasm as a protective mechanism. Pain from the whiplash may be a stiff neck and may go down one or both arms. The sudden jerking motion of the head either front to back or side-side forces muscles and ligaments supporting the spine and head to move past their normal physiological limit and can thus be overstretched or torn. Additionally, vertebrae can be forced out of their normal alignment thus reducing range of motion (ROM).

What causes the symptoms following an auto accident?

Interestingly, in some extreme cases, the neck muscles and ligaments are so damaged and stretched that a patient's Range of motion will actually exceeds all normal ranges. Additionally, the actual spinal cord and/or nerve roots in the neck can get stretched and irritated causing even more pain that we call "radiculopathy." All of this damage and instability can result in pain in the entire neck (cervical spine), mid-back (thoracic spine) and even the low back (lumbar spine). Patients will often complain of headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, face pain, nausea, shoulder pain, knee pain and a other seemingly unrelated health issues. Be advised that all these symptoms are normal after a MVC (motor vehicle crash).

Don't suffer if you are hurting.  See a chiropractor who is trained to detect, and document with advanced recording instrumentation. Ensure that they work with local attorneys in the area and that they are up on the latest treatment protocols.

If you are in the Asheville NC area we invite your to call and schedule an imediate consultatation with Dr. Mathew Stockstad.

Call 828-299-4555