Treating The Delayed Head And Neck Pain From A Car Accident

If you have been in a recent fender bender where no one appeared to be hurt, you might find that your head and neck begin to hurt after a few days. You've experienced a neck injury and it's time to see an auto accident chiropractor. They are accustomed to treating the aches and pains that follow an accident while providing the appropriate documentation to insurance companies and lawyers. Here is why you are having the delayed pain and what the chiropractor will do to treat you.

A Sudden Injury With Delayed Pain

During the accident, your head and neck were suddenly forced back, then forward. This movement caused tiny tears in the muscle fibers surrounding your upper spine. The tendons were also strained. This created swelling in the area. As the swelling went down over the next couple of days, the muscles began to ache and irritate the nerves that extend up into your head. The irritation caused headaches. Commonly referred to as whiplash, this condition is often seen in auto accidents but can happen any time the head and neck are forced forward or back.

A Chiropractic Specialty

Chiropractors are very familiar with how the muscles around the spine behave. They understand the relationship of muscles and nerves and how they cause your pain. Using non-invasive techniques to treat the muscle injuries, a chiropractor can offer relief starting with the first treatment session.

Treatment of this Head and Neck Injury

The goal of treatment is to reduce the stress of the tight muscles in your neck and the further reduction of swelling. This relieves the pressure on the nerves to reduce your head and neck pain. Two primary techniques are used to help your pain.

• Spinal Manipulation - Your chiropractor will look for signs that the vertebrae in your neck have become misaligned by the force of the accident. Even a small change in the position of those bones puts stress on the muscles and nerves. Gentle manipulation of the first two vertebrae in your neck will correct their position and relieve the muscle tension.
• Trigger Point Therapy - Your doctor will look for tense muscles in your neck and coax them to relax. Some muscles become so tense that they contract and form a knot under the skin. The chiropractor will use gentle pressure on the muscle using their knuckles or a special tool until the muscle relaxes on its own. Any inflammation goes away as the muscle relaxes.

Should you develop neck pain and headaches after a car accident, see a chiropractor instead of relying on pain medication. The doctor will help your neck muscles and tendons heal, and relieve you of the pain.