subject: Whiplash Pain Relief Is Closer Than You Think In St. Petersburg [print this page] A St. Petersburg chiropractor is able to address whiplash problems. This injury affects a person's neck after it has been subjected to a sudden forwards-backwards movement. It commonly occurs during the impact of a motor vehicle accident and can damage soft tissues and bone structure in and around the neck.
In most cases, it affects the passenger in a vehicle, not the driver. Prior to impact, the passenger is sitting in a stationary position. When the rear of the vehicle is hit, the neck, head and torso are thrown forward and back in a single jolting motion. Whiplash is not life-threatening but it can cause a lengthy period of pain and partial disability.
The injury can bring on severe headaches. The pain may present itself on one side or both sides of the head. The headaches may be continual or intermittent and accompanied by pain in the neck. This is the result of muscles that keep the head upright being tight and tense.
Shoulder pain is another whiplash symptom. This radiates from the back of the neck and down the shoulder blades. Muscles that may have torn in the accident can produce pain with a burning, prickling, or tingling sensation. Damage of a more serious nature, for example a herniated disc, will produce shooting, sharp pain that spreads to the fingers, arms and hands.
When you first see a chiropractor, you will be carefully examined. In order to determine the nature and severity of damage, scans and/or x-rays may be required. The chiropractor can then decide on how to rectify the injured areas. A spinal adjustment will be performed at some stage.
There are numerous other techniques that a St. Petersburg chiropractor can utilize to heal and restore damaged tissues, ligaments, muscles and bones. It is unlikely that the chiropractor will perform a spinal adjustment until he or she is certain that your neck area has strengthened and stabilized. Other chiropractic therapies include ultrasound, soft tissue massage, ice or heat therapy, and TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation).
