Whiplash Neck & Back Pain Injury - Chiropractic Treatment With Spinal Therapy, Cold Laser Therapy

Chances are, if you've been driving for any length of time, you've either experienced a car accident or known someone who has been in one. As a doctor of chiropractic, I treat patients all over Dallas, TX. and the surrounding cities. My office sits right on the boundary between Plano, TX. and Dallas, TX. Traffic in these areas is heavy most anytime between 6am to 8pm Monday through Friday so you can imagine how many patients I see as a result of car accidents, especially those that result in whiplash. Regardless of whether it was a major accident or just a simple "fender bender" the car isn't the only thing sustaining damage. Whiplash is a major issue that chiropractors deal with every day. Just ask any personal injury attorney and they'll tell you that they refer a lot of their clients to chiropractors because of this resulting injury. A past study found that more than 3 million people in America suffer from whiplash injury every year. Over half of these people will suffer chronic neck pain or back pain, and an additional 10 percent will become permanently disabled as a result of their injuries.

To help you better understand the chiropractic treatment of whiplash injuries, it's important to have a quick review of this type of neck injury.

Whiplash Injury:

This is an injury to the muscles of the neck from the traumatic rapid forward and backward motion of the neck during an accident, which in turn causes inflammation and spasms to the muscles and soft tissue located in the cervical area.

The end result of a whiplash injury is the sharp pain and restricted motion that people experience causing damage to tissue around the neck, and the protective response of the nervous system as it locks up spinal joints to protect the spinal cord from possible injury.

As part of the overall chiropractic treatment, we focus on mobilizing restricted spinal joints and initiating rapid firing of neurological receptors using spinal manipulation therapy, including non-force and flexion-distraction techniques. It is important to note that spinal manipulation is used only when the initial traumatic muscle injury is stabilized. As a chiropractic doctor, I use various types of treatments depending on the stage of my patients whiplash injury.

Treatment with Chiropractic:

As soon as whiplash is determined as the cause of injury, I will immediately concentrate on reducing inflammation with cold laser therapy, which increases blood supply, stimulates nerve function, and helps generate new cells and tissue. Along with this there is the possibility of using ultrasound, and, if necessary, gentle stretching and massage therapy. Ice and heat will occasionally be recommended for short periods of time along with the use of a light neck support brace.

As the muscles in the neck begin to be less inflamed, gentle spinal manipulation therapy will be introduced in order to return natural motion to cervical joints that have locked up and become restricted as a result of the injury. I specifically use the Pro-Adjuster system for treating patients with whiplash. Another technique that is used on certain patients that have specific problems with their spinal and cervical discs is the Cox Flexion-distraction system. This treatment stretches out the back all the way to the neck, alleviating pressure between the spinal discs using non-thrusting and non-force methods. The stretching motions are believed to help in the reduction of muscle spasms and increase the blood flow through the treated areas, accelerating the recovery time.

The ultimate goal I have for my patients with whiplash is to return their backs and necks to maximum health. The results of my treatment are full motion in the spine and neck along with improved muscular strength in all the affected areas that resulted from the injury.

If you'd like to learn more about treatments I provide or have other questions about neck pain or back pain, please go to http://www.premierhealthclinic.net/chiropractic-visit.htm or if you're in the Dallas or Plano area, please contact Premier Health Clinic directly at 972-713-9355 for a free personal consultation with me. I thank you and your back will thank you. Dr. H. Khayal, DC