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whiplash treatment in Wellington FL

What Are Whiplash Symptoms?

If you’ve been in a car accident and are suddenly feeling a great deal of neck pain, it’s likely you have whiplash. This common but painful condition affects millions of men and women each year and can wreak havoc on the body if not treated properly.

If you’re unsure you have whiplash, it’s important you see a medical professional to get an accurate diagnosis. Until then, let’s take a deeper dive into what whiplash is, the symptoms of whiplash, and the treatments that can help you get back to feeling like yourself again.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a common condition in which the neck is rapidly moved in a back-and-forth motion, similar to the motion of cracking a whip. Whiplash is most commonly associated with car accidents, as the jolt of the car causes a rapid movement of the neck upon impact. However, whiplash can also occur due to other traumatic injuries, like playing a contact sport or having a sudden fall.

What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash?

There is a multitude of signs and symptoms that are associated with whiplash. The most common signs and symptoms of whiplash include:

  • Neck pain
  • Stiff neck
  • Reduced range of motion in the neck
  • Headaches starting at the base of the skull
  • Tingling and numbness in the arms
  • Upper arm and shoulder pain
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue

Less common, but more serious symptoms of whiplash include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Ringing ears
  • Mood swings
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Memory issues
  • Depression

If you’re experiencing two or more of the above symptoms, it’s important you see a medical professional as soon as possible. The sooner you receive treatment for your whiplash, the less likely it is to affect you in the long term.

Whiplash Treatments

Treatments for your whiplash will vary, but will likely include pain management, exercise, physical therapy, and stabilization.

Your pain management regimen will likely start out with over-the-counter medications, rest, and applying ice and heat to the area in cycles. If these methods do not help, prescription medications or injections may be required to help reduce your pain.

Your exercise and physical therapy plans will work hand-in-hand to ensure you strengthen the muscles in your neck. Talk to your physical therapist about which exercises you can do at home to help strengthen your neck muscles and restore your full range of motion.

Finally, stabilizing the neck with a foam collar will help take the stress off your neck while you work to strengthen your muscles once again. You may be asked to wear a foam collar for a few hours a day for several weeks. Ask your doctor what they recommend in terms of wearing your foam collar.

Whiplash Treatment in Wellington, FL

If you’re looking for whiplash treatments in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida, look no further than Advanced Medical Clinic. We take your health and wellness seriously. Our team of providers will be happy to sit down with you, listen to your concerns, evaluate your condition, and provide you with an accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plan to meet your individual needs. Get the care you need for your whiplash sooner than later – you won’t regret it.

To make an appointment with one of our healthcare providers, call our staff today at (561) 434-1935, or request an appointment now by filling out our convenient online appointment request form.

When To See a Doctor After Whiplash

Whiplash is a head and neck injury that happens when the soft tissues of your neck extend beyond their typical range of motion. Whiplash is a serious injury, but its symptoms aren’t immediately apparent – they could take several hours or days to develop. This is why most people forego medical evaluation after a whiplash.

Not visiting a doctor after a whiplash could jeopardize your personal injury claim, let alone put your health at risk. Therefore, it’s important to see a doctor after a whiplash injury for a thorough evaluation.

Let’s talk about how to determine your need to see a doctor after a whiplash injury and where you can go for a thorough evaluation in Wellington, FL.

Look Out for Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash

Whiplash injury most commonly occurs during a car accident, but it can also be caused by sports accidents (mainly during contact sports), physical assault (such as a punch or shaking), and falls. So, after an event like this occurs, you must look out for any whiplash symptoms you may have, such as severe pain, stiffness, and headache.

Common symptoms of whiplash you must look out for are:

  • Severe pain in the neck
  • Neck stiffness
  • Worsening of neck pain with movements
  • Headache, mostly at the base of the skull
  • Pain or tenderness in the arms, upper back, or shoulders
  • Numbness, tingling in arms or shoulders
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Ringing in ears
  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • The trouble with recalling past events
  • Trouble concentrating

It’s important to understand that certain signs and symptoms of whiplash, like numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hands or arms, could indicate a serious medical problem such as spinal nerve damage, and should be treated right away after medical evaluation.

You should see a doctor after a whiplash injury, even if you don’t have neck pain or other symptoms. This way, you can ensure that you don’t have nerve damage or broken bone.

What Can a Doctor Do for Your Whiplash Injury?

Your doctor will discuss the severity of your pain and its location. You will also be evaluated for your range of motion, reflexes, and strength in your arms and hands.

Indeed, diagnostic imaging tests like X-rays or MRIs can’t show your whiplash injury, but these tests can determine if there is any other issue, such as broken bones and soft tissue injuries.

Following a thorough medical evaluation, your doctor will make a treatment plan to:

  • Control your pain and stiffness
  • Restore your normal range of motion
  • Get back safely to your normal activities

The treatment plan may involve:

  • Pain management strategies, such as rest, heat or cold therapy, over-the-counter medications, muscle relaxants, prescription medications, and injections
  • Exercise, such as rotating, rolling, bending, and tilting
  • Foam Collars to limit neck movement
  • Physical therapy
  • Alternative medicine

Whiplash in Wellington, FL

If you or someone you love is suffering from whiplash following a car accident or physical trauma, don’t wait any longer and visit our primary care doctors at Advanced Medical Clinic to seek treatment for whiplash. We are committed to delivering personalized and comprehensive care to people of all ages for their medical problems.

To schedule an appointment with one of our dedicated primary care doctors, call us today at  (561) 434-1935. You can also request an appointment online. We look forward to helping you!

Tips to Prevent Whiplash

Whiplash is a common neck injury that occurs when the head jerks in a rapid back-and-forth, or sideways movement, often to extreme degrees. It is typically caused by rear-end vehicular collisions, but it can also be caused by other types of accidents, of either low- or high-velocity nature.  

Whiplash can often be prevented. Read on to find out how you can help minimize your risk of sustaining whiplash when driving or when engaging in sports.

Preventing Whiplash When Driving

The best way to prevent whiplash is to get a car that has an active head restraint (AHR) system. AHR is a technology that automatically activates the headrest pillow during a rear-end crash to move up and extend forward to minimize the gap between the occupants’ head and the headrest, thereby reducing the impact and the risk of a neck injury.

If your car does have an AHR system, consider the following tips to help minimize your risk of sustaining whiplash and other neck injuries when driving.

o   Observe correct sitting position.

A correctly positioned head restraint is essential for preventing whiplash injuries and applies to all people within the vehicle. The top of the headrest should be level with the top of your head, or at least, the top of your ears. The headrest should also be close (less than 3 inches) to the back of your head.

You should always sit upright and wear a safety belt when travelling in a car. The seat belt helps you stay in a neutral position during a collision and helps ensure your head is aligned with the head restraint.

Although it is not always possible to react in time or position yourself for a collision, if you realize a crash is imminent or hear the squeal of tires approaching you, it pays to prepare yourself: lean your head back so that it is touching the head restraint, face straight ahead, and try to remain in a neutral position.

o   Follow the two-second rule.

Always leave a safe distance between your car and the car ahead of you. If you tailgate the car in front of you, you may not have sufficient time to stop if they brake suddenly. The car behind you may also hit you if you brake suddenly or without warning.

Preventing Whiplash During Sports

Contact sports, such as football, wrestling, and boxing, can put you at increased risk of sustaining whiplash injuries. To minimize such risk, make sure you use the correct protective equipment and employ proper techniques.

Additionally, doing warm-up and neck stretching exercises releases neck tension and pain, improves your strength and flexibility, and ultimately helps prevent whiplash.

Whiplash Treatment in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

If you recently got into an accident and suspect that you have whiplash, speak to one of our dedicated providers at Advanced Medical for a thorough assessment and prompt treatment.

We offer a comprehensive range of preventive, sick, and urgent care services, and we are here to help our patients avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. Our team consists of a family medicine provider and an internal medicine doctor who are both dedicated to providing our patients with the highest quality of care and empowering them to take a proactive role in their own health and well-being.

To find out more about the services we offer or to schedule a consultation with one of our providers, call us at (561) 434-1935. You can also request an appointment online. For urgent concerns, we offer same-day and walk-in appointments.