whiplash treatment near me

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 primary care provider 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.

Can Whiplash Cause Depression?

Whiplash is a type of neck injury that occurs after a fast-paced vehicular or sports accident. The sudden, forceful motion during the accident can cause the neck to overextend, causing the vertebrae to become misaligned. Pain from whiplash can be physical and psychological.

You may not automatically connect whiplash with depression, but there is a connection between the two. Depression is common in those with whiplash-associated disorders. Let’s discuss how whiplash could cause depression.

Why Whiplash Could Lead to Depression

Long-Term Whiplash Injury Complications

Alignment issues in the cervical region, in addition to the co-occurring soft tissue injuries, can impede normal blood flow to and from the brain, causing other medical conditions such as chronic pain, which is also linked to depression. For some, the problems that arise from whiplash can be long-term. Pain, stiffness, migraines, dizziness, and ringing in the ears are just a few examples of long-term effects associated with whiplash.

The long-term effects of whiplash can include depression. Without getting back to normal function, the patient can be psychologically impacted. This is compounded by thoughts of the accident, such as feeling angry, scared, or anxious.

Recovery

Another cause of depression due to whiplash may be the recovery period required. Soft tissue injuries can take up to 10 weeks to heal. For some, whiplash symptoms can persist even at the six-month mark or longer, which means the condition is chronic. Patients with chronic whiplash tend to have higher incidences of and increased levels of anxiety and depression.

Recovery from whiplash takes time, and during this period, the patient is limited in the activities they can engage in. For instance, sports and exercise are going to be off-limits, as the patient will need to wear a collar or neck brace to prevent movement and to support the neck as it heals.

Don’t Want to Become Depressed After Sustaining a Whiplash Injury?

In order to get the best possible outcome from whiplash treatment, it is important to seek treatment immediately after being involved in a sport or vehicular accident. Moreover, entrust your care in the hands of experts in whiplash treatment. Whiplash is usually treated using a combination of physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, various pain management techniques, and orthopedic care.

Whiplash Treatment in Royal Palm Beach and Wellington, FL

At Advanced Medical, our primary care providers provide treatment for patients with whiplash. We are committed to your recovery. We will make sure our treatment plan is highly individualized for effectiveness and to reduce complication risk. We also coordinate care with other specialists, such as chiropractors and physical therapists, to give you the best chance at a fast recovery. We also treat patients with chronic pain and other long-term complications from whiplash.

If not treated in a timely manner, whiplash can cause serious health conditions. To schedule an appointment for whiplash treatment, call us today at (561) 434-1935 or use our appointment request form. We look forward to helping you get back to your life, pain-free.

Tips on How to Recover From Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck injury that usually results from a car accident. It develops when the neck is forcefully moved back and forth, like a whip. However, you can get whiplash from other activities, too, such as sports.

Fortunately, most cases of whiplash can be addressed using conservative methods, like medication and exercise. Here are some tips to speed up your recovery.

Rest

Just like any other injury, rest can relieve whiplash symptoms. A few days of bed rest can help you recover. However, excessive lack of movement may delay recovery. The structures in your neck can weaken due to prolonged immobilization. Your provider will give you advice on how long you should rest and any movement restrictions to follow.

Use Neck Support

Your provider may advise you to wear a neck foam or brace to relieve pain and promote healing. A brace or a collar could help reduce the pressure on your neck by holding it still.

Most experts say that you shouldn’t wear neck support for more than 72 hours. The duration will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injury. Your provider will give instructions on how long you should wear the brace and when to take it off.

Apply Hot/Cold Packs

Apply a hot or cold compress to reduce muscle swelling and pain. You may do this every 3 hours for 15 minutes. If you’re using ice packs, wrap the ice in a cloth first. Avoid direct application to avoid damage to the skin.

Take Medication

Your provider may recommend medication to relieve painful symptoms. For mild to moderate whiplash pain, you can try over-the-counter medications, like ibuprofen and Tylenol. If you have more severe symptoms, you may require prescription medication. If needed, your provider may prescribe antidepressants to relieve nerve pain. For your safety and health, it’s best to consult with your provider before taking any medications.

Your provider may also prescribe muscle relaxants. These medications force tight muscles to relax to provide pain relief. However, muscle relaxants can induce drowsiness. Your provider may also recommend injection treatments. This ensures targeted delivery of the medicine into the painful muscle areas.

Stay Active

Rest can help in the first few days following your injury, but you will need to be active to complete your recovery. Being inactive for too long can be detrimental. Muscle stiffness and decreased physical strength are typical problems for those who have sustained an injury and remained at rest for a significant time. To combat this, your provider will likely incorporate light exercises or physical therapy into your treatment plan.

Physical therapy aims to improve range of motion and rebuild strength. Here are some of the exercises your provider may recommend:

●      Rotating your neck clockwise/counterclockwise

●      Tilting your neck to the left and right

●      Shoulder rolling

●      Bending your head towards and away from your chest

Treatment For Whiplash Wellington, FL

Most cases of mild whiplash can be resolved with over-the-counter medication and home care. However, severe cases may result in chronic pain and other prolonged complications. If you are suffering from whiplash due to an accident or physical trauma, see a provider immediately.

If you would like to seek help for whiplash in Wellington, look no further than the Advanced Medical Clinic. We are a primary care practice committed to delivering personalized healthcare treatment to patients of all ages. Our team crafts appropriate treatment plans for urgent and non-urgent conditions.

Let us know you’re coming! Call us at (561) 434-1935 or fill out our online appointment request form.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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 family medicine provider 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.