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whiplash treatment Wellington FL

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!

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 doctors 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 doctor will give you advice on how long you should rest and any movement restrictions to follow.

Use Neck Support

Your doctor 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 doctor 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 doctor 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 doctor may prescribe antidepressants to relieve nerve pain. For your safety and health, it’s best to consult with your doctor before taking any medications.

Your doctor may also prescribe muscle relaxants. These medications force tight muscles to relax to provide pain relief. However, muscle relaxants can induce drowsiness. Your doctor 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 doctor 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 doctor 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 doctor 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.