Posts Tagged ‘Whiplash New Fairfield CT’
Welcome to Chiropractic Life and Wellness Center's Whiplash New Fairfield CT Archive. Here you can learn more about Chiropractic Life and Wellness Center, Chiropractic, and Dr. Brandon Chorney, today's choice for Chiropractors in New Fairfield, CT. Read Dr. Brandon Chorney's Chiropractic Whiplash New Fairfield CT for the health of it.
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Feb 18, 2016 | Health Articles
Would it not be wonderful to delete our neck pain as easily as clicking on an app? Unfortunately are vision of a solution could be one of a combination of reasons we are suffering with our neck pain. Understanding the Mechanics If you think about the mechanics of your neck, you’ll realize it’s not surprising...
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jan 22, 2015 | Health Articles
Car accidents are renowned for causing whiplash injuries, and these should always be taken seriously no matter how insignificant they may at first appear, because of the areas which are affected. It should also be remembered that the effects of whiplash may take weeks or months to fully manifest, thus it cannot be assumed no...
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Nov 20, 2014 | Health Articles
As the roads become increasingly slippery, more auto accidents are occurring at an alarming rate. The sharp or sudden stops are causing whiplash injuries to not only the driver but all the passengers involved. These injuries unfortunately do not always cause sudden pain but can manifest over time and are not limited to motor vehicles accidents. They also occur from falls, sports injuries, work injuries, and other incidents.
Understanding Whiplash
Whiplash is a generic term applied to injuries of the neck caused when the neck is suddenly and/or violently jolted in one direction and then another, creating a whip-like movement. Whiplash injuries most often result in sprain-strain of the neck. The ligaments that help support, protect, and restrict excessive movement of the vertebrae are torn, which is called a sprain. The joints in the back of the spine, called the facet joints, are covered by ligaments called facet capsules, which seem to be particularly susceptible to a whiplash injury.
When the muscles and tendons are strained—stretched beyond their normal limits, the discs between the vertebrae, which are essentially ligaments, can be torn, potentially causing a disc herniation. As this occurs the nerve roots between the vertebrae may also be stretched and become inflamed. Even though it is very rare, vertebrae can be fractured and/or dislocated in a whiplash injury.
What Are Common Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash
The most common symptoms of whiplash are pain and stiffness in the neck. These symptoms are generally found in the areas that are “whiplashed.” For example, during a whiplash, first the head is lifted up from the upper-cervical spine. This creates a sprain/strain in the region just below the skull, where symptoms usually occur. Symptoms may also commonly be seen in the front and back of the neck. Turning the head often makes the pain and discomfort worse.
Headache, especially at the base of the skull, is also a common symptom, seen in more than two thirds of patients. These headaches may be one-sided (unilateral) or experienced on both sides (bilateral). The pain and stiffness may extend down into the shoulders and arms, upper back, and even the upper chest.
In addition to the musculoskeletal symptoms, some patients also experience dizziness, difficulty swallowing, nausea, and even blurred vision after a whiplash injury. While these symptoms are disconcerting, in most cases, they disappear within a relatively short time. If they persist, it is very important to inform your doctor that they are not resolving. Vertigo (the sensation of the room spinning) and ringing in the ears may also be seen, as well as some patients may feel pain in the jaw. Others will even complain of irritability, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms also resolve quickly in most cases. In rare cases, symptoms can persist for weeks, months, or even years.
Treatment of Whiplash
Stay Active
One of the most important aspects of whiplash management is for the patient to stay active, unless there is some serious injury that requires immobilization. Patients should not be afraid to move and be active, within reason. In addition, your doctor will often prescribe an exercise or stretching program. It is particularly important to follow this program as prescribed, so that you can achieve the best long-term benefits.
Chiropractic Treatments and Physical Therapy
Chiropractic treatments provided by a chiropractor will provide neck pain relief and begin structural corrections of any misalignments that are identified. Ice and/or heat are often used to help control pain and reduce the muscle spasm that results from whiplash injuries. Other physical therapy modalities, such as electrical stimulation and/or ultrasound, may also provide short-term relief. They can, however, be very complimentary to an active-care program of exercise and stretching.
How We Can Help!
If you have suffered in an accident that has resulted in a whiplash injury, call today and schedule an in depth examination and consultation so we can help you stop the pain quickly and avoid other hazards to your health.
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Sep 9, 2014 | Health Articles
In today’s busy world we and others around us can easily be distracted. When we are distracted we have no present time consciousness and this can lead to accidents caused or experienced. The impact often involves a sharp or sudden jolt in which our body, neck and head are not prepared for. These distractions can also be the start of not only neck pain but the beginning of a degenerative process that may not manifest until years later.
In these types of accidents the most common injury suffered is often described as Whiplash. Car accidents are most frequently associated with causing whiplash injuries, however, this action can also be simply as a result of a fall.
Understanding Whiplash
A whiplash injury occurs when there is an abrupt backward or forward jerking motion of the head which causes an injury to the neck where the intervertebral joints (located between vertebrae), discs, ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots may become damaged. These cervical spinal injuries most frequently result when a person is struck in such a way as to cause the jerking motion of the head and neck to occur. Whiplash is then characterized by a collection of symptoms that occur following damage to the neck.
People who experience whiplash may develop one or more of the following symptoms, usually within the first few days after the injury:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches
- Pain in the shoulder or between the shoulder blades
- Low back pain
- Pain or numbness in the arm and/or hand
- Dizziness
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering
- Irritability, sleep disturbances, fatigue
It should be remembered that the effects of whiplash may take weeks or months to fully manifest, thus it cannot be assumed that no problems exist just because no symptoms are felt immediately following the accident. These symptoms should always be taken seriously no matter how insignificant they may at first appear due to the areas which are affected.
If you are not very careful, a whiplash injury may end up causing permanent damage when it is not noticed or its effect is underestimated. Around 50% of whiplash victims are still suffering the effects of their whiplash years later.
Statistics on Whiplash Injury
Nearly 1 out of 15 adult Americans suffers from the annoying and sometimes debilitating long-term effects of a whiplash injury, usually in the form of neck stiffness and pain. Fortunately, Chiropractic offers a very high level of help regarding relief for whiplash. Here are the conclusions of 4 separate studies cited:
- In a study published in Injury, 93 percent of 28 patients showed significant improvements following Chiropractic care. The help protocol utilized included spinal manipulation, stretching and ice therapy.
- Study results published in the Journal of Orthopedic Medicine showed similar findings. “Whiplash injuries are common. Chiropractic is the only proven effective treatment in chronic cases,” researchers said in their study conclusions.
- Finally, two separate studies published in the Journal of Manipulative Physiology and Therapy confirm Chiropractic benefits. “For chronic spinal pain in general, when compared to traditional medical approaches, Chiropractic has generally been shown to be more effective.”
Use Your Head!
Whiplash is a common injury that can occur in our current lifestyles. Practicing safe driving and using properly adjusted headrest restraints and seat-belts can go a long way to preventing whiplash accidents. Also, wearing the proper head gear in sporting activities, particularly for those playing a violent sport like football, can also help to prevent injury. But when painful blows to the cervical spine occur be smart and have a professional evaluation by a spinal specialist – a Chiropractor. Studies confirm that Chiropractic can provide significant help and long-term healing results.
Please ask our expert chiropractic and rehabilitation team what recommendations they would advise to help restore health and function and how to keep your cervical spine in tip-top condition.
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Aug 28, 2012 | Health Articles
Whiplash is one of the most common auto accident injuries, but there are many other ways in which this injury to the cervical spine can occur. When it does, studies show that Chiropractic care provides significant relief and long term healing results. A whiplash injury occurs as the result of an abrupt backward and/or forward...
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As the roads become increasingly slippery, more auto accidents are occurring at an alarming rate. The sharp or sudden stops are causing whiplash injuries to not only the driver but all the passengers involved. These injuries unfortunately do not always cause sudden pain but can manifest over time and are not limited to motor vehicles accidents. They also occur from falls, sports injuries, work injuries, and other incidents.
In today’s busy world we and others around us can easily be distracted. When we are distracted we have no present time consciousness and this can lead to accidents caused or experienced. The impact often involves a sharp or sudden jolt in which our body, neck and head are not prepared for. These distractions can also be the start of not only neck pain but the beginning of a degenerative process that may not manifest until years later.