Rain brings whiplash season

A Dangerous Time of Year: Whiplash Time is Upon Us

When the rains begin to fall, we know to expect calls from our regular patients and new referrals to address pain stemming from car accident injuries. When roads are slick and slippery, it is around 4 to 5 times more likely for an accident to occur when compared to calm weather. In the last decade and a half, my Chiropractic office has seen hundreds of car accident and personal injury victims.

Whiplash is the classic neck injury that is most commonly caused by automobile accidents.

When the head is pulled forward and yanked backwards as in an auto accident, the immense stress affects the neck causing whiplash. The weight of the head is considerable compared to the size of the muscles used to control it. When the head is suddenly whipped in a violent manner, the muscles of the neck are inadequate to support the movement associated with the gravitational g-force pull. Some of the typical results of a whiplash injury are ligament damage, pinched nerves, muscle tearing, spasms and back problems.

Whiplash can become a painful, chronic problem if not treated. A lot of people make the error of judging the type of injury to their body, based on the impact force or the total amount of car damage. This isn't good thinking. There are a myriad of variables that determine whether someone experiences pain with just a small fender-bender, while someone else feels absolutely none after having their car totaled by a vehicle traveling at 65 mph. Some of the considerations as to whether a person sustains an injury during an accident include angle and speed of impact, use of safety belts, and head position.

It is a common myth that whiplash and other injuries can only occur as a result of high speed auto accidents; in reality, many people experience symptoms after minor accidents. Symptoms of whiplash may occur at the time, or they may occur days, weeks or even many months later.

Whiplash can cause many problems including painful headaches, muscle spasms, pain in the shoulders, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), arm pain and tingling, insomnia, and the most common, neck pain. The chronic pain of whiplash can destroy a patient’s quality of life, resulting in the chance of depression.

Misaligned vertebrae in the neck is a common problem associated with whiplash. If treatment is not obtained, these vertebrae will remain misaligned, which will cause chronic neck pain, loss of motion, headaches and arthritis in the future.

A study done in Canada, published in 1998, looked at approximately 10,000 people with neck injuries; the conclusion from the study was that remedies in addition to chiropractic treatment are necessary for recovery from whiplash. The study also determined that "accepted" treatments like muscle relaxers, neck collars, immobilization, and all the rest were not helpful for a whiplash victim.

Drive carefully!

We offer whiplash treatments in our location. The most common cause of auto accidents is a wet road. The reason we have an extremely slick and slippery surface when it rains here in the desert is because oil and other substances loosen from the road after being adhered to it through most of the year.

Car accidents are a big deal! It is true but unfortunate that nearly 1/4 of people in car accidents experience ongoing pain. This could cause a lifetime of chronic pain in the neck, lower back and head.

Defensive driving is the best way to prevent an accident in rainy weather. The next part of this article details the safety guidelines for driving in wet weather, originally published by the National Safety Council on their website.

It can be scary to lose control of your vehicle on a wet surface. You can avoid skidding by driving cautiously and slowly, especially when going around curves. Use a light touch to brake and steer. If you need to slow down or stop, make sure that you don't start skidding by avoiding braking hard and locking the wheels. Use mild pressure on the brakes.

If your car begins to slide, don't panic, take your foot off the gas and steer into the direction of the skid until the car regains traction. Try not to use your brakes if they aren't anti-lock. This maneuver, often called "steering into the skid," brings the rear of the car in line with the front end. Brake firmly as you steer into the skid if your car has anti-lock brakes.

Sliding or slipping on wet roads is certainly unsettling but hydroplaning is terrifying. Hydroplaning occurs as the water in front of the tires builds up quicker than your car's weight can push it away. The pressure of the water actually lifts up your automobile and makes it slide on the thin layer of water that is lying between your tires and the road. Your vehicle has little or no contact directly with the road, and the slightest wrong movement could cause a skid or cause you to slide out of your lane or off the road. Proper tire maintenance and safe driving habits during inclement weather are your best defense against the dangers of hydroplaning. Do your best to drive in the same tire tracks left by the car in front of you.

Don't brake or turn suddenly if you start hydroplaning. This could make your car skid. Take your foot off the gas pedal slowly until your car slows down and you feel the road again. When you brake, do it gently. If the car comes with anti-lock brakes, then you should brake normally; the car's computer system will simulate a pumping action, when needed. The best way to avoid an accident in bad weather is to be a defensive driver and adjust your speed according to the conditions.

This next section provides recommendations from the National Safety Council.

Visit a chiropractor as soon as possible after any car accident, even a fender bender. According to statistics, the best thing to do to prevent being part of the 25% people that have auto injuries that have not completely recovered, is to let a licensed chiropractor look at you and obey the suggested treatment as soon as you can.

Chiropractic Care For Auto Accidents

When was your last auto accident? Did you go to a chiropractor for an evaluation? If you haven't, then you should. You have not waited too long.

Our Chiropractic Office treats a lot of individuals for back pain, neck pain, as well as headaches that are caused by auto accidents. Many of our patients are being treated for recent accidents, however many more patients were in auto accidents years prior but were not treated at the time due to not taking the symptoms seriously at the time of occurrence.

I have always thought it was a little strange that, generally, people don't spend time helping themselves feel better but they are always concerned about getting their cars repaired quickly.

It's hard to explain why so many people think like this. Often when people are involved in a car accident they tend to overlook, or don't take seriously, minor headaches, mild lower back pain, or a small amount of neck pain. This thinking isn't right. We can’t afford to ignore the signs our bodies give when something is wrong.

In accidents involving whiplash, the injury mechanism is quite complex. Multiple injuries are associated with these accidents, such as ripped or torn ligaments, herniated discs in the spine, stretched or torn muscles, and even fractures of the spine. The effects of injuries that lead to back pain and neck pain can be a fairly mild nuisance or a debilitating condition. Back pain and neck pain are hard to cope with in short durations, and chronic pains can alter your life dramatically.

While it is complicated to explain the mechanism of injury in whiplash cases, the usual resulting spinal injuries follow a very similar path. In the beginning there is irritation of the ligaments and muscles in the area of injury. This irritation can turn into inflammation. Inflammation creates the initial symptoms of injury, and when inflammation is left untreated, it forms scar tissue possibly leading to permanent disability and chronic pain.

Statistics show that close to 25% of automobile injury victims experience pain from enduring symptoms. I see proof of this statistic regularly in my chiropractic office.

Chiropractors specialize in treating neck and back pain that occur due to an automobile accident. The best thing you can do to be certain that you are not included with this 25% group that has never been completely healed from their injuries that came from an auto accident is to be examined and follow your chiropractor's suggestions for treatment.

Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


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