Whiplash Treatment in Tacoma WA

Have you experienced a car accident or a whiplash in Tacoma WA? When there has been a sudden acceleration or stop by force, the neck can quickly hyperextend and/or hyperflex causing what is commonly known as whiplash. Whiplash is the most common injury following a car accident, primarily because the muscles don't have enough time to prepare for the impact. Active Chiropractic - Tacoma in Tacoma WA can help your whiplash injury and other car accident injuries.

Whiplash injuries can be very serious and need to be properly treated. Whiplash can take a very long time before you feel noticeable symptoms that can be serious so it is best to take care of it right away. If left untreated, you can experience radiating pain throughout your shoulders, down into your arms, elbows, wrists, and hands, or even down into your mid back and low back. It is also common for people to experience increased occasions of illness, headaches, and even pain in the jaw.

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Repercussions of Whiplash injuries in Tacoma WA

As mentioned, left untreated there are a number of problems that can follow a trauma like this. This is a direct reaction of the sudden quick movements that can strain or tear muscles and can cause misalignments in the spine. There are other factors that can make the resulting condition worse including age, sex, previous health history, and current physical condition.

The most common manifestations that occur following a whiplash injury include, but are not limited to the following symptoms.

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Pain in the neck

The number one complaint after an accident associated with whiplash trauma is neck pain. Generally, the pain will radiate to different areas including, but not limited to, the shoulders, into/around the head, as well as in between the shoulder blades. This occurs because the trauma most likely damaged the surrounding soft tissue in the neck leading to stress on the joints, ligaments, nerves, and intervertebral discs (discs between the vertebrae). Herniated, bulging, or ruptured discs are also a possible injuries following a car accident.

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Migraines/Headaches

The number two complaint following an accident is headaches or migraines. This can occur if there is a direct injury to the brain but also if there is damage or stress on the musculature or structure to the neck. This is because the pain will radiate into the head, creating pain.

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Jaw (TMJ) Pain

It is very common for someone to experience pain and/or locking in the jaw following whiplash trauma. Specifically, this occurs in the temporomandibular joint or TMJ. The dysfunction most likely will start with some minor "popping" and/or "clicking" with yawning, eating, etc. At Active Chiropractic - Tacoma we help this problem!

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Low Back Pain

Yes, whiplash trauma is the most common injury but it is common to sustain injury to the low back as well. In a person has been in an accident like a rear-ending incident which can happen when a vehicle is struck from the side. This is a result of the sudden quick movements and it is likely that the low back underwent some kind of compression.

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Healing After An Accident

If cared for properly, a person can recover fully from these injuries within a few months. Whiplash is a complicated condition that requires professional care because it encompasses injury to so many different areas of the body. At Active Chiropractic - Tacoma we are trained to target all aspects of these injuries and fix the problem rather than mask it with medication.

We do this through safe, gentle chiropractic adjustments combined with soft tissue therapy and active rehabilitation. Chiropractic care is the most effective treatment for healing from trauma and reducing the chances of developing manifesting problems.

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If you or someone you know has been in an automobile accident in Tacoma WA then call Active Chiropractic - Tacoma and take the first step to put it in the past!