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Whiplash Injuries in Woodbury

You’re waiting at a stoplight in Woodbury. The sound of screeching tires is followed by the harsh sound of metal hitting metal. Your car is suddenly being pushed forward!

You’re being rear-ended!

In a split second, your body is pushed against your seat. Your head, isolated by your neck, delays its reaction.

Then, your body changes directions, moving forward to the limits of your seatbelt. (You are wearing your seatbelt aren't you!?!) Then your head is snapped backwards. But you can’t stop it.

Even a minor fender bender in Woodbury can produce a whiplash injury. Unfortunately, whiplash is often treated as a simple sprain because in many cases no immediate pain can be detected. A person is often unaware that they have had a whiplash injury at all as it may take a few days, a week or two, or sometimes months for symptoms to appear. Some of the symptoms that one will first detect are stiff neck, headaches, inability to relax, tension in the shoulders and even low back pain. Other signs of whiplash are numbness, tingling and loss of strength in your hands.

Contrary to popular opinion, whiplash is not a specific injury or disease in itself. It is a type of sudden lashing movement that causes a variety of injuries to the neck and upper spine. More specifically whiplash is an involuntary thrust of the head in any direction in which the head recoils in one direction and the neck in another.

Lets consider for a moment, what happens in an rear end collision occurs in Woodbury. Your head weighs from 7-9 pounds. It is fastened to your neck which is made up of 7 small bones and over 30 joints. At the time of impact, your neck is shoved in the direction of the force that hits the car and your head which is heavier than your flexible neck, falls back in the opposite direction. The neck acts like a whip and the head is actually snapped back.

Pain pills won't heal inflamed tendons and ligaments. Muscle relaxers won't heal torn muscles. A cervical collar won't restore a graceful forward spinal curve. Specific chiropractic spinal adjustments, because they can help restore proper motion and position of individual spinal bones, can better assure proper healing. Dr. Levy is a spinal specialist in Woodbury, who is trained to correct the misalignment of your neck and spine. Contact our Woodbury office for an examination! The longer you wait the more unseen damage there is and the longer it may take to recover. Drugs may temporarily reduce the pain, but they simply delay more effective chiropractic care.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why do I have pain in my arms and hands?
Because the nerves to the arms and hands exit the spine through the injured area of the neck, numbness and tingling are common. Even lower back pain can result directly from the trauma, or as a reaction to the loss of proper spinal curves.
Why did my headaches start more than a week after my accident?
Whether you’ve been in an accident, stressed at work, or over-exerted yourself in the garden, your body is constantly adapting to the environment. When your capacity to adapt is exhausted, symptoms can appear. This can take days, weeks, months or years to occur.
Why do minor collisions cause so much trauma to the spine?
Without getting into the laws of physics, the simple explanation is that in a more forceful automobile accident, the car itself absorbs much of the energy. In the more common parking lot “fender benders”, the energy is more directly transferred to the driver and passengers.
Can I prevent a whiplash injury?
Since car accidents are the major cause of whiplash injuries, defensive driving skills can help. Be sure your taillights and turn signals are properly working. Allow enough stopping distance in front of you. When you slow down or stop, always check your rear view mirror to see if the driver behind you is paying attention.
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Dr. Steve Asks some important questions of interest to Woodbury residents - Chiropractor Woodbury Dr. Steve Asks...

Will chiropractic adjustments make my spine too loose?
No. Only the spinal joints that are fixated and "locked up" receive attention. The occasional spinal joint that moves too much is passed over so weakened muscles and ligaments can strengthen and heal.
Are chiropractors just concerned with the spine?
Our interest in the spine is because it covers the major communications conduit between your brain and your body. As a Woodbury chiropractor my job is to locate areas (usually along the spine) that interfere with proper nerve communications to and from your brain. Chiropractic adjustments help restore nervous system integrity. In this way, chiropractic care can affect the function of your entire body.