What Are The Most Serious Risks Of Not Receiving Whiplash Treatment?

Whether it’s due to a lack of immediate symptoms or the price of treatment, it’s common for people to opt out of getting their whiplash injuries checked out and treated by a professional. Find out the major risks associated with neglecting whiplash treatment before calling Impact Medical Largo to schedule a consultation appointment.

What Is Whiplash, And Do I Have It?

Whiplash is one of the most common types of accident injuries that car crash victims experience. It involves your neck being whipped from one side to another when impacted during a collision which gives credence to its name. This occurrence can result in countless symptoms in the muscles, nerves, tendons, and more. You can often identify whiplash by the following signs:

Pain when moving the neck
Limited mobility in the neck
Stiffness in the neck and shoulders
Consistent headaches and/or migraines
Numbing or tingling sensations
Dizziness or vertigo
Feeling tired or fatigued

It’s best to keep in mind that whiplash symptoms don’t always show up right after an accident. In some cases, it can take days or weeks before you start experiencing pain and discomfort. This is why it’s best to seek a chiropractor soon after a car crash regardless of how you feel in the moment.

All of the Risks Associated With Untreated Whiplash:

Neglecting whiplash injuries can cause it to escalate into worse conditions such as:

Permanent Stiffness In the Neck

When whiplash happens, the muscles in your neck and shoulders can become inflamed and limit your range of motion. Without proper treatment, it may become difficult to turn your head for the foreseeable future.

Chronic Headaches and Migraines

The nerves in your spine close to your neck can flare up and induce headaches or migraines. When left ignored, this area can remain tight and continue to cause consistent head pain. Take a moment to review your neck treatment options.

Spinal Misalignments

Leaving whiplash untreated can affect your posture which can, in turn, cause spinal misalignments. Like a snowball effect, misalignments caused by whiplash symptoms could affect your nervous system which opens up another category of pain and discomfort.

Degenerative Disc Disease

The same impactful force that causes whiplash can also push your vertebrae out of alignment and lead to herniated discs. So by neglecting whiplash treatment, you will also be robbing yourself of detecting and treating the weakness and numbness that comes from ignored herniated discs.

Neurological Conditions

Injuries affecting the nerves that go untreated have the potential to cause debilitating symptoms that can impact your quality of life and mental health such as anxiety, depression, dizziness, nausea, mood swings, personality disorders, and more. Chiropractic care is used to treat concussion symptoms, but adjustments can assist with these neurological problems as well.

Best Ways to Halt Whiplash Symptoms and Progression

People suffering from whiplash injuries may seek at-home relief like heat and ice packs, hot tea, pain meds, and even cervical collars. These methods may help relieve pain for a few minutes, but they should never replace professional care. A chiropractor can perform spinal manipulation and adjustments designed to realign the spinal cord to take pressure off of the nerves and reduce swelling in the neck. Physical therapy can also help you regain mobility and is often recommended after surgery should you need a surgical procedure for your neck injury.

Visit Your Trusted Chiropractor Near You In Largo

For effective whiplash treatment near you, call Impact Medical Largo at 727-630-2151 to schedule a consultation. We offer everything you need for relief in your neck and spine, including self-pay chiropractic services for flexible treatment options that work for you.