While the accident could have been worse, the damage to the neck is obvious. That sudden jerking motion was more than enough to leave the individual with a case of whiplash. While wearing a brace helps, it pays to look into other forms of non-invasive treatment to hasten the recovery process. That’s where seeing a chiropractor to help with that Whiplash in St Louis treatment makes sense. Here are some of the ways the treatments will help.
Spinal Manipulation to the Rescue
While much of the focus is on the neck, sustaining Whiplash in St Louis means the upper back is also thrown out of alignment. Between the stress on the neck and what has happened to the back, the pain can be significant. One of the first things the chiropractor will do after examining the patient is to recommend spinal manipulation.
Commonly referred to as an adjustment, the manipulation is designed to gently move the spinal column back into a perfect alignment. Doing so helps to alleviate some of the stress on the neck. As a result, the body’s natural healing processes can begin to undo the damage done by that sudden jerking motion during the accident.
Most patients will need a series of manipulations over a period of a couple of weeks. Gradually, the patient will notice the soreness is easing and the need to take any type of pain medication occurs less frequently. It will also become easier to turn the head to the left or right without triggering waves of discomfort.
Massage and Exercise
As part of the treatment, the chiropractor may also use massage to treat the tension carried in the back and the neck, Exercises designed to provide some of the same relief may be recommended. In particular, what is known as McKenzie exercises help to reinforce the effectiveness of the manipulations and massage by helping the discs to move back into a proper alignment. That, in turn, eases pressure on the muscles and expedites healing.
Don’t assume that a neck brace and prescription pain medication is the only way to deal with whiplash. Visit Website today and schedule an appointment with a chiropractor. In the long run, those visits will mean less pain and a faster recovery.
