Whiplash generally occurs after such things as a sports injury, a fall, a car accident, or another trauma that occurs to the head and neck. Most people will tell you to put ice on the area that hurts. That is great advice! Icing the area will help to reduce swelling and will help you feel better. Is there anything else you need to be aware of?
Misalignments in the Neck
When the whiplash occurred, you may have also experienced a misalignment of the bones of the upper neck. Ice will not correct a misalignment, but an upper cervical chiropractor, like Dr. Daniel Judge of Birmingham, Michigan, can. Dr. Judge will examine you, and if he does find a misalignment, he will begin to correct it to get you feeling better. What problems can a misalignment cause?
Vertigo
Even if you have a misalignment as small as ¼ of a millimeter, it can cause major problems in the body. The flow of blood to the brain must remain at a consistent rate for the body to function properly. A misalignment can hinder this flow, and this will create many health problems, such as vertigo.
The vestibular system is responsible for proper spatial orientation and balance. A misalignment in your neck can cause this system not to work properly and, as a result, you will begin to suffer from vertigo. Up to 50% of people who have had whiplash suffer from vertigo at some point.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care
As you can see, whiplash starts out as an injury to the neck but can progress into a brainstem injury as the misalignment in your upper neck puts pressure on the brainstem. This is something that needs to be corrected as soon as possible for optimal health.
While we do encourage you to put ice on your injury, we also encourage you to take one step further. Contact Dr. Judge and set up an appointment for an evaluation to see if you do have any misalignments. That accident you incurred could have long-lasting effects if you do not care for your upper neck also. It could change your life, and not for the better. So, why not set up your assessment today?
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Daniel Judge call (248) 593-0843 or just click the button below:
