Do you suspect you might have whiplash? If you live in Altamonte Springs, we can help.
Whiplash–it’s a literal pain in the neck. And if you’ve ever suffered from neck pain or whiplash, you’re well aware of how much it can affect literally everything you do and every movement you make. But there are ways to help reduce whiplash pain, and one of the ways to do that is right around the corner at Physical Therapy Now in Altamonte Springs.
What Is Whiplash?
You’ve heard the term, but you may not be entirely sure what exactly whiplash is or how it occurs. Whiplash is a neck injury that happens through forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck. It gets its name because the action is similar to the cracking of a whip.
Most cases of whiplash are the result of a rear-end car accident. The impact from the car hitting yours from behind–even if it’s low-impact–forces your neck to violently jolt back and forth, which can strain or sprain your neck. Though car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash, it can also be sustained while playing sports, falling, or being violently shaken.
What Does Whiplash Feel Like?
Say you’ve been rear-ended by another vehicle, and your head and neck are violently “whipped” from the impact–you could have whiplash and not even feel the pain for days. But once you do feel it, the symptoms include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull
- Loss of range of motion in the neck
- Pain that worsens when you turn your head
- Dizziness
- Numbness or tingling in your arms
- Fatigue
- Shoulder pain and/or tenderness
Other symptoms such as blurred vision, tinnitus, irritability, trouble sleeping, depression, inability to concentrate, and memory problems arise.
What If I Think I Have Whiplash?
No matter how or where you may have sustained your whiplash injury, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. You may not feel pain immediately, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t injured. The only way to know for sure is to be examined by a physician and have X-rays, or other scans performed to assess the situation. From there, your doctor may choose one or more of these routes:
- Rest
- Pain medication (over the counter to start, prescription if the pain doesn’t subside)
- Muscle relaxants
- Injection (lidocaine, cortisone, or other types of numbing agents)
- Heat and ice therapy to calm the pain
- Physical therapy
And that’s where we can help tremendously…. In some cases, better than any other treatment option.
Whiplash Therapy in Altamonte Springs
The objective of physical therapy for whiplash and other neck issues is first to reduce the pain so you’re well enough to move to the next step, which would be doing strategic movements and exercises designed to strengthen and stretch your neck safely.
The specific program won’t be determined until you come to see us at our beautiful, state-of-the-art Physical Therapy Now facility in Altamonte Springs, where we’ll talk about your injury and pain and determine a personalized course of therapy for you.
Everyone responds differently to certain types of whiplash therapy, so we’ll work with you to find your comfort level and to see what works best. If your injuries (ligament sprains and/or muscle strains) are mild, you might be good to go in a week or two. If the damage is more serious, it could take months to feel like yourself again truly. Regardless, we’ll create a program of stretches and exercises that will help you restore the range of motion in your head and neck, strengthen the neck and its supporting muscles, and help prevent pain from recurring.
Call us today at (407) 214-6333 to set up your first appointment. From there, we’ll determine your next steps toward feeling 100% again.
