Auto Accidents: The Issue with Chronic Neck Pain and How Chiropractic Can Help

by Karlynn L. Benson, D.C.

You are heading to the ball game, or concert or up north for a fun weekend at the lake. The traffic is not moving and the next thing you know, someone rear ends your car. Your head flies forward and then back and forward again. Nothing is broken and your car still works. But, the neck pain can linger for weeks or months or years. Here’s how chiropractic can help.

Automobile Accident Facts

The National Transportation Safety Board estimates there are 1.7 million rear-end collisions every year. Many people wait to see how they feel a few days later, before seeking help. But, prompt treatment will relieve you from your acute and chronic pain. With proper diagnostic care, your chiropractor will be able to identify your underlying injuries and create a custom treatment program to support your body’s natural healing process.

A study from the University of Alberta found 18% of people reported chronic pain a year after their accident. Patients were surveyed 1 month, 3 months and 1 year after their injury about how they felt. This confirms a 2009 British survey finding more than 5% have nagging symptoms, even 10 years or more after the initial injury.

Injuries at speeds as slow as 5 mph can still knock the cervical spine out of alignment causing a painful whiplash injury. Because “fender benders” are often considered to be a “minor” accidents, oftentimes delayed treatment can lead to a lifetime of health problems.

Course of Action

The first course of action is to identify the the underlying cause of the pain. We will access your injuries and work on a care plan. Traditional medicine for whiplash includes painkillers to mask the symptoms. With concerns over long-term use of most painkillers, it is not a long-term management solution.

Chiropractic adjustments treat the underlying spinal or whiplash injury. Adjustments relieve pressure on the nerves and muscles, while also bringing alignment back to the spine. 

Additionally, your chiropractor will recommend therapies like corrective exercises to bring a full range of motion back to your body. It is important to improve movement for a full recovery.

Chiropractic care for auto accidents speeds healing and provides natural ways to manage pain, so you will not be a statistic of pain in a year.