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The Hidden Damage of Whiplash

Whiplash can occur from more than just the familiar scenario of getting rear-ended in your car. Here are some common causes:

• car/motorcycle/bicycle/skateboard crashes

• roller coaster rides

• slip and falls

• sports injuries (like hard tackles)

• getting shoved from behind while unaware

The graphic above shows the classic movement of the head in relation to the shoulders in whiplash. This high-speed jerking motion of the head and neck can damage the soft tissue ligaments that connect the bones in your neck and hold them in their normal alignment.

Ligaments Made Simple

Ever pull a chicken leg apart from of thigh? That snap you hear occurs when the ligaments that hold the bones together rupture! The illustration above shows you what chicken ‘knee’ ligaments look like. They are not that much different than the ligaments than hold your neck bones together. Ligaments are strap-like ‘connective tissues’ that secure the bones that come together to make up your joints. A joint can have multiple ligaments devoted to this function. The neck joints (between vertebrae) have multiple ligamentous straps that hold your neck together for you.

Ligament Damage Made Simple

The illustration above on the left is a simple representation of two vertebrae and two ligaments that support their proper alignment. The illustration on the right shows an abnormal alignment between the bones after the supporting ligaments are damaged by trauma. In the neck after whiplash, ligaments can get stretched or even torn, and this allows bones to slip around on each other, resulting in ‘instability.’

Anyone who has had a whiplash injury is aware of the neck pain, headache, and stiffness that it produces. But unless very specific testing is done, the extent of ligamentous damage can remain hidden and unaddressed.

Specialized x-ray examination is needed to visualize the misalignment of the neck bones that occurs with ligamentous instability.

Taking x-ray images of the neck with the head tilted forward (A) and back (B) as seen above can reveal slippage due to ligament damage.

The most thorough way to visualize ligament damage is with DMX - Dynamic Motion X-Ray which is essentially a motion picture video of your spine as it moves through a variety of positions allowing the clinician to find and document any hidden evidence of ligamentous injury. We are fortunate to have the world class headquarters for this technology right here in Palm Harbor!!! You can get a peek at this unique video imaging of the ‘spine in motion’ by clicking this link or copying and pasting it to your browser!

https://www.dmxworks.com

Come See Us First

If you have a whiplash injury from a car accident the chiropractor’s office is where you need to be. We are the only health care providers who pay attention to the alignment of the bones in your neck, and we are the only ones who can help keep them aligned as your ligaments heal. Without the right attention damaged ligaments in the neck can result in the following:

• lifetime of neck pain, headaches, and stiffness

• excessive scarring resulting in reduced mobility

• premature onset of arthritis

Benefits Galore!

• Your auto insurance will cover your care here with little or no out of pocket expense.

• If you were not at fault, we have the best technology to prove injury (example DMX) and assist you with getting the best settlement for your pain and suffering.

• If you happen to be at fault - welcome to the club. Even the nicest folks can make mistakes on the road. That’s why the insurance industry has created the ‘No Fault’ system that allows you to use your car insurance in our office to get well.

Thanks again for reading along! Drive safely. Until next time…

Blessings to you!