Think of the impact of a rapid and forceful head movement and you’d see how whiplash can traumatize your neck. If you seek neck pain relief in Encinitas, you probably know what we are talking about. At first, you may see whiplash as a simple and minor neck injury after a car accident. But after a couple of weeks, you will realize that it is much serious than you think. 

Whiplash can manifest itself in several symptoms. Severe neck pain is the most common one. We recommend that you seek professional care after experiencing whiplash. If you leave it untreated, it can cause more negative health impacts.

So, What Is Whiplash? 

Whiplash is a neck injury. It results from a rapid back-and-forth head and neck movement. As the name implies, Whiplash has an impact that resembles the fast action of a whip. Due to its quick but forceful impact, it can traumatize the vertebrae, tendons, muscles, nerves, and vertebral discs in your upper neck. 

Whiplash can be so severe that it can put your upper neck out of alignment. This will result in a wide range of adverse effects on your mobility and overall health.

Get Yourself Familiar with These Whiplash Symptoms

Getting neck pain relief in Encinitas can be a challenge if the pain stems from a whiplash injury. This is true, especially when your upper neck starts to fall out of its proper alignment. 

For this reason, you need to recognize the symptoms of whiplash before they get worse. Here are the most common symptoms of whiplash that you can notice after an accident. 

• Neck pain 
• Backache
• Head pain
• Nausea
• Shoulder pain
• Dizziness

However, you need to remember that not all whiplash symptoms show up after the accident. Some of these symptoms, including neck pain, may occur weeks or months after you had the injury. Even an upper neck misalignment doesn’t happen immediately after the day of the accident. Instead, it can form gradually depending on the severity of the damage in your neck. 

That is why we recommend that you get your upper neck evaluated by an upper cervical chiropractor. You may have your upper neck consultation even if you haven’t seen any signs of symptoms yet. This way, you will be able to protect your neck from more severe damage.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and neck pain, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Untreated Whiplash Can Result in Serious Symptoms

“It’s just a simple neck pain.” Yes, that’s partly true.

But it could also result in something more serious if you have a sustained whiplash injury in the past. When you don’t see a doctor for neck pain relief in Encinitas, you are setting your neck up for further damage. Every neck turn or movement following a neck injury can put intense stress and pressure on your head, neck, and spine. 

Not only that, but you may also experience some neck mobility problems when you leave the pain untreated. As a result, you may not be able to return to your usual level of work productivity after months or years. 

Here are some of the more serious symptoms following a whiplash injury:

Upper neck misalignment

A whiplash injury can cause the C1 and C2 vertebrae in your upper neck to fall out of alignment. As a result, you may deal with a reduced range of motion and other health issues. An upper neck misalignment can also interfere with the normal communication between the brain and the body. 

Long-term neck mobility 

The stiffness in your neck following a whiplash injury can cause long-term loss of neck mobility. This may prevent you from performing your daily tasks as your neck doesn’t heal from swelling or inflammation.

Vertigo

Vertigo is a symptom that causes a spinning sensation even if the person is entirely still. It can cause you to lose balance, making it a serious health problem. 

Chronic headache

Since your neck is closely connected to your head, an untreated whiplash injury can cause chronic headaches. The pain can radiate from the back of the upper neck to the base of the skull. A chronic headache often leads to other serious health problems such as dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and weakness.

Upper Cervical Care: The Key to Neck Pain Relief in Encinitas

Due to the intense impact of whiplash on the neck, the trauma can cause your upper neck to misalign. More wide range of adverse health issues can follow, affecting not only your neck but other vital functions in your body.

Fortunately, upper cervical chiropractic care is a natural way to relieve a whiplash injury. 

Upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on fixing your off-centered upper neck alignment by gently moving your C1 and C2 vertebrae. Remember, this technique does not just help alleviate your symptoms, but rather it fixes the root cause of whiplash symptoms. This will then allow your neck to restore its optimal health and heal on its own. 

• We start by gathering information about the status of your neck. We will get a clear view of your upper neck during your first visit through x-rays.
• Next, we will discuss the results of your x-rays and carefully analyze them. Then, we will make a precise adjustment plan to restore your C1 and C2 vertebrae to proper alignment.
• Once everything is set, we will perform a gentle adjustment in your upper neck. We will adjust your neck without any hint of pain. You will experience long-term relief from whiplash symptoms by correcting the misaligned region. 

New and Returning Patients Can Book an Appointment with Us

If you want to achieve lasting neck pain relief in Encinitas, K2 Health Center is here to help you reach your goal. We provide a natural upper cervical chiropractic solution to help you with your pain. We offer a kind of care that will help minimize your pain and maximize your neck’s overall health. In addition, the gentle and precise upper cervical chiropractic adjustments we offer can improve the quality of your life.

So, if you want to restore your neck’s full mobility after a whiplash injury, give us a call. K2 Health Center will walk you through every step towards recovery. Learn more about us on our website. You may also book a consultation by calling (760) 456-9470.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Keener, call our Encinitas office at 760-456-9470. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.