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Whiplash Treatment & Neck Pain
Each year in the UK 400,000 motorists receive Whiplash as a result of rear end collisions. Fortunately, within 3 months 50% of those with injuries recover. Of the other 50% many end up with incalculable neck pain and in some cases, permanent disability.
Currently, consultations for Whiplash treatment cost the NHS £8 million per year and cost the Insurance industry an approximate £1.6bn each year, consisting of 1,100 claims each day.
The typical approach to Whiplash treatment is the use of anti-inflammatory medications, analgesics (pain killers) and muscle relaxants. Also commonly used are soft collars and cervical pillows. Some kind of physical therapy such as traction or range of motion exercises may be included. In more severe cases anaesthetic injections, nerve block injections and facet joint injections are prescribed. More often than not these modalities tend to be a disappointment.
Now there is a method of whiplash treatment specially designed to bring relief from the neck pain caused by whiplash and the despair that nothing can be done about it.
Jack Eppel ND DO has formulated a comprehensive system specifically for those who continue to have symptoms after Whiplash, significantly improving recovery and transforming chronic conditions to pre accident levels and beyond.
What is Whiplash?
If you have had a car crash, accident or any kind of impact injury, you may have been diagnosed with Whiplash or Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD).
Whiplash is defined as neck pain and /or back pain resulting from an impact, lasting for less than 6 weeks.
It is also called acceleration/ deceleration injury or hyperextension/ hyperflexion injury, which describes the mechanism of injury, where the head is snapped back and whipped forth.
Whiplash Associated Disorder is when there is still pain after 6 weeks and possibly a variety of other clinical symptoms resulting from the trauma.
Whiplash Associated Disorder symptoms typically last for up to 2 years.
The other whiplash symptoms include:
▪ Neck pain and restriction in shoulder, back or jaw.
▪ Numbness, pain, weakness or pins and needles in arms.
▪ Headaches.
▪ Difficulty swallowing.
▪ Anxiety, irritability, depression, inability to concentrate and fatigue.
▪ Eye disturbances (light sensitivity, blurred vision).
▪ Inner ear disturbances (dizziness, tinnitus, balance difficulties).
▪ Psychological disturbances (post traumatic stress, invasive thoughts of the accident, panic attacks, driving avoidance, sleep difficulties, fear of re injury)
These symptoms are grouped in to Syndromes:
1. Cervical Syndrome – upper neck involvement (pain, restriction, tenderness, headaches)
2. Cervico Brachial Syndrome – above mentioned symptoms + lower neck involvement + pain and altered sensations in the arms
3. Cervico Encephalic Syndrome – includes disturbances of balance, concentration, vision, dizziness, tinnitus, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and depression.
4. Cervico Medullar Syndrome – trauma to spinal cord (rare).
The syndromes present a general lay out of presentations, however a picture of a mixture of symptoms from different syndromes is possible.
Another common system of Whiplash classification is The Quebec Classification, devised in order to assist diagnosis and treatment of Whiplash Associated Disorder.
Grade 0 – no complaint about the neck, no physical signs
Grade 1 – neck complaint of pain and restriction, no physical signs
Grade 2 - neck complaint + musculoskeletal signs
Grade 3 – neck complaint + neurological signs + psychological distress
Grade 4 – neck complaint + fracture
Mechanism of Injury in Whiplash
The classic explanation is that the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits after a collision or car crash, causing the muscles and ligaments supporting the neck to be injured.
More recent research reveals a more elaborate mechanism of injury. Experiments where cadavers have been subject to rear end collisions and recorded using cineradiograohy and cinephotography, show that the lower neck extends, the middle of the neck forms an S-shaped curve whilst the upper neck undergoes flexion. The mid back also “ramps” upwards with the force adding compression and shear forces to the neck.
Diagnosis of Whiplash
Diagnosis of Whiplash is based on criteria of exclusion. Whiplash symptoms usually appear 2 hours to 2 days after the incident. After an X-ray and neurological examination the doctor will diagnose Whiplash when there is only trauma to the soft tissues of the neck (muscles, ligaments) and an absence of fracture of the bones.
Patients who do not improve or who get worse after 4 weeks should receive another X-ray or MRI to rule out the possibility of fracture, ligamentous instability, or disc injury.
If symptoms do not disappear after 6 weeks or new symptoms appear, the patient should be again re evaluated.
The Whiplash Treatment System
Jack Eppel has, through his 14 years of body-mind work experience, devised an approach specifically designed to address the situations faced by people suffering from Whiplash Associated Disorder.
A complete and thorough neurological and musculo-skeletal examination will identify the underlying causes that are maintaining the symptoms, whether they are dizziness, headaches, eye or sleep disturbances, psychological disturbances, muscle, joint or nerve pain.
Then, a personalized, effective, safe and natural treatment program, to positively transform you back to a state of flourishing health, will be provided.
Techniques will also be given to deal with stress and pain; self help techniques to empower you to work on yourself to get back to normal activities as well as any appropriate nutritional, herbal, homeopathic, postural or lifestyle advice.