Relief for Whiplash & Concussion

Concussions

Concussion injuries in the National Football League have brought attention in recent years to brain injury from concussions. The NFL has made rule changes in the game and the football helmet that the players wear to protect them from a concussion injury. Whenever a player is injured in the head or neck area, the coach immediately removes them from the game and the medical team examines the player for signs of concussion. Because the NFL has a financial interest in keeping their players healthy, they have changed from the “no pain, no gain” philosophy that masked symptoms with injections. Chiropractors are a part of the professional football team's medical staff, and most major football players receive chiropractic care during the season.

 

Although football has been the most public about concussions, this type of injury can and does occur from many other activities such as a car accident, bicycle accidents, soccer, ice skating, hockey, basketball, rugby, fights and other sports injuries. While we see these type of injuries in the greater Rochester NY area, we also treat construction accidents, horseback riding accidents, falls, and other incidents that involve injury to the head or neck.

 

Whenever someone’s head and/or neck is suddenly jarred by a bump or a hard blow, or even an assault to the rest of the body that causes reflexive rapid movement of the head, at our clinic in Rochester we often recommend the person should immediately go to the emergency room at a Rochester-based-hospital. At the very least if the incident seemed mild, the person should be observed for concussion symptoms, such as:

• Headache
• Lightheadedness or a change in consciousness
• Unusual fatigue or drowsiness
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Seizures
• Blurred or double vision or uneven pupil dilation
• “Seeing stars” or tired eyes
• Nausea
• Slurred or slowed speech
• Loss of balance or dizziness, vertigo
• Weakened muscles
• Clear fluid drainage from nose or ears
• Ringing in ears
• Loss of ability to smell or taste or a bad taste in the mouth
• Unusual mood or behavior changes
• Extra sensitivity to lights, sounds, or other distractions
• Slowed thinking or reading
• Difficulty in making decisions, remembering or concentrating

 

Whiplash:

Whiplash is a common injury in a car accident when a person's head and neck are suddenly jolted. Work and sports injuries, as well as falls and other incidents, can cause whiplash. People in Rochester, New York who complain of pain and stiffness in their neck after an accident may very likely have experienced whiplash.

 

Common symptoms are:

• Headaches especially at the base of the skull
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Upper back pain between the shoulder blades and the extremities
• Upper chest pain
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Blurred vision

 

As you can see, there is considerable overlap of the symptoms between these injuries. Whether the injury was a concussion or whiplash, there is a very good chance that it caused a misalignment of your cervical spine.

 

Most symptoms fade quickly. However, some symptoms can persist for years. Many people who’ve visited our clinic in Rochester for the first time, do not realize the seriousness of a head or neck injury, suffering silently and needlessly.

 

The initial whiplash incident damages vertebrae alignment and soft cervical muscle tissues, ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves with painful results. A person who experiences either a concussion or a whiplash is advised not return to a sport or activity that caused the injury until the healing process has completed. Discontinue the activity until all symptoms have disappeared. Far greater damage can occur if an additional incident occurs before intervention to rebalance your neuromuscular system.

 

You Do Not Need to Continue Suffering Pain and Discomfort from a Concussion or Whiplash:

At Rush-Henrietta family Chiropractic, my initial evaluation of your history and discussion of your symptoms may reveal a possible concussion or whiplash as the responsible event that initiated your symptoms. In my examination of the structure and alignment of your upper cervical spine, I pay special attention to your occiputal bone, and the first two vertabrae under the occiputal bone. These two vertebrae at the top of your spine, the C1 and C2 are also known as the atlas and axis. They connect your spine to your skull and are responsible for holding your head up and maintaining positional balance of your head. A slight tilt of your head in your normal posture reveals a misalignment to my trained eye.

 

I use precise x-rays and any other medical images or reports available to complete the initial assessment. As the evidence points to a concussion as a causative factor in your condition, I also use the SCAT2 assessment tool in my initial evaluation for anyone over the age of ten, and to manage and monitor your treatments. These x-rays are performed directly in our clinic in Rochester for your convenience.

 

The area where your central nervous system connects to your brain is very small. The central nervous system runs through the C1 and C2 vertebrae. A very slight misalignment or subluxation compromises communication with the brain and can cause various health problems throughout your entire body.

 

A person can experience residual effects for years after an injury if the misaligned vertebrae are not adjusted. A subluxation of the cervical spine that is not corrected can generate many of the same symptoms as the initial insult to the brain during a concussion. As the physical trauma was significant enough to disturb normal brain functioning, there was definitely enough force to jar the neck, and to subluxate the cervical spine. Many symptoms are a result of whiplash or Unusual of the neck.

 

Approximately 15% of people who have had a single concussion incident develop symptoms. Our experience during examination and treatment of patients in Rochester is consistent with national stats. The person may not have had a loss of consciousness and other well-known red flag symptoms.

 

Pain management may be your goal, but you may be surprised to learn about other common residual symptoms:

• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Tinnitus
• Dizzines and/or vertigo
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Altered walking pattern
• Extra sensetivity to sounds and/or light
• Problems with memory and concentration
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Unusual mood changes
• PTSD

 

At our Rochester-based clinic, we use a non-invasive pain management approach that gently recovers the proper alignment and functioning of your central nervous system. Over a series of appointments your body will be brought back to the natural, balanced structure.

 

I work as a multi-disciplinary team member with referring healthcare professionals, insurance claims, and the Department of Labor and Industry. So, whether the injury was sustained during work hours or on personal time, we can help. Voted best chiropractic care in Rochester NY, 2018, we’re very happy to work with residents in Rochester, NY to promote natural methods for regaining health. Contact us at 585-321-3200.