Duration of Treatment The average recovery from whiplash can take between 6 weeks and 6 months, with regular visits to a chiropractor during that time. On average, it takes 2 to 3 months for people to heal from their whiplash injury. After the chiropractor has thoroughly evaluated your case and figured out the best way to move forward, he or she will recommend some initial treatment options. They will likely do this through spinal manipulation treatment, which involves you sitting or lying on your desk while the chiropractor uses practical techniques to correct misalignments and push the vertebrae where they belong.
The chiropractor identifies any area of restricted joint movement, intervertebral disc injury, muscle spasm, and ligament injury. When additional help is needed, a chiropractor can keep your spine working properly to avoid more serious problems in the future. These details will help the chiropractor understand your body mechanics and how your spine works, which will help with the diagnostic process. As time goes on, adjustments will become more involved and the chiropractor will focus on restoring the area to its original health.
Allow yourself to ask others for help or see what types of devices your chiropractor recommends that can help you stick with your household routines. The chiropractor will go through several stages of evaluation and treatment with you and, depending on the severity of your case, may also recommend external treatment along with chiropractic care, such as physical therapy or home exercises. In addition to spinal manipulation, the chiropractor may also use manual therapy to treat injured soft tissue (e.g., ligaments and muscles). In addition to these treatments, the chiropractor may also prescribe therapeutic exercises to help restore normal spine movement and reduce whiplash symptoms.
Be sure to continue treatment with your chiropractor over time to lower your chances of experiencing whiplash again. The chiropractor evaluates your spine as a whole, even if you go to the chiropractor complaining of neck pain after trauma. Soon after whiplash occurs in the acute phase, the chiropractor will work to reduce neck inflammation using several modalities of therapy (e.g., ultrasound). In addition to these treatments and regular long-term chiropractic treatment under the supervision of a chiropractor, there are a few things you can do at home to treat your whiplash every day.
During your first consultation with your chiropractor after the whiplash incident, the doctor will conduct several tests and evaluations to thoroughly evaluate your case and come up with the best personalized treatment plan for you.
