Whiplash injuries affect over two million Americans on an annual basis.  Whiplash occurs then the head snaps forward and then backward suddenly, commonly as a result of a motor vehicle accident.  This type of injury puts tremendous stress and strain on the muscles, ligaments, and vertebrae of the neck.  This overstretching of the joints and soft tissues can leave lasting damage behind, even when the incident seemed relatively mild.

Some interesting facts about Whiplash:

• A car accident isn’t the only way to get whiplash.  Any type of slip or fall has the potential to injure the neck in a similar way, whether it be skiing, horseback riding, or contact sports such as football. 

• It does not take much force to incur a whiplash injury.  Many injuries occur as a result of a low-speed car accident – even speeds as slow as 5-10 mph.

• The older you are, the more likely you are to have complications related to your injury.  Older people and people with pre-existing neck injuries are more susceptible to experiencing chronic pain after a whiplash injury.

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

Even if pain is not felt right away, or if it is mild, there is still a chance that the underlying tissues and vertebrae were affected.  In McKinney, TX, Dr. Terry Crowder takes a unique but effective approach to helping people break through the cycle of pain following a whiplash injury.  As an upper cervical chiropractor, Dr. Crowder looks for the root cause of the lasting pain.  Typically, that root cause is coming from a misalignment of the top bones in the neck that may have occurred as a result of the whiplash injury.  Dr. Crowder’s care is aimed at correcting that misalignment to restore normal biomechanics and function to the neck and nervous system, so that the body is able to heal optimally following an injury.

References:

https://www.rush.edu/health-wellness/discover-health/5-facts-about-whiplash

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. 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.

Migraines are an extremely common condition, affecting over 10% of the population, including children.   Nearly one in every four households in the U.S. has someone who suffers with migraines.  For a condition so common, migraines are not very well understood, and most treatment options are geared towards trying to minimize an attack once it has already begun.

There are some lifestyle changes that are recommended for people that may prove to be helpful.  Migraines can be debilitating, so creating routines that allow a person to recognize potential triggers is important.  Some recommended lifestyle habits include:

• Keeping a headache/migraine diary – this can allow for tracking of potential triggers, as well as keeping tabs on the frequency and severity of attacks.
• Stick to a schedule – going to bed and waking up around the same time each day provides some regularity for the body.
• Exercise regularly – getting 20-30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily may help protect against recurring.

Finally, an often overlooked but very important step towards the relief is to ensure that there are no obstructions to blood flow and nervous system communications between the brain and body.  Dr. Crowder, a migraine expert in McKinney, TX, focuses on detecting specific misalignments of the atlas and axis vertebrae – the uppermost bones in the neck that sit just beneath the skull.  A misalignment in this area could very well be the root cause of migraines since those bones can directly impact both blood flow and nervous system function.  Dr. Crowder gently works to realign the vertebrae, and as the healing process takes place, many patients find that their are fewer, less severe, or may even go away altogether.

Reference Site:

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/features/manage-migraines-headaches

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. 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.