Whiplash headaches are a common, debilitating type of headache caused by an injury to the neck. These acute and chronic (ongoing) pain syndromes usually result from a whip-like movement of the neck caused by car accidents, sports injuries, or falls. During an injury, the head is jerked back and forth suddenly and forcefully, causing damage to the soft tissues: muscles, ligaments and nerves along the cervical spine. The result of whiplash is often chronic headaches that can interfere with a person’s life and livelihood. While medication is prescribed for pain relief, chiropractic offers another option for treating the underlying causes of whiplash headaches.
Whiplash Headaches, A lot of people get it following a car accident, but what are the highway predictors of this mostly miserable condition? Let’s take a look at the causes and symptoms of whiplash headaches, and how chiropractic treatment can offer long-lasting relief.
Understanding Whiplash Headaches
Whiplash headaches are usually associated with cervical trauma, which is frequently the result of a rapid forward or backward movement of the neck. Such sudden movement stretches and tears the soft tissues (such as muscles, fascia and ligaments) causing inflammation and irritation of the occipital nerves, as well as stiffness of the muscles. The outcome can be pain that spreads from the neck, often up to the head, which culminates in tension-type headaches. If this is a whiplash headache, it is not just a headache but also an expression of trauma to the neck area and therefore not likely to be resolved if physicians continue to prescribe the same medications for every type of headache.
Causes of Whiplash Headaches
Whiplash injuries most often occur during car collisions, usually to the rear of a vehicle. But also during sporting mishaps, fights, or other trauma where the neck position changes suddenly and violently. The action of hyperextension (inside out) and hyperflexion (outside in) commonly injure the neck, causing abrupt trauma to the cervical spine.
Common Causes of Whiplash Injuries
- Car Accidents: Even minor collisions can cause enough force to result in whiplash.
- Sports traumas: Crashing during a game of rugby, football or boxing creates whiplash.
- Physical Assaults: The neck can be propelled forwards and then backwards, which injures the muscles and the connective tissues in the neck due to the violent ‘whipping’ motion we refer to as whiplash.
- Falls: Falling, especially when the neck is impacted, can lead to whiplash injuries.
How Whiplash Leads to Headaches
The majority of whiplash injuries affect the cervical vertebrae, or the spinal bones of the neck, and the soft tissues connecting the vertebrae. When muscles and ligaments become strained or torn, they trigger a cascade of neurological events that lead to head pain. If the vertebrae are misaligned, they can compress the nerves that enter the upper back and travel into the head, creating tension and pain. The tension can make its way through these nerves and up to the head, causing ‘radicular pain’, which is known as a cervicogenic headache.
Types of Whiplash Headaches
- Cervicogenic Headaches: Headaches originating in cervical spine (neck) issues, involving muscles, and joints.
- Tension Headaches: Result from tightening of neck, upper back and scalp muscles.
- Migraine-like Symptoms: Some individuals with whiplash may experience migraines triggered by neck trauma.
Symptoms of Whiplash Headaches
The results from whiplash have a wide range of presentations. They may come on immediately after the injury, but sometimes the symptoms can take days or even weeks to develop.
Recognising the Signs of Whiplash Headaches
Physical Symptoms
- Neck Pain: Stiffness and pain in the neck (often migrating to the shoulder and upper back) is a frequent complaint.
- Headache: Pain starts higher up, some way below the forehead, but affects the forehead and temples Pain starts higher up, some way below the forehead, but affects the forehead and temples.
- Dizziness: Feeling lightheaded or unsteady is another common symptom of whiplash headaches.
- Limited neck mobility: Inability to turn on or move the head due to stiffness and pain of the neck muscles.
Additional Symptoms
- Tingling or Numbness: Occasionally, numbness and tingling in the arms may occur secondary to cervical nerve compression.
- Fatigue: Chronic pain and headaches can lead to ongoing fatigue, making daily activities difficult.
- Visual Disturbances: Blurred vision or sensitivity to light may accompany whiplash headaches.
Chiropractic Relief for Whiplash Headaches
Although these painkillers or muscle relaxers help manage short-term whiplash headaches, they don’t address the underlying causes. That’s where chiropractic comes to the rescue by providing a natural and reliable method to get you moving again free from pain.
How Chiropractors Treat Whiplash Headaches
The focus of chiropractic treatment for whiplash headaches is on optimising normal function, and addressing the contributory factors, rather than simply treating the symptoms. Chiropractors apply a wide range of procedures including manual adjustments, soft tissue therapy and targeted exercises to restore optimal function to the person’s cervical spine and to reduce their associated headaches.
Spinal Adjustments
Another approach is spinal manipulation. Most whiplash headaches reported by patients are caused by bilateral neurogenic headaches. So, chiropractors help to recover the normal alignment of the vertebrae of the neck, where the site of contact with the viscera is located. Adjustments help restore normal function and alleviate pressure on the nerves or tension of associated muscles.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Yet in a typical session for whiplash, the chiropractor will also integrate soft tissue therapy, especially for the damaged muscles and ligaments in the neck. This will typically include massage, trigger point therapy or acupressure, plus a technique known as myofascial release. Soft tissue work offers several benefits – breaking up scar tissue that’s formed to stabilise the injured area, reducing inflammation, decreasing stress, and enabling deeper healing.
Posture Correction
Chiropractors likewise stress postural modification and suggest measures to prevent overloading the neck; poor posture can worsen a whiplash headache by straining the cervical spine, and patients can be taught through postural exercises and ergonomic advice to avoid repeating an injury or refrain from baulking under pressure.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Whiplash Headaches
- Non-Invasive: This technique is drug-free and makes people feel better, without drugs. This form of care is seen as natural and non-invasive, and without these characteristics, it wouldn’t possess many of the qualities that make it popular.
- Long-Term Relief: Unlike other methods that just treat the symptoms of whiplash headaches, chiropractic treatment works to target the underlying causes of the headaches.
- Better Mobility: Stiffness and pain in the neck due to restricted movement can be fixed with an adjustment.
- Decreased Medication Dependence: Many patients who practice chiropractic care find that they must use less pain medicine, which often comes with its side effects.
Challenges of Untreated Whiplash Headaches
Left untreated, these headaches from a whiplash injury can become a chronic problem with long-lasting health concerns. Many sufferers attempt to control the symptoms with over-the-counter medications but this does not address the dysfunction. Ignoring whiplash headaches can cause:
Chronic Pain
Otherwise, the person can develop chronic neck and whiplash disorders which can affect the shoulders and head, lead to reduced mobility, hurt work and quality of life, and also become a potential risk factor for mental disorders.
Reduced Mobility
For instance, a case of untreated whiplash can result in neck stiffness and decreased range of motion which proves to be especially problematic when you have to turn your head.
Increased Risk of Re-Injury
An untreated whiplash during a previous neck injury places the sufferer at an elevated risk of re-injury, especially when another accident or incident occurs. This is why whiplash headaches should be part of a holistic recovery plan.
Why Be Fit Chiro is Your Best Choice for Whiplash Headaches
At Be Fit Chiro, our chiropractors have extensive experience helping people with Whiplash Headaches. Utilising a specialised combination of advanced spinal adjustive techniques, soft tissue therapy ie. massage, and postural correction, our patients receive the most comprehensive and effective care possible, without the use of drugs or invasive procedures. Every patient is different and we utilise specific methods to achieve your particular needs.
We aim to provide pain relief, but also we promote healing and try to prevent future symptoms. If you are suffering from whiplash headaches, don’t wait another day!
Contact Be Fit Chiro today to schedule a consultation and start your journey to recovery.