Chiropractic Patients Association
Car Whiplash Patient - The patient’s story
On the morning of Monday 12th November 2001, I was travelling on my way to work but with one slight change - I had to pick up my boss (Maureen) from a garage on Southampton Road in Salisbury. Running a little late and not completely confident about where I was going I took a wrong turning. I had to turn around and hadn’t seen a post (bumper height!) which I ended up reversing into it at quite a speed. With the impact of hitting the post, my head was turned to face the rear window and my body flung forwards and backwards quickly, putting pressure on my neck.
I continued on my journey and after picking Maureen up I started to notice discomfort in my neck. Maureen recommended that I should see a chiropractor straight away, in case I was suffering from whip-lash and she booked me an appointment for that same afternoon to see Jenny Casemore at the Salisbury Chiropractic Clinic.
This was my first visit to a chiropractor so I was unsure of what to expect, but Jenny made me feel at ease and explained what she was doing. I was asked questions about my medical history and hobbies. Firstly she examined me and asked me to move my neck to each side and asked me to comment if it was painful. After establishing that there was no permanent damage inflicted, just a slight inflammation on one side particularly, I was advised to go back for another couple of appointments. For the next two days Jenny recommended the use of an ice pack to the neck and for sleeping she suggested that I roll my pillow up so that my neck was straight. She also recommended that I take regular breaks from my work, as I do a lot of typing and computer work.
On my second appointment my neck was still in some discomfort but had improved since the accident. On this appointment I received some manipulation, which involved lying on a bench and Jenny moving my bones on the upper part of the body back into place; a clicking sound occurred on one side, which is perfectly normal and was not painful at all. After the consultation my neck felt almost immediately better and more relaxed.
I went back a couple of weeks later for Jenny to check my progress and an activator was used on my neck which also works as a form of manipulation. After a final assessment from Jenny I was given the all clear.
I feel that I definitely benefited from seeing a chiropractor and would highly recommend it to anyone. It’s just a shame my car wasn’t as easy to repair!
Nastasya Blissett
The chiropractor’s story
Nastasya came to the clinic on the day of her accident. This is quite unusual and was only due to the sound advice Nastasya received from her boss Maureen Atkinson.
After listening to Nastasya’s unfortunate tale, it was quite obvious that she had suffered a whiplash injury. Whiplash is the name given to the injury of the spine and its associated structures when subjected to a sudden jolt as a result of impact. The commonest cause of this injury is motor vehicle accidents, but whiplash can also occur with horse-riding accidents, motor bike falls and often in the case of elderly people, from falling over. The impact in motor car collisions can come from front, rear or side with similar but subtly different results. The force of the impact is transmitted to the trunks of both driver and passengers in the vehicle and results in a forward, backward or sideways displacement of the body with a reverse circular displacement of the neck. Therefore the direction of head movement will depend on whether the vehicle is hit from the front, rear or side. In Nastasya’s case the impact came from behind, but was further complicated by the fact that as she was reversing she was turning her head strongly to the right. The result is asymmetrical force applied to each side of the spine with a mainly sudden stretch to the left-sided structures and compression of right-sided structures.
Depending on a number of factors, which include the force, direction of impact and awareness of impending collision, the resulting injury may be mild, moderate or severe. If mild, there is a relatively small overstretch and tear of soft tissues of the spine; i.e. muscles and ligament and mild compression of joints. With increasing force, the mode of injury may result in damage to muscles, ligaments, joint capsules and articular surfaces, intervertebral discs, spinal nerves and cord and bones.
In severe whiplash there may even be an injury to the brain as it is thrown from one side of the skull to the other.
After taking a full clinical history and performing an examination the chiropractor must make a decision as to the nature and extent of the patient’s injury. This will add weight to the decision to take x-rays or not. Obviously if there is any doubt then a set of x-rays should be taken which will show any bone damage or dislocation.
The initial aim of treatment is to reduce the inflammation and pain and start the healing process. As inflammation subsides, the chiropractor’s attention is focussed on the functional restoration of the patient’s spine using a combination of adjustments or manipulation, mobilisation and muscles stretch/activation techniques. The final hurdle of restoration is strengthening of the neck musculature through appropriate exercise.
The prognosis for mild whiplash is excellent with full recovery expected within six months. However as the extent of injury increases so do complicating factors which can hinder recovery and may result in some permanent disability. Nastasya fortunately has made an excellent recovery and will I hope enjoy trouble free driving in her new car!
Jenny Casemore, DC
Car Whiplash patient