Linking Whiplash To Herniated Cervical Discs And Radiculopathy

Whiplash can not only be incredibly painful, but the physical toll it takes on the body is significant. Unlike other injuries, it can take time for the symptoms of whiplash to be felt, so once the pain begins, damage has already taken place. In addition, many people don't realize that whiplash injuries need immediate attention, which can lead to greater pain and injury. In most cases, whiplash can lead to radiculopathy, which can be treated by a chiropractor. Understanding the link between whiplash and the pain of radiculopathy helps underscore the importance of seeking treatment immediately.

Understanding radiculopathy

Radiculopathy comes from a nerve root that has been pinched. Unfortunately, when that happens, it can radiate pain through the entire length of the nerve, even extending into your fingers. If you've pinched a cervical nerve bundle, this can result in pain in your neck, face, shoulder, arm, and hand. You may also experience hand numbness. When chiropractors are able to trace the radiculopathy back to its point of origin, they can more effectively treat the pain and you can get the relief you need. For example, herniated discs can be a major contributing factor to radiculopathy. The displaced discs lead to the pinching that causes pain.

The connection to whiplash

When experiencing pain, you may visit a chiropractor, who will ask about any causes, such as car accidents. If you've been in an accident, it's likely that whiplash is the cause of the problem. But even if you've been in a minor accident, like a fender bender, you could have whiplash that is leading to your pain. In fact, whiplash can occur in accidents as slow as five miles per hour. It's also important to know that car accident are not the only source of whiplash. It can happen from playing sports or on rides at amusement parks, as well. 

The role of a chiropractor

The role of a chiropractor is to use their knowledge to trace back your pain to its cause, such as whiplash, in order to develop the best treatment plan. For example, radiculopathy may be the result of a herniated disc that happened as a result of whiplash. The advantage is that the chiropractor has an understanding of the body and how it works, and can use that knowledge to determine the root cause of the pain. That way, the treatment developed by the chiropractor addresses the cause rather than simply treating the symptoms while the underlying problem persists.

You don't have to simply deal with radiculopathy pain. In fact, the longer you experience pain, the worse you may feel. Whether you've experienced a major car accident or took a hit too hard in football, whiplash is not something that should be ignored. Radiculopathy can be debilitating. If you're experiencing pain in your neck, shoulders, arm, and hand, make an appointment with the experts at Square ONE today. Your Fort Collins chiropractor will trace your pain back to its origin point and treat the underlying cause, giving you the relief you need to get back to your healthy, happy life. For all your back pain treatments in Fort Collins, Contact https://squareonehealth.com/