I'm not a fan of chiro's so when I came off a motorbike earlier this year I went to a physio who worked wonders. I had three sessions in as many weeks and then one more two weeks after that. It was brilliant. I had a really deep massage each time which was quite painful to begin with but by the forth session it was just so relaxing and my neck has never been better.
I prefer to ease the tension in my muscels which allows the bones to naturally move than to have bones manipulated so quickly and roughly.
I am very cautious when someone mentions the word chiro. A physio or osteo can be much better.
My DP had a slipped disc in his back then saw a chiro whose rough manipulation caused the disc to become petruding. He then needed surgery that cost $13 000!!!!
I hope that your whip lash gets better soon and that you have no other injuries from your accident you poor thing. :hug;
Its actually from 5+ years ago, left untreated and has become whiplash disorder, is the cause of my back pain and headaches. I've tried osteopath with no results. The bones in my neck and spine are out of alignment from it being untreated for so long, the muscles have scar tissue also.
I've actually found the chiro really gentle, he doesn't do any manipulation with his hands, just a machine which does some clicking on my neck and spine, and he's also using acupuncture... But i know what you mean about chiros, i'd heard the same things. Its been a last resort for me though, i really hope it helps.
i waited 11 years to get treatment from a whiplash injury when i was six (so i guess my folks actually waited!) - i found i got relief within about three months of regular treatment - but nothing is perfect and i've had to go more often over several years - prolly every 6 or 8 weeks - but i now get instant relief from headache/backache when it happens
my chiro also does AP and basic physio, and has a myotherapist working with him, so gives treatment appropriate to the pain i'm in at that time...
I was actually in 4 car accidents over the past 8 years, so its impossible to know when i actually sustained it, but most likely in at least 3 of them which were rear/side impacts. I've had headaches and neck pain ever since, and when the chiro asked if my head was heavy, i realised it was and has been for so long its become normal.
How regularly were you going? i went three times last week, now going twice weekly. Still getting headaches but the neck pain has improved.
my pain was headaches (migraine level) - i didn't notice any other real pain because i was getting migraines at least every week - and they were lasting up to 4 days (great when you're doing VCE!)
i went twice weekly for a fortnight, then weekly for about 6 weeks, then fortnightly for about 6 weeks - after that, i started going once a month just for maintenance - for about six months (my call because i was doing VCE and didn't want to get the headaches back) - then onto whenever i needed it (prolly every six weeks or so). once i started uni, i had a regular appointment whenever i was on hols (so probably half dozen times a year)
it will take some time - if you've had several years of your neck muscles compensating for the back being out, it will take an amount of time for it to regain strength and stability in it's proper place. i know i have ongoing issues, but i had probs for a LONG time before it was treated. i have only been to chiro once since being pg (about three weeks ago) when i was getting headaches. i've got them again now, and need to go back, but it's so hard to get there when ms is making me ill when i go in the car - i think that will be a monday thing!
it's worth persisting if you can get relief, and at least reduce the amount of headaches and neck pain. if your chiro suggest maintenance after a while, do it - you can stretch it out as you go, but don't let it get to a "i feel good" point and let it drop back off. a good chiro will be honest and not try to get you in unneccesarily - but for a while, you will need regular treatment - and you may find it's not a quick "cure"
i saw my chiro for 2 visits p/w for 3 weeks the 1 visit p/w for 3 weeks. i havent had to go back for a yr..
(just been back to a new one and he has flaired it up again )
mine was hip and lower back which got slammed into a arm rest in a car accident. the pg and childbirth made it unbearable.
there are different types of chiropractic, bone crunchers are not generally good.
i found physio did nothing and has been a waste of money (have seen 4/5 over the last 10 yrs for the same issue)
I did. I was facing the kids in the back when a car rear ended us. We were stationary, they were travelling 60 and it hurt like no tomorrow...
I did it for 3 months, 3 times a week, with little improvement, MAIB paid so I didn't have to worry about that side of it, I stopped going and it healed itself not long after that. I think the chiro made it worse tbh.
I dont have whiplash, but did suffer a spinal fracture AND i am in love with my chiro! I see him every 4 weeks without fail. without him or even if i wait 5 weeks i am in migraine HELL! It all depends on who you get. I have been to others who hurt and are rough and dont seem to help at all... but this one is FABULOUS!
mummab - it sounds like you've had a bit of relief straight away - but if you find that the chiro you're seeing is "only" a bone cruncher, maybe look for one that works physio into treatment - my chiro won't crunch unless he's worked the muscles significantly - his explanation to me being that there is no point moving the bones if the muscles are just gonna drag them back kwim?
Chiro Treatment for whiplash
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