Whiplash is the most common injury that occurs during Austin car accidents, but this neck trauma can be caused in several other ways as well. Sports injuries, roller coaster rides or general trips and falls can cause whiplash. Although the injury itself takes less than half a second to occur, the forces that whip the head in a different direction from the rest of the body cause a shearing effect between the neck vertebrae. This damages not only the alignment of the cervical spine, but can significantly harm the intricate network of connective tissues (discs, muscles, nerves, ligaments, tendons, etc.) that holds up the head.

Relieving Neck Pain, Back Pain and Everything in Between

The trickiest thing about whiplash is that, particularly with low-speed accidents, the symptoms often do not manifest themselves immediately. Right after the injury occurs a person may feel fine and think there is nothing wrong. But a few days or even weeks later, symptoms like neck pain, back pain, headache, vertigo and difficulty concentrating start to emerge, but with no clear connection to the original event. Some people suffer from these injuries for years before getting a correct diagnosis and effective treatment.

This is why we urge people who have been in any accident, even if it occurred at a low speed, to stop by and see us right away. Our Austin chiropractor, Dr. Wendee Whitehead, is extensively trained to diagnose these kinds of neck injuries and then treat them with highly-skilled, individually-tailored chiropractic care. Dr. Whitehead is particularly skilled in upper-cervical spinal adjustments that can help put the neck gently back in order to release pinched nerves. She can help patients rehabilitate the surrounding soft tissue injuries by teaching them therapeutic exercises and stretches that can help the neck heal and regain strength and range of motion. Our goal is to help you feel better and get back to pain-free living as soon as possible.

If you’ve ever suffered from this awful neck injury, how did it happen? What helped you recover?

Upper Cervical Problems Cause More than Neck Pain

Spinal problems relating to your upper cervical spine can be a real pain in the neck—literally. While the word “spine” may conjure up images of your back, you must keep in mind that your neck is part of your spine too. The upper cervical spine is vulnerable to the same kinds of subluxations (vertebral misalignments), nerve impingement and soft tissue strain as the other parts of your spine. Fortunately, a chiropractor can intervene if you are troubled by an upper cervical issue, and here at Whitehead Chiropractic in Austin we have helped to soothe many a pain in the neck (and elsewhere).

The cervical spine consists of the C1 through C7 vertebrae extending from the base of your skull to the base of your neck. These bones must support the weight of your head at all times. If a misalignment or compression occurs within the upper cervical spine, it can impinge nerves and interfere with soft tissue function elsewhere in the body, causing migraine and other headache issues, numbness from sciatica, and even ADHD symptoms. Our own Dr. Whitehead experienced carpal tunnel syndrome and plantar fasciitis due to a misalignment in her upper cervical vertebrae. She found relief via Upper Cervical Care -- and so can you.

Upper Cervical Care from an Austin Chiropractor

Upper Cervical Care, also known as chiropractic orthospinology, is a specific technique focusing on misalignments of the first two cervical vertebrae, C1 (“atlas”) and C2 (axis”). With the aid of a special instrument called an Orthospinology Percussion Adjusting Instrument, we apply gentle pressure to this region while you are seated comfortably or lying on a table -- we do not rotate or “crack” your neck at all. Our minute adjustments correct the normal flow of nerve signals, relaxing your body and allowing it to return to its normal functionality. If you are looking for a gentle, non-invasive, extraordinarily effective means of addressing a nagging ailment, Upper Cervical Care could well be the solution.

Have you experienced upper cervical care? Share your experience.

Austin Chiropractic Care Relieves Sciatica Pain

Sciatica hurts. It can start as a dull ache going from the lower back, through the behind and down through the legs. Sometimes it is a shocking, burning pain that makes walking, sitting or moving difficult. The pain comes from a pinched sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in the body. The pinching may have different reasons, and Dr. Whitehead spends time testing each patient experiencing lower back pain and leg pain to find out what the underlying cause is before recommending a course of treatment. Once we know what the problem is, our Austin chiropractic team can address the root cause of the pain.

Banishing Back Pain in All of its Forms

The pinched nerve could come from several different sources, but herniated or bulging lumbar discs are very common causes. It can also stem from something called Piriformis syndrome, however. If something is inflaming or causing the piriformis muscle to have spasms, this will also put painful pressure on the nerve. Misaligned vertebrae in the lower back can also cause this leg and back pain. Once Dr. Whitehead knows what the underlying cause is, she can help a patient get better by addressing it directly, through spinal adjustments and natural healing techniques—no surgery or medication.

Dr. Whitehead has trained extensively in several different spinal diagnosis and adjustment techniques, such as the Gonstead technique, the Thompson Terminal Point Technique and the Cox Flexion-Distraction Technique. If the problem is a bulging or herniated disc, we work to realign the spine and relieve the discs so that they heal and return to normal shape, which will relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve. If the problem is caused by muscle spasms, we can use soft tissue manipulation techniques and therapeutic exercises and stretches to relax the muscle and reduce inflammation. No matter what the cause of sciatic pain, our goal is to help our patients get back to pain-free living as quickly as possible.

Have you ever had a pinched sciatic nerve? What treatments helped you the most?

Those who have ever suffered from a migraine know how different it is from a headache. Migraines are not very well understood, in part because they seem to affect people in different ways and there is no clear cause for them. Nonetheless, sufferers know that when one of their migraines attack, relief cannot come fast enough. The next time you are looking for relief, consider chiropractic medicine as it has been proven to not only reduce the symptoms of migraines, but to also help prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Migraines – How Our Austin Chiropractor Can Help

Pulsing pain, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, flashing lights and intense pain and discomfort are all symptoms of migraines. An attack may be triggered by stress, food reactions, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, tension or a reaction to medication. When you visit our Austin clinic Whitehead Chiropractic, Dr. Whitehead will work with you to not only reduce the pain but to help prevent future occurrences of migraines.

Chiropractic medicine has been proven to help reduce the symptoms, severity and frequency of migraines by reducing the tension and compression on nerves, as well as by realigning vertebrae. By realigning the spine, tension, pressure and stress is alleviated from the shoulders and neck, either of which can cause a migraine. Blocked or irritated nerves can be relieved of pressure so that they can function normally without causing pain.

Dr. Whitehead has advanced training in techniques such as the Gonstead Technique and Chiropractic Orthospinology, both of which produce real, lasting results for patients. The Gonstead Technique is particularly effective because it requires comprehensive testing to determine the source of the pain and has been successful in relieving migraine pain.

In addition, Dr. Whitehead may suggest exercises or lifestyle changes that can improve your posture which will influence the frequency and severity of your migraines. Migraines are not like a headache; they are debilitating, long-lasting and react poorly to standard pain relieving medication. If you suffer from migraines, seek help today and reduce the chances of your ever having to suffer from one again.

Do you suffer from migraines? Do you know what triggers them?