Preventing chronic pain from a whiplash injury
After sustaining a whiplash injury, it is fairly common for people to suffer from chronic back pain and neck pain. A chiropractor can detect certain factors in a patient’s history and chiropractic examination. This process will help the chiropractor identify the patient who is at risk of developing chronic pain resulting from a whiplash injury, so that aggressive preventative measures can be taken.
The chiropractor’s general approach to managing the patient’s chiropractic treatment is critical to the success of preventing chronic pain from a whiplash injury.
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In the early stages of management, it is very important for the chiropractor to rapidly reduce the patient’s pain.
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Soon after, the chiropractor’s focus must be shifted toward restoration of the patient’s function. This means helping the patient return to work, home and recreational activities as soon as possible. This may involve a gradual transition to these activities, even if the patient is not sure that he or she can engage in them fully.
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Restoring confidence after a whiplash injury on the part of the patient in his or her ability to get back to normal activity levels is also important for rehabilitation.
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Exercise, both for the purpose of correcting faulty movement patterns and instability, and for general fitness, is important in this effort to treat a whiplash injury.
Teaching the patient the nature of chronic pain (that "hurt does not necessarily mean harm") and placing focus on those activities the patient can do, rather than those he or she cannot, are major parts of chronic pain and disability prevention after a whiplash injury. Chiropractors integrate the strategies explained above to develop the most effective approach for recovering from a whiplash injury and preventing future episodes of back pain.
