When it comes to the body and traumatic injuries, there are a slew of occurrences that can result in numerous injuries causing minor discomfort all the way to chronic, debilitating pain. Your shoulders, knees, elbows, hands, toes – virtually any part of the body – can suffer trauma. If a stiff neck after trauma is a problem, what can you do?
Granted, now and then, everybody experiences a stiff neck. Maybe you slept wrong. Maybe you were staring down at your computer for too long a period. Something like that can usually be cared for by yourself. However, following a car collision or other significant accident, a stiff neck could be pointing to something serious. You could require special attention for a good recovery because joint damage, a concussion, etc. might now be an underlying medical condition. Your best bet is to consult a medical professional such as a chiropractor.
Stiff Necks
After an accident, the type of neck injury sustained can be determined by several factors including the following:
- The speed of the collision
- The angle of the collision
- Your neck’s stability and strength before the accident
A ligament sprain or a muscle strain might be the cause of a post-accident stiff neck. On the other hand, something more serious could be lurking, such as the following:
Concussion
To a degree, the brain also experiences trauma when the cervical spine sustains an injury as the result of an accident. One or more of the following symptoms might be present if a concussion has been sustained:
- Sensitivity to light
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Changes to one’s mental state such as being easily fatigued or agitated
Cervical Spine Fracture
To protect the spinal cord and support the head, stacked on top of each other, you will find seven vertical bones comprising the cervical spine. If one of these is fractured, you may not notice spinal instability or immediately experience a spinal cord injury. Later, symptoms may present that are more significant. In other words, you didn’t notice them right away. Symptoms can include the following:
- Stiffness
- Pain
- Weakness or radiating pain down to the legs or arms
Complications can arise if there is no correct, timely diagnosis of a cervical spine fracture. Involving one or more limbs, paralysis is one such complication.
Facet Joint Damage
Along the rear section of adjacent vertebrae, allowing for limited movements is a pair of facet joints. If the joint cartilage or capsule becomes damaged, stiffness and neck pain can result from joint inflammation.
Herniated Disc
Located in the cervical spine and responsible for providing cushioning between adjacent vertebrae, your cervical disc can leak inflammatory proteins (as a result of damage) into muscles, nerve roots, and other nearby structures.
Where to Get Chiropractic Care If You’re Experiencing a Stiff Neck after Trauma
If you suffered a significant accident or impact of some kind and are now experiencing neck pain, do not hesitate to see a professional. There are chiropractors who can be of the utmost assistance in not only determining what type of traumatic injury has occurred but can help by relieving your pain and supplying you with a better understanding of what your body is going through.
At RejuvenX Spine and Joint, we have a very distinct goal. In the lives of every one of our clients, we want to make a positive difference. We do this by supplying useful joint and spine care knowledge and by relieving pain.
