Acupuncture For Whiplash
Whiplash injuries usually result from the sudden overextension of the neck. Whiplash is a common injury in automobile accidents or bad falls, due to the forceful movement of the neck, even with no direct contact to the neck. Whiplash may also include injury to the joints, discs, ligaments, cervical muscles or nerve roots.
Although X-ray and other test findings are often negative from such injury, the patient's pain in the neck and headache resulting from such injury may persist for months or even years. All symptoms associated with pain and discomfort may develop into chronic diseases such as arthritis, osteoarthritis or bursitis. The blockage of the circulation around the injured area can also cause a person considerable disability. Also, the gross stress reaction from such injury can be disabling for certain patients.
The main symptoms from whiplash include headache, neck pain, shoulder pain, ear pain, tingling in the arms, insomnia, loss of memory, poor circulation, fatigue, depression, dizziness, facial numbness, ringing in the ears, and blurred vision.
Painkillers and muscle relaxers are used for temporary relief of the pain and other symptoms. However, some medications may be addictive and have undesirable side effects. Some do not have any side effects, and few of them have serious side effects, such as brain damage or heart problems.
Inserting an acupuncture needle to the proper acupuncture meridian and correct point can promote blood flow to the injured area. This procedure helps tendons, ligaments, and tissues recover properly.
Many patients have severe mental stress after whiplash injury. Anxiety and nervousness may be another important issue that affects the quality of their life. Since acupuncture is an approach to treat pain as a whole, it can be beneficial to patients for pain relief, and possibly reduce some of their stress. Additionally, acupuncture may be able to help minimize the side effect of medications, either directly or indirectly, to improve the patient's health.
