Whiplash – More than a pain in the neck

A Craniosacral/Osteopathic Perspective

Whiplash is classically defined as a sudden deceleration and then acceleration energy transfer to the neck, ie the neck is suddenly thrown one way and then the other – usually back and forward. Symptoms can include a painful neck, headache, dizziness, pins and needles in the arms and hands, fatigue. These symptoms can appear immediately after the accident or even some days later. It often happens during motor vehicle accidents. Ever been rear-ended by someone or had an impact to the side or front? If your answer is ‘yes’ then you might know what I mean, or you might have been one of the lucky ones and escaped without any symptoms.

Whiplash can also occur following other types of mishaps – bungee jumping – would be an extreme example, but even falling, tripping awkwardly, being assaulted, diving, sports etc. Some people can also experience concussion along with the whiplash even though they may not have actually had an impact to the head – obviously if the neck moves the head will move too – and sometimes the energy from the sudden forward and back whip of the neck can give a jolt to the brain.

Amazingly in US alone there are 3 million new whiplash injuries a year and its been calculated that 35-50% of people go on to suffer long term pain.   In another study it was found that 45% of people suffering from chronic neck pain attribute their pain to a motor vehicle accident in the past. So why do so many whiplash injuries turn into chronic pain?

While there are also obviously many whiplashes that either get better by themselves or with the help of a skilled practitioner, I still regularly see people who come to my office because they are suffering from the effects of a whiplash that occurred months and sometimes years earlier. Sometimes things have even improved, but then progress has stalled and they are still left with pain and discomfort in many different parts of the body, not just the neck.

What I’ve learned both from my osteopathic training and through my experience with the many patients I’ve seen over the years is that when someone has a whiplash injury, or indeed any kind of accident or injury, the whole body is involved in the response and in the healing process.   So if I can take into account all the different ways that the body received that injury then the healing can be much more complete.

For example, when the head is thrown suddenly forward and then back again a strain can be created through the neck and along whole spine all the way down to the pelvis and low back and unless the sacrum (tailbone) and pelvis are treated and the tension released, usually the neck will have difficulty recovering. Maybe one foot was pressed hard on the break and a force went up the left leg, maybe the person was looking in a particular direction, perhaps the air bag deployed, or the head hit the steering wheel, all these kinds of details are useful when it comes to putting my hands on and listening to the body as it sets the agenda as to where and how these strains and stresses wish to be released.

Another factor that is sometimes not treated or accounted for from a whiplash injury or a trauma, are the effects of shock.   They physical and emotional shock reaction to an injury can sometimes stay stored in the body. If pent up tensions and shock get stored in the body they can restrict the way it functions and lead to problems down the road. These tensions can also significantly retard the speed of recovery unless a skilled practitioner is able to help the body gently release them.

That’s one of the great things about CST. You can’t necessarily see ‘shock’ in the tissues but a CST practitioner has been trained to feel it. And by quietly listening to the body with his or her hands can help release these strains and tensions which then allows the bodies own self-correcting forces to get to work to do the healing.

P.S. If you have had a recent suffered a whiplash injury do go to see your PCP first to get checked out.