Holistic Treatment of Whiplash
If you have been diagnosed with a whiplash injury, you may feel that you don’t know where to turn. You may be experiencing chronic pain, insomnia and other difficult symptoms – and be eager for relief.
After studying the latest research and the new protocol for whiplash and related symptoms, I have developed a holistic, results-orientated medical approach for people who have been diagnosed. The purpose is for you to regain your quality of life as quickly as possible. We’re here to help you get rid of the pain, improve mobility and restore normal function.
What is Whiplash?
A whiplash injury describes a sudden acceleration/deceleration injury to the neck and upper body, due to external forces exerting a lash-like effect. Although this usually occurs from a rear-end or side impact motor vehicle accident, other mishaps may cause this condition.
What are the Symptoms?
Whiplash injuries may be mild, moderate or severe. The injury usually refers to the neck or shoulder pain (with accompanying stiffness and/or headache), which occurs within minutes, or shortly following a car accident. The pain may persist, or simply resolve on its own.
Other associated symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, TMJ (temporomandibular joint symptoms), joint pain, arm pain, a feeling of pins and needles, weakness, visual disturbances, ringing in the ears, difficulty swallowing and back pain. As a result, additional symptoms include depression, anger, frustration, anxiety, sleep problems, post-traumatic stress and even social isolation.
What Should I do if I Experience this type of Injury?
Paramedics, who immediately decide whether or not there is a potential fracture, handle most whiplash injuries on the spot. They will evaluate whether or not you need to be taken to the emergency room.
My concern is for the person who does not appear to have a severe injury at the time of the accident, but develops progressive stiffness and neck pain. In this case, I suggest that you see your physician as soon as possible to ensure that there is not a neurological problem. Your physician will examine you thoroughly, including a full musculoskeletal and neurological exam. It is important to tell the physician if you have had previous myofascial neck pain/problems, or fibromyalgia, as this places you at greater risk for whiplash-associated disorder.
What are the Effects of Whiplash?
The sudden acceleration/deceleration may cause small tears in both the flexors (muscles in front of the neck) and extensors (muscles at the back of the neck). This causes tiny areas of the muscle that become irritable. These areas, termed trigger points, progressively activate increased adjacent muscles, causing pain (commonly referred to as myofascial pain). The neck will attempt to stabilize itself by going into spasm. This further aggravates the trigger points, continuing the cycle of pain, spasm and more pain.
The sudden injury to the cervical spine may “jams the joints” on the back and side of the neck (called facet joints.) These irritated joints also cause chronic pain, tingling and numbness.
Nerves near the top of the neck become irritated. These can in-turn cause headaches, dizziness and other nerve-related problems.
Continual pain may cause disruption of deep sleep. If you are not sleeping soundly, you may be at risk for developing long-term problems. It is during Stage IV (deep sleep) that the body creates a chemical called serotonin (an essential, mood-elevating chemical that is responsible for controlling pain, anxiety and depression).
What Should I Do if I am Diagnosed?
Take the necessary steps to ensure quality, restorative, deep sleep.
What if I am Not Feeling Better or my Symptoms seem to Increase?
Let your physician know that your muscle pain is getting progressively worse. Your physician may wish to x-ray your neck, or do an MRI, or CT scan. Studies have shown that initial x-rays may miss injuries to the neck. At this point, it is important to address the following issues:
Holistic Approach for Whiplash
I feel that a holistic view of the treatment of whiplash is by far the most effective. The definition of holism is that the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts. In our experience, when a patient receives a combination of individual therapies, it rapidly activates and speeds the body’s natural healing abilities. As a result, our clients often report more rapid pain relief and superior overall results.
At Gentle Touch all treatments are personalised, with the ultimate goal of your self-empowerment. The healing relationship begins with an extensive consultation . Initial treatment may include therapeutic massage, gentle manipulative therapies and energy healing.
Expect Excellent Results
Our philosophy is that unless we are able to help you to reduce pain and restore your health, we should not continue to treat you. In our experience, we have had excellent results with whiplash injuries:
Treatment within 3 months of incident
Approximately 80% of our whiplash patients are 80% better by 10 treatments. If pain is not reduced by then, we will suggest that you try an alternative form of treatment.
Injuries more than 3 months old
We look for a minimum of 30-40% improvement of pain within the initial 10 treatments. We will only continue to treat patients who experience good results.
Insurance Guidelines
It is common that most car accidents are covered by your motor vehicle insurance policy. Our experience is that the majority of companies will pay in full for the various treatments required. However, we ask you to pay up front and recover your money from the insurance company. Be sure to retain your billing statements to expedite your paperwork.
Litigation Guidelines
Our aim is to maximize your health, reduce your pain, and improve your quality of life. Often, with whiplash injuries, a Solicitor is involved. We will endeavour to work with your lawyer to your utmost satisfaction.
Our Mission
Our mission is for all who enter our doors to take one step closer to vibrant health and well-being. We wish you the best on your healing journey.
Having qualilfied as a Lawyer well before embarking on my career as a Holistic Therapist, and specialising in personal injury claims for some 15 years, I became aware that conventional treatment for the most common road accident injury, ie Whiplash strain, was unsatisfactory for most sufferers.
However in the USA and Australia most whiplash suffers are treated with holistic therapies to great effect.
I therefore offer a specalised Whiplash Injury Treatment used to complement conventional healthcare, which treats the affected areas with therapeutic oils, Reiki, Quantum Touch® and gentle but effective massage.
Treatment can be given seated and semi-clothed as it mainly treats the back and neck areas.
Cost may be reclaimable if you are the victim of a road traffic accident.