Headaches are really common after a car accident. Most people write them off as being stress-related headaches brought on by dealing with insurance companies and attorneys, but headaches can actually be a sign that you have sustained whiplash. Even in a minor accident, a moderate case of whiplash could easily cause chronic headaches.
So how do you treat headaches caused by whiplash after the fact? Here are a few of our favorite treatments, although which one is right for you won’t be determined without a full examination and medical history.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation (E-Stim)
E-stim is one of the most popular treatments for whiplash because it is non-invasive and completely pain-free. During electrical muscle stimulation, electrical pulses are given at the base of the head and neck, sending signals to nerves that block or reduce pain signals going to the brain. Basically, we are tricking your brain into thinking that the body is not in pain.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
When most people think of ultrasound, they immediately think of pregnancy and those very first baby pictures, but ultrasound technology is actually used in many other ways, including as a therapeutic treatment. Therapeutic ultrasound can be applied to the base of the head, through the neck, and down the spine to speed up healing and decrease pain.
Chiropractic adjustments
Your chronic headaches since your car accident could be due to inflammation slipped discs in the spine, or malalignment. In these cases, chiropractic adjustments can be extremely beneficial. Simply relieving the pressure from the top of the spine can completely eliminate headaches.
If you are interested in learning more about how these and other treatments can be used together for a whole health approach to your chronic headaches, contact us today for an initial appointment.
