Hello everybody,

I've come from the post-concussion syndrome sub-forum on this website, and I've finally realized it's time for me start seeking treatment for my whiplash. Almost everybody on the Minor Traumatic Brain Injury forum has sustained some form of neck injury but instead of addressing this side of the equation the "forum elders" insist that everyone's problems are brain injury related.

My accident occurred eight months ago when I fell of my bike and received whiplash. I didn't seek any treatment at first because I had no neck pain. It wasn't until a prolonged period of stress in my life that revealed and worsened a lot of my dormant symptoms. I now have extreme muscle spasms all over my body when I remain still and have been experiencing major vision problems (flashes, floaters, discolorations, etc.).

I've spent these last 6 or 7 months living in fear that I may have brain damage because I was told by people on the other forum that I did. It wasn't until curiosity got the best of me and I started researching whiplash symptoms that I began connecting the dots. I received an MRI on my cervical spine along with my brain a few months back and it revealed I have an abnormal curvature in my cervical spine caused by my accident. The brain MRI came back completely clean.

I come seeking advice on what steps I should take next. Since I've lived these last couple months convinced I had brain damage I'm afraid I might have given myself something on the neurological side. I regret the fact that I didn't reach out and realize that whiplash could have been the cause of my problems in the first place. Should I see a doctor for my neck and if so what kind of doctors deal with whiplash?

I would truly appreciate any and all insight someone may have regarding my situation.

Have an amazing holiday season
-Will (Age-16)

Not sure about your abnormal curve and no neck pain would present a problem in substantiating whiplash but stranger things have happened, I suppose. Go to SRISD.com and find a doc in your area. They all have advanced training in whiplash associated disorders.

Hi Will,

Yes, I think you should see a doctor. What kind may depend on what kind of damage (and symptoms) you have. If you live in/near a decent size metropolitan area, see if your hospitals have a spine center; they're often/usually multidisciplinary (orthopedic, neurology, physiatry...whatever).

If not, a discussion with your PCP may guide you.

I'd get started asap; it can take some time to get in to some of these centers/doctors. I can't say for sure, but in my case it was 2 months before I could see somebody.

Doc

Thank you both for responding. Dubious, I followed the link you sent me and found multiple chiropractors in my area but I'm slightly concerned. Personally I've always been told to never let a chiropractor get within a mile of a neck injury, should I really be going to a chiropractor for whiplash symptoms??

I would get to a chiropractor. The longer you wait to seek treatment the harder it is to correct. My mom had bad whiplash and she was better in 6 months. They will take exrays so you can see what's going on. A primary doctor can't do anything. Chiros are the only ones that can physically correct it. I wouldn't wait much longer. This comes from experience.

I wouldn't believe people 100% when it comes to them telling you that you have so-and-so. No one should tell you that you have brain damage. I mean come-on. They aren't doctors. Take it with a grain of salt. If someone mentions something to you look it up. I don't believe anything unless I research it completely online. I discard anything that can't be proved.

Good luck.......feel better soon!
Heather

Can you post your MRI report?
What levels of c spine shows a change and how much, usually all it will say is mild, moderate etc.. c1,2 etc?

And list your symptoms?

Whiplash, from my reading about it, can often take months to show symptoms. Maybe it is due to a myofascial injury/response & the changes from that.

interesting info -
www.upcspine.com
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm


There are many highly skilled chiropractors that can & do treat even if the spine has some major issues, or they may just avoid those areas if it is a concern.. Skill & training & experience is what to look for..

Yeah unfortunately I' am somewhat of a hypochondriac and took what the MTBI forum elders were telling me with spoon and fork.

Here are my MRI cervical spine findings:

"There is curvature of the thoracic spine to the right. A cervical lordosis is maintained. The vertebral body heights are preserved without findings for fracture or spondylolisthesis. No marrow-replacing lesion is detected. The anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments appear to be intact. No signal abnormalities are seen within the interspinous ligaments or within the paraspinal soft tissue.

The visualized posterior fossa and cervical cord demonstrate no signal abnormalities.

There is no significant posterior disk herniation, spinal canal stenosis, or neural foraminal narrowing. The intervertebral disk spaces are within normal limits."

Impression:

"Unremarkable appearance of the cervical spine without evidence for posterior disk herniation or spinal canal stenosis. Normal appearance of the cervical cord.

Cervicothoracic scoliosis."



-That was the exact MRI report for my cervical spine. Thank you guys so much for all the assistance, I appreciate it more than you know. Have a fantastic new year.

I would definitely not go to a Chiropractor until you've seen a specialist, spine, orthopedic surgeon etc, not sure which one is best but until you know exactly what treatment you need, you could make it much worse.

Go to your Dr. and she/he should refer you to the right place.

The pain can be so terrible, I was hurt 9 months ago, injuries including whiplash, now my neck is so painful 24/7 and the pain has gone to my back.

Good luck and don't do any treatment until a specialist has seen you and the MRI results.

My opinion aside, based on the literature available for chiropractic/manipulative therapy as treatment for whiplash, the outcomes are actually more favorable than conventional PT or exercise handouts alone. With regards to MRI, one should not be performed on a whiplash patient for that reason alone. MRI's are rarely indicated in that population without clear clinical suspicion of radiculopathy, instability, etc. There are in fact studies published stating that MRI's are not the "gold standard" for diagnosing whiplash trauma and unless you have obvious objective clinical abnormalities, you very likely will have a normal MRI which will confound the issue. It should be noted too that a normal MRI does not equal no problems. As far as looking for medical treatment, 90% of the general and family practitioners know nothing of 60% of the body (musculoskeletal system - an actual published study) and even less about chiropractic and when to refer. I would agree that if you only seek MD treatment, stick with an ortho or neuro. If an MD referral to a chiro is what you seek, a reasonable ortho or neuro who has worked with a good chiro is your best bet (they also will support what a good chiro can do as opposed to biased and unwarranted trashing of a profession). That said, IMO chiro's are like any other professional; 60% are just okay and conditionally can be trusted, 30% I wouldn't let touch my dog and 10% that are clearly superior and perhaps missed their calling and should have been orthopedists.

Dubious: Poster has already had an MRI, posted above.

Heard miracle stories about people going to Chiropractor's, I would not go to one though until I'd seen a specialist, agree with you that if they then decide it's safe to go to a Chiropractor, go for it.

Hope you are not referring to me when you talk about biased and unwarranted trashing of a profession, I'm certainly not saying that at all and never would.

You sound quite aggressive in your post, have no idea why, we all want relief here.