Neck Pain Doctor Bethesda, MD

Neck Pain Doctor, Bethesda MDWhiplash is a common injury neck pain doctors in Bethesda MD see in patients who have recently experienced a car accident. The force of a collision can wreak havoc on the human body, and in many cases requires prompt medical intervention. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatments can help lessen pain and tension in car wreck victims with whiplash, by injecting a concentrated sample into the injured area. PRP treatments are considered an alternative and regenerative form of medicine, as substances found naturally within the body are used to promote healing. 

If you have been in a car accident and have significant neck pain due to whiplash, you may want to talk further with our Bethesda MD neck pain doctor at the Pain and Arthritis Relief Center for a consultation. 

Where the Platelets are Harvested From

Platelets are gathered from the patient’s own body. A Bethesda MD neck pain doctor will collect a blood sample from the patient and spins it in a centrifuge machine. The sample is spun for about 10-15 minutes and after that, platelet rich plasma is separated from the rest of the blood. Because the platelets are harvested from the patient’s system, there is little risk of the body rejecting the treatment. Many people appeal to the idea of treating their body with their own material. PRP can help boost the body’s healing mechanism in a more natural way. 

What Whiplash Feels Like

Our neck pain doctor in Bethesda MD has treated patients who are experiencing intense shoulder and neck pain from whiplash, including dizziness, headaches, blurry vision, and nausea. When the neck jolts quickly forward and back, joints and muscles can be pushed out of their original position. Particularly for those who were in a car wreck, the top joints of the neck can shift back while the bottom joints of the neck get whipped forward. Ligaments help hold the neck joints in place, and can get overly stretched. 

In cases of whiplash, discomfort and a fair degree of pain can be experienced. Our neck pain doctor located in Bethesda MD will tell you that the ligaments and joints that became loose due to the impact, now overcompensate by tensing up. PRP treatments can help alleviate pain by sending healing platelets directly into the damaged joints, ligaments, and soft tissues. 

Whiplash as a Complex Injury

Whiplash is an injury that has lasting impacts. Most people who are in a car accident will have some degree of whiplash. And what is concerning about this condition is that the side effects from force of impact during the car crash may be felt by the victim for many months or even years to come. Those aches and pains you still feel in your neck, back, and shoulders could be remnants from the car accident you had years before. Whiplash left untreated can lead to chronic, long-term issues that are difficult to fully recover from. For this reason, anyone who was in a car accident is strongly advised to get an exam and treatment plan from a reputable neck pain doctor immediately. Victims are more likely to have long-term effects of whiplash if they:

  • Didn’t get sufficient medical care shortly after the injury
  • Were in a serious car collision
  • Already have preexisting conditions
  • Re-injured the neck during the healing process
  • Sustained a spine fracture or other injury near the neck

Whiplash is a real and very serious injury that should never be underestimated. As a medical complication that can vary in severity, it is important to get an examination from a neck doctor without delay. Based on the factors of the accident, a neck doctor will create a treatment plan that uniquely fits that person’s needs. Once you realize what is going on anatomically when whiplash happens, the reality that you need medical attention becomes easier to accept. Aside from car accidents, other ways whiplash can happen include but are not limited to the following:

  • Skiing accidents
  • Amusement park rides
  • Physical abuse or assault
  • Falls from heights
  • High-contact sports
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Construction accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • And more+

Keep in mind that the short-term symptoms associated with whiplash may not be quickly apparent either. Some victims will have symptoms just seconds after the accident, but in most cases, it will take several days or a week to show. Short-term whiplash symptoms include back pain, neck pain, neck stiffness, pins and needles sensation, tinnitus, headaches, and reduced range in motion. 

More severe whiplash injury may have symptoms such as sudden irritability, distracted easily, or trouble concentrating. To make sure there are no secondary injuries like a concussion or other brain injury, it is vital that victims get medical attention with a sense of urgency.

How PRP Treatments Aid in Healing

After a Bethesda MD neck pain doctor has injected platelet rich plasma (PRP) into the neck area, it begins working by releasing growth factors and stimulating the body into repair mode. The platelets draw repair cells to the area in need, assisting in the regeneration of tissues, ligaments, muscles, and bones. The PRP samples are free of contaminated white and red blood cells, which can actually hinder healing. Additionally, our Bethesda, Maryland neck pain doctor at the Pain and Arthritis Relief Center can customize the volume and concentration of the PRP injection, depending on the person’s injury type. 

What to Expect After the Session

After the platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection into the neck area, a doctor may suggest that the patient rests so the properties can get to work. It is important to keep in mind that the whiplash may not get better immediately following a single treatment session. It can take a few weeks or months, but after repeated sessions car accident victims are likely to find significant relief in their whiplash symptoms.

For more information about how the Pain and Arthritis Relief Center can help you, call us today to schedule a consultation with our Bethesda MD neck pain doctor.