Whiplash / Nerve Pain / Concussion

In a fall or motor vehicle accident, the force of impact passes through your body in an attempt to dissipate. If the force doesn’t dissipate, it can become stuck in your fascial system, creating an anchor around which your body has to learn to compensate. As your body rotates around the seatbelt, the fascia deep in your abdomen and ribcage sustain shearing and torsional forces. Organs that once knew how to slide and glide off each other as the breathing diaphragm moves up and down, find themselves at odds with their neighbours, moving awkwardly and pulling on your bony structure. (see: Visceral Manipulation).

When you experience fear or pain, the reticular alarm system in your brain becomes aroused in preparation for fight of flight, or your autonomic nervous system may choose a freeze response instead. Clients seeking whiplash treatment often report their nervous systems feel “rattled”. (see: Craniosacral Therapy) (see: How can Osteopathy help with Chronic Pain…)

We understand whiplash.

“ I had been in chronic pain from a head trauma and whiplash and was unable to find relief….I had almost given up. My osteopathic treatments have made a dramatic difference and I feel like …I have my life back again.”

-Patti L.

We have many techniques for whiplash treatment:

• From small direct corrections of joint restrictions to gentle indirect techniques where we follow your tissues into the ease, we can help your mobility and alignment. (see: OMT)

• Engaging the strain pattern in your fascia and releasing the anchor around which your body has been compensating helps immensely. Seatbelt rotational injuries can cause your liver or kidney to shear and lose their normal axis of movement. Visceral manipulation techniques can help. (see: Visceral Manipulation)

• Craniosacral techniques release the dura, the envelope around your brain and spinal cord, loosening restrictions and strain patterns throughout the spine. These techniques calm the autonomic nervous system and reticular system aroused by fear and pain. (see: Craniosacral Therapy)

The force of impact can cause the delicate brain to rotate within its hard bony container. Impact can cause shearing stress, and acceleration causes stretching and tearing of axons. A neurometabolic cascade occurs with a huge demand for energy and a reduced ability to create it. Reduced blood flow in the injured brain occurs within the first 7-10 days. It is an invisible injury with prolonged symptoms that can be devastating to one’s quality of life.

• Dizziness and headaches of neck origin are treated with gentle structural and fascial techniques with attention to jaw involvement. (see: OMT) (see: Jaw/Headaches/Migraines)

• Balance issues may be addressed by Craniosacral Techniques but may require a referral to a dedicated vestibular physiotherapist.

• We have cranial techniques to align your temporal bones which enclose the vestibular apparatus and techniques to release the path of the vestibular nerve which can help relieve symptoms. (See: Craniosacral Therapy)

• The eyes are the headlights of the fascial system and a direct connection to the dural system. Tension in the cranial nerves of the eyes, or tension in the bones of the eye orbit can create visual disturbances. Altered feedback from the visual system can alter your perception of midline causing postural disturbances. (see: Craniosacral Therapy)

• Blood flow and altered blood flow regulation can occur from disturbances in the autonomic nervous system. MRI studies show some injured brain tissue never regains its’ blood flow long-term. Research indicates impaired ability to maintain blood flow in your brain during exercise can be addressed by controlled aerobic exercise. Research also shows that Osteopathy can increase blood flow in the brain. Healthy circulation of blood and cerebrospinal fluids around the brain bring nutrients and help the glial cells detoxify waste products through the lymphatics. Techniques for treating thoracic vertebrae T2, T3 and the adrenals improve blood flow and regulation. (see: Craniosacral Therapy) (see: Visceral Manipulation)

“I experienced a mild visual concussion after my car accident. It was shocking to me how my brain and my eyes drove my neck to be always twisted a little to one side. My practitioner released the nerves affecting my eyes and that was one of a few big turning-points in my recovery.”

-Elizabeth H.

Your dura is one continuous envelope surrounding your brain and spinal cord forming the beginning of all your nerve roots. Tension in your head or jaw, for example, can create a tug in the system lower down and may be felt as low back pain, sciatica or tingling. Nerves should be free to slide and glide within their own sheaths and through the bony or soft tissue tunnels within which they pass. We treat the nerve sheaths. Piriformis syndrome is an example of sciatic nerve entrapment as it passes through or nearby the shortened muscle bands. Nerve pain treatment is very effective when cranial osteopathic, visceral and structural techniques are employed.

(see: Craniosacral Therapy) (see: Visceral Manipulation) (see: OMT)