• Lehman JJ

• Aged
• Case Reports
• Cervical Vertebrae
• Chronic Pain
• Dizziness / therapy
• Female
• Nausea
• Neck Pain / therapy
• Open Access Document
• Vertigo / therapy
• Whiplash Injuries / diagnosis

Objective: This case report describes a patient presenting with Late Whiplash Syndrome and symptoms of chronic neck pain, dizziness, nausea, and vertigo, and her response to a conservative chiropractic intervention. 

Clinical Features: A 62-year old female presented with a chief complaint of neck pain. The history of present illness indicated the onset of the neck pain was approximately 10 years prior to this visit. She described upper cervical spine pain on the left as a deep and dull ache with stiffness throughout the neck. High velocity low amplitude cervical manipulations had produced adverse reactions over the past five years. Past medical history revealed several motor vehicle accidents over the past 35 years. A fall as a young child preceded tinnitus that persists today. Since 2001, she has experienced daily vertigo, dizziness, and nausea.

Intervention and Outcome: Following evaluation, conservative chiropractic care was provided with the goal of reducing symptoms and improving cervical range of motion. Trigger point release was performed to ameliorate active trigger points in the upper trapezii and the left levator scapulae muscle. Gentle, cervical long axis distraction was performed to reduce cervical pain, muscle hypertonicity, and joint dysfunction. Treatment reduced the neck pain, while the vertigo, dizziness, and nausea were eliminated. Six weeks following the treatment, the patient still denied neck pain, vertigo, dizziness, or nausea.

Conclusion: This case of a posttraumatic cervical sprain (whiplash injury) with resultant chronic pain syndrome as well as dizziness, nausea, and vertigo responded favorably to gentle conservative chiropractic care

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; full text is available by subscription.