Patient questions
These are the questions we answer every week at our Tolleson, Phoenix and Gilbert clinics — about whiplash, pain that shows up days later, what a first visit looks like, and how long recovery takes. Read what applies to you, then call us with the rest.
Reviewed by
Dr. Leonela Martinez, DC — Doctor of Chiropractic at KTK Chiropractic, treating auto accident and whiplash injuries for patients across Maricopa County.
As soon as you can, ideally within the first few days. Crash injuries like whiplash often feel mild at first and stiffen up over the following week, so an early exam documents what happened while it is still fresh and lets treatment start before the muscles guard and tighten. If you have severe pain, head injury, loss of consciousness, or numbness that is getting worse, go to an emergency room first — then follow up with us.
Adrenaline and inflammation both mask pain. In the moments after impact your body is flooded with stress hormones; over the next 24 to 72 hours swelling builds and the injured muscles and joints start to stiffen. Feeling worse on day three than on day one is common after a rear-end collision and does not mean the injury is new.
Whiplash is a strain of the neck's muscles, ligaments and joints caused by the head being thrown rapidly forward and then backward, most often in a rear-end collision. Typical signs are neck pain and stiffness, reduced range of motion, headaches starting at the base of the skull, shoulder and upper-back tightness, and sometimes dizziness.
Yes. Vehicle damage is a poor predictor of body damage. Modern bumpers absorb impact without deforming, while your head and neck still move through the same abrupt arc. Low-speed collisions regularly produce real whiplash injuries, which is why we examine based on your symptoms and movement, not the photos of the car.
We take a full history of the crash and your symptoms, examine your spine, posture, range of motion, muscle tone and nerve function, and identify which areas are actually driving the pain. We explain what we find in plain language, refer for imaging or another specialist when it is warranted, and then start a treatment plan built around your specific injuries.
Care is hands-on and progressive: chiropractic adjustments to restore joint motion and alignment, soft-tissue and muscle work for the strained areas, therapeutic exercise to rebuild strength and stability, and guidance on movement, posture and activity between visits so the gains hold.
Neck pain and stiffness, back or shoulder pain, headaches, dizziness, jaw or upper-back tightness, reduced range of motion, and numbness or tingling in the arms or legs. Numbness and tingling in particular can point to nerve irritation and should be looked at promptly rather than waited out.
It depends on the severity of the injury, how long you waited to start, and your general health. Many people notice change within the first few visits, while a soft-tissue injury typically needs several weeks of consistent care to fully settle. We re-assess as you progress and taper visits as your symptoms and movement improve — you should always know where you are in the plan.
No. You can call our office directly and be scheduled, and we routinely see people who are also working with an attorney, a primary care physician, or another specialist. We document your care and coordinate with them as needed.
KTK Chiropractic treats auto accident injuries across the Valley, with clinics in Tolleson, Phoenix (19th Ave and 16th St) and Gilbert, serving patients throughout Maricopa County.
Often, yes. Untreated crash injuries tend to leave behind stiff joints, weakened supporting muscles and altered movement patterns that keep producing pain and headaches long after the crash. An exam can tell you whether what you feel now traces back to that injury and what is realistically treatable.
Call 623-257-2000 or request an appointment online, and tell us when the accident happened and what you are feeling. Same-day and next-day visits are usually available.
After the crash
Severe pain, a head injury, confusion, loss of consciousness or worsening numbness belong in an emergency room first, not a chiropractic office.
Book within a few days even if you feel fine. An early exam catches injuries before they stiffen and creates a record of your condition right after the crash.
Note what hurts, when it started, and what makes it worse. Details fade fast and they shape both your diagnosis and your treatment plan.
Total rest tends to stiffen an injured neck or back. Gentle, pain-free movement between visits usually helps recovery along.
Stopping care the moment pain fades is the most common reason accident injuries come back. Finish the plan so the supporting muscles catch up.