In a car crash, your head can be very quickly and violently whipped around. This movement can injure many assorted areas of your neck, including the arteries that supply your brain.
The vertebral blood vessels are especially vulnerable, because they actually pass through the cervical vertebrae.
While your neck is whipped, the arterial blood vessels can be torqued or stretched, damaging the lining of the vessels. This can cause swelling or tearing, and in some instances, can block the circulation of blood.
Indicators of vertebral artery injury can be felt as a discomfort in the back of the head that grows stronger over time, and it can be on either side of the head or in the center. Sometimes the pain is felt as aching, and sometimes it may feel like an increase in pressure or a throbbing feeling.
If you have these warning signs, it's important that you get professional attention immediately.
If you have been in a car wreck, Dr. Ernst is here to help. We can help identify the root source of your problem and formulate a treatment plan to help you reclaim your health. We have helped many people in Arlington, WA improve from these sorts of injuries.
Call our office today at (360) 659-8464 for an appointment or for more advice.