When the Pain Shows Up Days After the Crash
The ER checked you over and nothing was broken. Then a day or two later your neck tightened up, checking your blind spot started to hurt, and the headaches began. That delay is common after a collision, because soft tissue injuries in the neck and back often take time to show themselves.
Waiting it out can feel like the sensible choice. Stiffness that lingers, though, starts to change how you sit at work, how you sleep and how you drive. It also makes the insurance side harder, since it is difficult to describe an injury no one has examined.
Whiplash and auto accident injuries are among the conditions Dr. Blaine and Dr. Jana Hendrick treat at our McAllen clinic. A thorough exam is a calm, practical first step, and you leave with a clear picture of what is going on.
What Whiplash Does to Your Neck and Back
Whiplash is a strain injury caused by the head snapping forward and back, the way it does in a rear-end collision. The quick motion can stretch the muscles, ligaments and small joints of the neck past their normal range.
Common signs include neck pain and stiffness, headaches that start at the base of the skull, sore shoulders, mid or low back pain, and sometimes tingling into the arms. A low-speed crash can still cause these symptoms.
Go to the ER first if you have severe pain, weakness, numbness, confusion or any sign of a head injury. For everything else, a chiropractic exam helps sort out which structures were affected and what care makes sense.
Chiropractic and Primary Care in One McAllen Clinic
Dr. Blaine Hendrick holds dual licensure as a Doctor of Chiropractic and a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C), one of a few providers with this combination in the Rio Grande Valley. He completed whiplash injury training in Chicago. When it is appropriate, he can also handle medication, injections or imaging referrals during the same visit, so you are not coordinating between two offices.
Dr. Jana Hendrick, DC, is also a New York Chiropractic College graduate with clinical training at the VA Hospital and Monroe Community Hospital in Rochester, NY, and she offers a female provider option.
Care is matched to how sore you are right now:
- Low-force adjustments with the Activator instrument or drop table, for a neck that does not tolerate much movement yet
- Cervical traction and Cox Flexion-Distraction to ease pressure on irritated joints and discs
- Soft tissue work (IASTM and myofascial release) plus guided exercises to rebuild strength
What to Expect After a Car Accident
Step 1: Exam and History
Step 2: A Clear Care Plan
Step 3: Tracking Your Recovery
Getting Back to Normal After a Crash
Turning your head without bracing for it. As motion returns to your neck, everyday things like checking mirrors, looking down at your phone and reversing out of a driveway take less effort.
Easing the headaches that started after the accident. When the neck and upper back move better, tension headaches linked to the injury may settle down.
A clear record from day one. Exam findings and visit notes document your symptoms and progress from the first appointment onward, which is useful if you need to discuss your care with your insurer.
Car Accident Chiropractic FAQs
It is worth getting checked. Whiplash symptoms often appear hours or days after a collision, and an early exam records your condition while the details are fresh. If nothing needs treatment, you leave with peace of mind.
Go to the ER or call 911 for severe pain, numbness, weakness, confusion or any head injury. If you have already been cleared, or your symptoms are mild and came on later, you can book directly with Hendrick Wellness Center. No referral is required.
Yes, when it follows a proper exam. Dr. Blaine and Dr. Jana choose techniques to match your injury, including low-force options like the Activator instrument and drop table for a sore, guarded neck.
Often, yes. Because Dr. Blaine Hendrick is also a Family Nurse Practitioner, he can prescribe medication, give injections or order imaging when appropriate, without sending you to a separate provider. See our primary care services for more.
Coverage depends on your policy. Contact our office at (956) 630-2255 or Info@HendrickWellnessCenter.com to confirm coverage for your specific plan.
Car Accident Injury Care in McAllen, TX
Hendrick Wellness Center has cared for McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley since 2006. If your neck or back has not felt right since the accident, book an exam with Dr. Blaine or Dr. Jana Hendrick and leave with a clear plan for your recovery.
