Multiple sclerosis (MS) is under constant research. One recent area of debate is whether head and neck injuries can actually lead to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. In one case from 1996, a former policeman was awarded over $800,000 in damages after sustaining a whiplash injury due to a car accident while on duty. He was 49 years old and began to show signs of MS within a week of being in the accident. A number of neurologists testified that this was not the first case of whiplash that progressed to multiple sclerosis after one was injured.
One Expert Weighs in on the MS Controversy
A professional from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Charles Poser, stated that one might develop MS after a car accident if that person is already predisposed to getting it. He said that the person might have lived a normal life without the diagnosis of MS if not for having been injured. He had witnessed a large number of patients who were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after sustaining a whiplash injury. This is no coincidence. The jury agreed with him and the other expert witnesses, awarding the victory to the injured officer.
Finding Relief for Multiple Sclerosis
It is impossible to determine if one will actually get multiple sclerosis after having whiplash. It may be more likely to happen if someone has a history of head and neck injuries. The bones of the upper neck – the C1 and C2 vertebrae in particular – are designed to protect the brainstem. When one has had trauma to this area, the bones can misalign, and rather than protect the brainstem, they can place pressure on it. This causes a problem with communication between the brain and body leading to such issues as multiple sclerosis.
At Health Edge Family Spinal Care, we use a safe and effective method that helps the bones to realign naturally. It may take only a visit or two to see the start of improvement in MS symptoms.