What You Should Know About Whiplash

Every year, more than 3 million auto accident victims endure a whiplash injury.

Whiplash injuries are most often caused by rear-end car collisions and are the most common type of neck injury. Whiplash ranges in severity from minor soft tissue damage to nerve and spinal damage. Symptoms are often delayed and it is common for a person not to seek medical treatment right away because of a lack of pain. However, complications of untreated whiplash include chronic pain and disability.

What is Whiplash?

One of the most common auto accident claim for injury is whiplash. Whiplash is not a medical term; rather it describes the neck pain associated with damage to the soft tissues such as the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Whiplash is caused when the neck is violently moved back and forth beyond the normal range of motion. A doctor may diagnose whiplash as cervical sprain, cervical strain, or hyperextension injury. Rear-end collisions often cause whiplash injury. Other types of car accidents that cause whiplash include T-bone car accidents, head-on collisions, and rollover accidents.

Symptoms of Whiplash

Whiplash is not in itself a deadly injury; however, it often results in chronic pain and disability. Most symptoms will present with 24 hours of the injury, yet the symptoms can be delayed for weeks after an accident. Because of delayed symptoms, it is critical for a car accident victim to seek medical attention, even if he or she does not have any pain. Symptoms of whiplash include:

• neck pain and stiffness
• increased pain with neck movement
• loss of range of motion in the neck
• headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
• tenderness or pain in shoulder, upper back, or arms
• tingling or numbness in the arms
• fatigue
• dizziness
• blurred vision
• ringing in the ears

Treatment for Whiplash

The treatment for whiplash has changed over the last several years. A car accident victim with a neck injury was most often fitted with a soft cervical collar to be worn for several weeks to immobilize the area. Now this is considered to slow the healing process because the loss of range of motion leads to increased pain and stiffness. Damaged muscles become less flexible and do not heal properly with less blood flow to the soft tissues and may cause muscle atrophy. It is believed that excessive rest and immobilization contributes to chronic pain. The recommended method of treatment is early range of motion exercises combined with pain management. Physical therapy and occupational therapy can help a patient return to normal daily activities.