Jan 20
15 Symptoms of Whiplash & What To Do Next If You’re Experiencing Them
You’ve probably heard of whiplash — it’s not uncommon as a result of car accidents, sports injuries, falls, abuse, or other forms of sudden and violent trauma.
What isn’t common knowledge is all the potential symptoms of whiplash, and how long after an accident you can experience them.
What Is Whiplash?
As the name implies, whiplash is an injury that happens when your neck is whipped back and forth.
The most common cause is being rear-ended in a car accident, but any forceful collision that causes your neck to move rapidly back and forth can result in whiplash.
While most cases can be treated quickly and are healed within a few weeks, in some instances the injury leads to long-lasting complications and chronic pain.
It’s important to get diagnosed as soon as possible if you think you may be suffering from whiplash — before the condition gets worse.
If you’ve been in an accident or otherwise injured, make an appointment with your doctor or seek treatment from a qualified chiropractor right away.
Symptoms Of Whiplash
Not all symptoms of whiplash occur immediately after an injury, some signs may not be obvious for a few days.
The most common symptoms are:
A. Headaches — most often at the back of your skull
B. Stiffness or pain in the neck
C. Neck pain that gets worse when you move it
D. Difficulty moving your neck, or loss of range of motion
E. Dizziness
F. Fatigue or being easily tired out
G. Numb or tingling arms
H. Pain or tenderness in your shoulders, arms, or upper back
Less commonly, some whiplash sufferers may also experience:
A. Difficulty concentrating
B. Trouble sleeping, or frequent waking
C. Depression
D. Memory Issues
E. Blurry eyesight
F. Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
G. Anger or irritability
Long Term vs Short Term
There’s currently no way to be certain which patients will recover quickly, and which will go on to develop chronic pain or other long-term complications.
It has been suggested that patients who rapidly develop neck or arm pain and a limited range of motion may be more likely to suffer from long-term problems.
Old age, previous whiplash or existing neck pains, and accidents at high speed are also considered risk factors that increase the chance of the injury not healing quickly.
Treatment Options
Whiplash can affect different people in different ways, and can be caused by injuries that aren’t always identical — so the treatments will vary from patient to patient.
The most basic and common treatments involve pain medications and an exercise regimen designed to strengthen the injured area.
Many patients also choose to visit a qualified chiropractor, and some chiropractors specialize in treating whiplash and concussions — the most common injuries caused by auto accidents.
Chiropractic treatments may also include manual manipulation of the muscles and bones, massage, electrical stimulation, or hot and cold therapies.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident or suffered an injury and you’re experiencing the symptoms listed above, don’t wait until things get worse.
Get in contact with a qualified professional and get the help you need to repair the damage ASAP.
You only get one body — take care of it.
