Whiplash Symptoms, Whiplash Treatment

Whiplash Cause

Whiplash, is an injury to your neck caused by the sudden snapping of your neck muscles, ligaments, and nerves in a whip like motion most commonly experienced through high speed and rear impact driving accidents. With severe whiplash the bones of your neck (cervical or C spine) may break too - fracture.

Whiplash Symptoms

• Mild whiplash symptoms include minimal muscle soreness around the neck area and may include a dull headache the next day.
• Moderate whiplash symptoms include more muscle tenderness, stiffness and discomfort, headaches which persist several days, and tingling in your fingers.
• Severe whiplash symptoms include severe muscle aches with movement, headaches, shooting pains down your arms, and hand grip weakness.

Whiplash Treatment

• Mild whiplash treatment requires just rest and an anti-inflammatory such as Advil or Motrin for 1-2 weeks to settle.
• Moderate whiplash injury can usually be treated adding a muscle relaxant and physiotherapy physical modalities such as heat, current, ultrasound, massage etc Moderate whiplash injury is also helped by wearing a soft collar for neck support. This reduces movement improving neck fibre healing time.
• Severe whiplash injuries are typically treated in an Emergency department and can range from wearing a rigid support collar for several weeks to surgical neck fixation for C spine fractures under supervision of an orthopedic specialist.

Doctor Secrets! Whiplash injuries often hurt more the day after an accident. That's why you should see your doctor within 24hrs to have your injuries documented in case a whiplash lawsuit is pursued.

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