Whiplash, also called neck sprain or strain, is a very common car accident injury. It is caused when the head abruptly jerks forward and/or backward causing the neck to move outside its normal range of motion thus straining ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Because it is a soft tissue injury, it is often not as immediately noticeable as lacerations and broken bones. If you experience whiplash from a car accident, your symptoms may not even develop for up to 24 hours. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have a serious injury. Severe whiplash may involve nerve damage or spinal disc injury and may result in chronic or even permanent disability.
Symptoms of whiplash may include:
- Neck pain, swelling, stiffness, and/or spasms
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Jaw tightness
- Difficulty concentrating and/or memory issues
- Sleep disturbances and/or fatigue
- Irritability
- Vision problems
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Referred pain in the shoulders, arms, and/or back
- Numbness and tingling in the arms
If you experience any of these symptoms after a car accident, it is important for you to see a doctor. Though mild whiplash may resolve in just a few weeks with treatments of over-the-counter pain relievers and ice packs, more serious whiplash may require prescription medications, physical therapy, and other treatment approaches. At Accident and Injury, taking care of auto accident victims is all we do. We know exactly how to treat your whiplash to get you “on the road” to recovery in no time.
