Description

Whiplash is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back and forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip.

Whiplash is commonly caused by the rear of the car crashes. But whiplash can also be the result of sports accidents, physical abuse and other types of trauma such as a fall. Whiplash can be called a neck sprain or strain, but these terms also include other types of neck injuries.

Most people with whiplash get better within a few weeks by following a treatment plan that includes pain medication and exercise. However, some people have long-term neck pain, and other complications.

Symptoms

The symptoms of whiplash most often begin within a few days of the injury. They may include:

  • Neck pain and stiffness.
  • Pain that is worse with movement of the neck.
  • The loss of range of motion in the neck.
  • Headaches, most often starts in the base of the skull.
  • Tenderness or pain in the shoulders, upper back, or arms.
  • Tingling or numbness in the arms.
  • Fatigue.
  • The dizziness.

Some people also have:

  • Blurred vision.
  • Ringing in the ears, called tinnitus.
  • Sleep problems.
  • The bad mood.
  • Difficulty focusing.
  • Memory problems.
  • Depression.

When to see a doctor

Consult your health care professional if you have neck pain or other symptoms of whiplash after a car accident, sports injury or other injuries. It is important to get a diagnosis quickly. This is to rule out broken bones or other damage that can cause or worsen the symptoms.

Causes

Whiplash most often occurs when the head is quickly thrown backward and then forward with force. This often occurs as a result of a rear end car accident. This movement may cause damage to the muscles and tissues of the neck.

Risk factors

The risk factors of whiplash include:

  • The rear of the car crash. This is the most common risk factor for obtaining whiplash.
  • Physical abuse or aggression. Whiplash can occur if you are punched or shaken. It is one of the injuries seen in shaken baby syndrome.
  • Contact sports. Football tackle and other sports-related contact strikes can sometimes cause whiplash.

Complications

Most of the people who have whiplash to feel better within a couple of weeks. They don't seem to have long-lasting effects of the injury. But some people have pain for months or years after the injury.

It is difficult to predict how the recovery from whiplash can go. As a rule, you may be more likely to have ongoing pain if their first symptoms were intense, quickly began and includes:

  • Severe neck pain.
  • More limited range of motion.
  • Pain that spreads to the arms.

The following risk factors that have been associated with a worse outcome:

  • After you have had the whiplash before.
  • Advanced age.
  • Already having low back or neck pain.
  • High-speed injury.

Diagnosis

Your health care professional will ask you questions about the event and its symptoms. You can also ask questions that will help your health care professional to understand the severity of the symptoms and the frequency with which they occur. Your healthcare provider will also want to know how well you can do everyday tasks.

Test

During the exam, your health care professional will need to touch and move the head, neck, and arms. You will be asked to move and do simple tasks to check:

  • The range of motion in the neck and shoulders.
  • The degree of movement that causes pain or an increase in pain.
  • Pain in the neck, shoulders or back.
  • Reflexes, strength and feeling in their extremities.

Imaging tests

A whiplash injury is not displayed in the test image. But imaging tests can rule out other conditions that could cause your neck pain worse. The imaging tests are:

  • The x-rays. X-rays of the neck, taken from many angles may show bone fractures, arthritis and other problems.
  • CTscan. This special type of X-rays can take detailed images of the bones and show damage.
  • The magnetic resonance imaging. This image is a test that uses radio waves and a magnetic field in order to make detailed 3D images. In addition to injuries to the bones, magnetic resonance imaging may show some soft tissue injuries, such as damage to the spinal cord, discs or ligaments.

Treatment

The objectives of whiplash treatment are:

  • The Control of pain.
  • Restore range of motion in the neck.
  • Return to your normal activities.

Your treatment plan will depend on the extent of whiplash injury. Some people just need medicines available without a prescription and at-home care. Others may need prescription medicines, in the treatment of pain and / or physical therapy.

Pain management

Your health care professional may suggest one or more of the following treatments to relieve the pain:

  • Rest. Rest can be useful for a day or two after their injury. But too much bed rest can slow healing.
  • The heat or the cold. Either heat or cold in the neck for 15 minutes every three hours or so can help you feel better.
  • The pain medicines available without a prescription. Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), can often be controlled mild to moderate whiplash of pain.
  • The prescription of drugs. People with more severe pain may be given certain antidepressant medications that have been shown to relieve nerve pain.
  • Muscle relaxants. The short-term use of these medications can help relax tense muscles and relieve the pain. The medicine can also make you feel drowsy. Can be used to help restore your habit of sleep if the pain prevents you from getting a good night's rest.
  • Numbing shots. An injection of lidocaine (Xylocaine) in painful muscle areas could decrease the pain, so that you can do physical therapy.

Exercise

Your health care professional may prescribe stretching and movement exercises to do at home. These exercises can help to restore range of motion in the neck and back to your normal activities. You can be that you are put moist heat on the painful area or take a hot shower before exercising.

The exercises may include:

  • Turn the neck to each side.
  • Tilt your head side to side.
  • Bending the neck to the chest.
  • Roll your shoulders.

Physical therapy

If you have a lash of pain or need help with range of motion exercises, physical therapy can help you feel better and prevent further injury. Your physical therapist will guide you through exercises to strengthen the muscles, improve posture and restore motion.

In some cases, a procedure called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can be used. TENS sends a mild electric current on the skin. Some research suggests that this treatment could relieve neck pain and improve muscle strength in a short period of time.

The number of sessions of physical therapy depends on the needs of the person. The physical therapist can also create a program of exercises to do at home.

Foam collars

Soft foam collars were once used for whiplash injuries to support your neck and head still. But studies have shown that keeping the neck still for long periods of time can decrease muscle strength and slow recovery.

But the use of a collar to limit the movement can help to reduce pain soon after your injury. And can help you sleep at night. The experts do not agree on how to wear a collar, though. Some experts suggest the use of not more than 72 hours. Others say that it can be used up to three hours per day for a couple of weeks. Your health care professional can tell you how to use the collar, and for how long.

Alternative medicine

Non-traditional therapies that have been used to treat the whiplash of pain, but the research about the way in which work is limited. Some of them are:

  • Acupuncture. Acupuncture involves the placement of thin needles in certain areas of the skin. You can offer some relief for neck pain.
  • The chiropractic care. A chiropractor puts pressure on the joints, it is called manipulation. Some studies show that chiropractic care can relieve the pain when combined with exercise or physical therapy. Putting pressure on the spine can cause minor problems. They include numbness or a feeling of dizziness, and rarely, damage to the tissues of the spine.
  • The massage. A neck massage can provide short-term relief of neck pain of whiplash injury.
  • Mind-body therapies. Exercises that incorporate gentle movement and a focus on breath and movement, such as tai chi, chi kung and yoga, can help alleviate the pain and stiffness.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have been in a car accident, you can get care at the scene or in the emergency room. However, a whiplash injury may not cause symptoms right away. If you have neck pain and other symptoms after an injury, consult a health care professional as soon as possible.

Be prepared to describe in detail the event that may have caused the symptoms and to respond to questions, such as:

  • How would you rate your neck pain on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst case.
  • What movement makes the pain worse?
  • What other symptoms do you have?
  • How long after the event did the symptoms begin?
  • Have had neck pain in the past, or do you have to often?
  • Have you tried medications or other treatments to relieve the pain? If so, what happened?
  • What medications do you take daily or often? Include dietary supplements and herbal medicines?
Symptoms and treatment of Whiplash