Whiplash occurs when the head moves rapidly forward to backward, or upright to either side.  This can damage soft tissues and bone structure surrounding the neck.  Most people complain of whiplash after a car accident, and it’s important to remember that even a small bump can cause tremendous problems for the neck.  This is not a life threatening condition, but the person who experiences whiplash may be in for a period of disability and it can cost a lot of money to fix.

Common symptoms of whiplash include neck, shoulder, jaw, back and arm pain.  For some, symptoms of weakness, dizziness and ringing in the ear can appear as well.  Headaches following a whiplash incident are known as “cervicogenic” headaches.

If you have sustained whiplash injuries from a car accident or work-related injury, be sure you seek out a qualified orthopaedic physician.  They will develop a treatment plan to get you back to your old self. 

Whiplash treatment may include physical therapy and a stretching regimen to help reduce the tension in the shoulders and upper back.  Rest is important following any injury, so it’s important to be sure you do not try to over-exert yourself.  Using ice directly after the accident can help aid in the healing.  Your physician may order trigger point injections, which is an injection of an anesthetic to help numb the pain.  This procedure can provide relief.  For more severe cases, epidural steroid injections can help to reduce inflammation and pain.  Medications like NSAIDs may be used to not only help reduce the pain from the accident, but also to decrease the inflammation caused by the injury.

If you are looking for a physician to develop a treatement plan after an accident, visit our website at www.lowbackpain.com or contact our office at 770-421-1420.

Sources:

http://painmanagementtrends.com/2014/12/understanding-and-healing-whiplash/