Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and Prevention Tips for Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck strain. The head suddenly moves backward and forward with great force, causing whiplash. Your neck muscles and tendons tear from the impact. This injury is most common after rear-end collisions. Sports injuries, physical abuse, and amusement park rides can cause it. While mild, whiplash can cause long-term pain and discomfort. Pay attention to physical changes for a few days after an accident because your symptoms may not appear.

Causes of Whiplash

Following are the causes of whiplash:

• Accidents in cars and bicycles

• Backward-jerking head falls

• Physical abuse—punching or shaking—

• Contact sports like football, boxing, and karate

• Horseback riding

• Head blows from heavy objects

A concussion can result from neck strain. Concussions are serious, so see a doctor of the Pain Control Clinic immediately.

Whiplash Symptoms

Following are the symptoms of whiplash:

• Base-of-skull headaches

• Stiffness and neck pain

• Dizziness

• Vision blurred

• Constant fatigue

• Chronic neck, shoulder, or head pain

Emergency medical care is needed if you have a severe headache, weakness, trouble speaking, confusion, dizziness, nausea, or excessive sleepiness.

When diagnosing whiplash, your doctor will ask how it happened, where you feel the pain, and if it's dull, shooting, or sharp. A physical exam can check range of motion and tenderness. Your pain doctors in Fort Worth can assess soft tissue, spinal cord, and nerve damage or inflammation with CT scans and MRIs. PET or DTI scans may be helpful, especially if there is a brain injury.

Treatments for Whiplash

Following are the treatments of whiplash:

• Tylenol and aspirin are OTC painkillers.

• Prescription painkillers, muscle relaxants

• Physical therapy

• Icing or heating

• Simple neck strengthening and flexibility exercises

• A neck-supporting foam collar

• Chiropractic care

• Messages

• Electronic nerve stimulation

• Acupuncture

After whiplash, some people experience chronic pain or headaches for years. Whiplash rarely causes long-term complications, and most people recover within days to weeks.

Who Gets More Effects Of Whiplash?

Elderly people, women, and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) are more likely to suffer serious or permanent whiplash injuries. Muscle and bone injuries are more common in older adults (65 and older), making them more serious. This is usually due to age-related muscle and bone weakening.

Car crashes are more likely to cause whiplash-type injuries in women and AFAB people for several reasons:

• Height: Experts believe that's because women and AFAB are shorter than men and AMAB.

• Spinal structure varies: Women and AFAB have a different spinal column than men and AMAB. That impacts vertebra distance.

• Muscles vary: Women and people with AFAB have less muscle, which can absorb shock from sudden impact forces. They have less muscle to absorb movement forces.

• Automotive construction: Modern vehicle construction may injure women and AFAB. Headrests prevent your head from moving backward in a crash. Seatback and headrest height may affect women and AFABs differently due to their shorter average height.

How Can I Manage Whiplash Symptoms?

Minor whiplash, like Grade 1 or 2, is usually manageable on your own. Cold, heat, over-the-counter painkillers, and rest usually help you recover. If the pain is moderate or doesn't improve with home remedies, see a pain clinic in Plano doctor. Pain that persists indicates a serious injury.

If you passed out or lost consciousness while causing whiplash, don't treat it yourself. If you have nerve issues, don't self-manage. Passing out, dizziness and vertigo, headaches, tingling, numbness, weakness, or trouble swallowing or speaking are signs of a dangerous concussion or traumatic brain injury, so see pain management in Dallas immediately.

What Can I Do to Avoid Whiplash?

Whiplash risk can be reduced in several ways. Unfortunately, it happens unpredictably, so prevention is impossible. Most effective risk reduction measures include:

• Vehicle seat adjustment: See your vehicle's driver's manual for seat positioning and headrest use to reduce whiplash from vehicle-related situations. Orthopedic seat cushions can adjust your height or posture to maximize headrest safety.

• Wear your seatbelt: If your seat belt isn't snug against your body or worn correctly across your shoulder, it may not be able to stop your forward motion before it causes a whiplash injury.

• Drive securely: Driver caution can help you avoid situations where the driver behind you can't stop. Avoid driving too close to someone in front of you and slamming on the brakes, which may not give them time to stop.

• Position matters: Put your head against the headrest and face straight ahead if you see or hear something that indicates your vehicle will be rear-ended. A properly placed headrest prevents whiplash by preventing head, neck, and body movement.

• Play contact sports safely: Avoiding dangerous contact in these sports can prevent whiplash injuries.

Before riding theme park roller coasters, consult a pain doctor in Dallas. A primary care provider can advise you on whether to ride roller coasters or other high-movement activities that could injure you.

Note from Premier Pain Centers