What is Whiplash?

Whiplash normally refers to a sprain in the neck often caused by collisions and injuries around the neck. This kind of injury often causes a person severe pain in the neck with a reduced range of motion that causes a pinching pain when a person tries to move. Sports injuries, physical abuse bumpy amusement rides are just a few of the causes of this injury. Whiplash treatment is available but first; let’s have a look at what happens after your neck is jerked.

How does a Whiplash Injury take place?

Whiplash can result after a sudden front and back motion has occurred in your neck. This can be caused by several reasons that we have enlisted below. These may be some but, there can be other reasons as well.

• A car collision where the neck faces sudden jerk.

• Getting involved in a fight or getting physically abused.

• Horse and Bike riding accidents.

• Bumping your head with a heavy object

• A fall that affects your neck.

Results of a Whiplash

Now that we are aware of what whiplash is and how it occurs, let’s dig in a little deeper. A whiplash causes severe pain in the neck, making it almost impossible for you to move. This happens because after the sudden neck movement, soft tissues in your neck stretch outside their normal range of motion.

Symptoms of whiplash may not appear as soon as the accident occurs. They might show up a little later. It is extremely important to keep an eye on any change in your health after an accident. Even though whiplash is considered as one of the milder and minor injuries, it tends to have a long-lasting effect on the sufferer.

Symptoms of Whiplash

Even though the symptoms may not be visible to you at the pot of the incident, there is a huge possibility of the symptoms being visible between 20-24 hours of the accident. Hence, it is extremely important to keep an eye on your health for the coming few days.

Common Symptoms

Common symptoms include:

• Stiffness and severe pain in the neck

• Constant headaches with medium to the high intensity of pain

• Tiredness and dizziness being constant with the urge to throw up.

• Blurred vision with major stress on the eyes.

Less Common Symptoms

There are some other symptoms as well that may not be as common as the ones enlisted above but they must be there depending upon the intensity of the injury.

They are enlisted as:

• Lack of focus and problem with the memory

• Irritation and mood swings

• Lack of or inability to sleep properly.

• Acute pain in the neck and areas associated with it i.e. shoulders, head.

When to consult the doctor?

If you are facing these symptoms of chronic whiplash that don’t seem to go away, you must seek a doctor immediately. Here are some of the reasons for when to consult the doctor.

• The pain starts to spread to the areas near to the neck instead of going away

• Weak and numb arms

• Difficulty in moving your head

Diagnosis of Whiplash

Before you can seek the best treatment for whiplash, it is crucial to diagnose it. Whiplash treatment for a mild case injury can easily be treated at home with simple remedies like pain killers, ice pack, cold/ hot compression or other easy home remedies.

Once you realize you are facing the symptoms that are addressed above, and they do not seem to go away, then it is time to seek medical help. Head straight to the doctor!

Consultancy and Tests

A doctor will normally ask you a few questions regarding your medical history and how this injury became your fate. Be honest to the doctor about how you feel about the whiplash that has practically put you on a leash making it extremely uncomfortable for you to even make the slightest movement in your neck without moaning with pain.

They will ask you about how the injury has occurred and about the intensity of pain you are suffering. This is followed by a physical test where the doctor examines how much your range of motion has reduced and what are the areas in your neck that feel immensely sore.

X-Ray

One of the most important steps of the best treatment for whiplash injuries is conducting an X-Ray. Any professional doctor would conduct an X-Ray to check if there are any other injuries your whiplash might be connected to.

Other Tests

As discussed earlier, whiplash is caused by accidents and abuses that tend to harm your other body parts as well. Also, there can be inflammation and damage to the spinal cord or the soft tissues. For this purpose doctors prefer conducting a CT-Scan or an MRI. Some doctors also prefer conducting imaging studies like PET Scan or the DTI. These tests will also ensure that there have been no injuries caused to the brain or other internal organs.

Treatment of Whiplash

This treatment is not that difficult. The doctor will start with the simplest treatments progressing to the complex ones. Even though the treatment solely depends upon the condition of your injury, there is a systematic line or order that all the doctors follow.

• Any doctor will commence the treatment by prescribing their patient with some over the counter remedies like a cold patch or an ice patch. These can be combined with painkillers and simplest of drugs like aspirin. Muscle relaxants like Nuberol can also help in reducing the frequently occurring muscle spasms; common in case of whiplash.

• In case you don’t recover from the first round of treatment, you will be sent to a treatment that requires a little effort. Yes, I am talking about physical therapy. To get your neck muscles inline it is important to pay a visit to your therapist, preferably a chiropractor.

• They will recommend you a neck brace to keep your neck in-line and stable. It is recommended not to wear your neck collar more than 3 to 4 hours a day. Also, it is advised to wear it during the initial stages of the injury.

Alternative Remedy

Certain alternatives are also available that can help you recover from this acute pain and immobility.

• Chiropractic Treatment

• Massage to relieve the stress and tension in the muscles

• ENS which involves a gentle electric shock to reduce the sharp pain

Concluding with the Most Recommended Whiplash treatment

At AICA Orthopedics we offer the best surgeons and specialists for you so you can get yourself treated from the best Doctors in multiple locations across the States. All our work involves top-notch services that feature the latest technology.

We provide whiplash treatment regardless of its severity so that you can return to your normal happy life. At AICA Orthopedics our complete team of doctors, surgeons and specialists are available to help you.

Our medical centers are available across the states with equally good facilities. If you are planning to pay a visit, our offices are open from Monday to Thursday from 8 am till 7 pm and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 are till 5 pm.