Whiplash | Attorneys, Lawyers & Legal Resources

Whiplash

Every year, approximately 1 million people experience whiplash, and most of these injuries are caused by minor fender benders. Despite the huge number of cases, physicians often find it difficult to diagnose and decide upon a treatment. Even though 90 percent of whiplash victims recover in less than a year with minimal or no treatment, the other ten percent have inexplicable chronic pain.

Causes

Whiplash, which is probably the most frequently occurring of all neck injuries, happens when an automobile stops abruptly or when an automobile at a standstill is rear-ended. The injury takes place when the impact causes the heads of the car's occupants to violently snap forward and back, putting mild to overwhelming stress on the bones, discs, muscles, nerves and tendons of the neck region. This can cause any number of disorders related to the initial whiplash injury because so many anatomical parts can be affected.

You don't have to be moving at a rapid pace to experience whiplash; some whiplash injuries can occur at speeds as slow as 5 mph. While whiplash is often assumed to be caused by an auto accident, is can also be related to an unexpected halt on a roller coaster or some other amusement park ride, sports injury, or assault (e.g., being punched or shaken). Whiplash injury is common among infants who are severely shaken. This violent treatment can also be contributed to traumatic brain injury.

Symptoms

Most whiplash patients either suffer from neck discomfort shortly after or many days following the injury. Additional whiplash symptoms include:

Stiff neck

Headache

Shoulder pain and tightness

Vertigo

Exhaustion

Achy jaw

Arm soreness and weakness

Vision problems

Ringing in ears

Back tenderness

Symptoms of the more extreme, long-term "whiplash associated disorder" include:

Dejection

Rage

Aggravation

Nervousness

Stress

Addiction to pain killers

Posttraumatic stress syndrome

Insomnia

Social withdrawal

Diagnosis

Whiplash is such a nuisance to diagnose because injuries to neck muscles and ligaments are not depicted on x-rays. If a definite problem cannot be concluded based on x-ray, a physician may deduce a need for specialized testing like a computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Normally, a diagnosis will be determined based on prior history and symptoms and by ruling out alternative disorders.

If you have visited a physician to inquire about your whiplash injury, and side effects have continued for the last month-and-a-half, it may be wise to set up an appointment to see a neurologist or other specialist who can offer a different perspective.

Treatment

Luckily, whiplash victims can be cared for, and most symptoms are only temporary. Initial treatment begins with a soft cervical collar that is typically worn for no more than three weeks. Other remedies for whiplash include:

Heat therapy to soothe muscle stiffness and pain.

Pain killers like analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication.

Muscle relaxants.

Workouts to improve range of motion.

Physical therapy.

The majority of whiplash symptoms taper off in two-to-four weeks. Victims whose symptoms do not subside in the face of treatment can seek short-term relief through neck immobilization, or cervical traction, using a halter at home or work. Onsite injections to numb the pain may also be beneficial. If symptoms persist or exacerbate after six to eight weeks, a doctor may suggest supplementary x-rays and additional testing to establish whether the patient sustained a more serious injury. Whiplash can lead to damage of the intervertebral discs, which may require an operation to fix.