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Whiplash is a common neck injury that affects more than two million Americans each year. Unfortunately, despite its prevalence, many people don’t know what Whiplash is, how it’s caused, and even how to tell if they have it.
In this informative post, follow along as we answer some of the most common questions we get about whiplash, and find out what to do if you’re experiencing whiplash symptoms.
Whiplash is a common neck injury that’s caused when your head (and neck) rapidly moves or “snaps” forward to back. The sudden and unnatural acceleration and/or deceleration motion of the neck causes it to flex and/or extend rapidly, which can overstretch its joints, muscles, and ligaments. The result: a neck strain or sprain that’s as unpleasant to live with as the incident that caused it.
Whiplash is technically defined as any “soft-tissue injury” that’s caused by the rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck. This opens the door for many possible causes that all result in the same injury. While whiplash injuries occur most often as a result of car accidents—rear-end collisions especially—they can occur from contact-sports (such as football tackles) and trauma, as well as less-common injuries.
Whiplash results in a wide-variety of symptoms. Patients typically report feeling pain or discomfort in the neck, and neck stiffness, tightness, or a loss of range of motion. Moreover, you can also experience numbness or pain in the arms and hands, headaches (often starting at the base of the skull) and even blurred vision, difficulty sleeping, and ringing in the ears.
Although some people only experience pain for a few hours following a whiplash injury, many people experience pain for days, if not weeks on end. Furthermore, “later onset” pain is also common—as many people don’t experience pain for several hours, days, or weeks following their injury.
If you’re experiencing neck pain from a car accident or other injury, don’t shrug it off. Moderate and severe neck pain should always be evaluated by a professional. While your pain could fade on its own, seeing a specialist can ensure it’s not being caused by a fractured or dislocated bone. A pain management doctor in Dallas can also take steps to ensure the pain doesn’t last too long, or get worse.
You should see a neck pain doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of the aforementioned whiplash symptoms following a car accident, sports injury or traumatic injury. Contact the Comprehensive Spine Center of Dallas today to get an accurate diagnosis, and professional treatment for your injuries.
Whiplash treatment is relatively straightforward, and usually doesn’t require surgery. Often, your neck pain doctor will prescribe over-the-counter medication as well as physical therapy to help restore the strength and flexibility of your neck. They might also provide techniques and stretches to help you maintain good posture, keep your neck loose, and avoid further injury.
In more moderate cases, your pain management doctor may prescribe either steroid injections or trigger point injections to aid recovery. These medications can provide enough relief for you to begin healing your soft tissues via another form of treatment.
Have you experienced a car accident, sport injury, or similar injury in Dallas? Are you experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms of whiplash? Contact the professional Dallas neck pain doctors at the Comprehensive Spine Center of Dallas today!
Our neck pain doctors will be able to diagnose the cause of your pain and help you recover from any and all debilitating injuries that may have occurred as a result. We can also provide prescription painkillers or muscle relaxants to treat severe pain and to reduce muscle spasms, as well as suggest non-surgical and non-invasive treatment options to help you recover fully.
Schedule your appointment now!
