9 Common Whiplash Symptoms

Whiplash occurs when a person’s body moves very suddenly in one direction immediately followed by the opposite direction. This injury is most common following a car accident and most often affecting the head on the body and therefore causing microtrauma in the neck and the subsequent neck pain. It can also result from physical abuse, sports injuries, or amusement park rides. Neck injuries caused by this trauma are often referred to as whiplash, which is the mechanism of injury where the soft tissues are extended past the normal range of movement and how the injury occurred (specifically tendons, muscles and ligaments). This can result in areas of microtrauma and symptoms in the soft tissues with muscle spasms and chronic pain. Your whiplash might not be apparent immediately after the injury, signs and symptoms such as neck pain sometimes take a few days to appear. Our physiotherapists can provide medical advice on how we deal with the treatment of whiplash, the health issues caused by these injuries to the neck and how we medically can assist the patient recover with physiotherapy. Tests have been performed by the NHS in Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of nerve inflammation investigating the treatment of patients suffering from chronic whiplash-associated disorder.

What are Common whiplash signs?

There are some extremely common whiplash symptoms which can occur

• tenderness over the neck muscles
• pain and aching in the back and neck
• stiffness, worse in the morning.
• reduced and painful neck movements with reduced range of motion
• headaches, often starting from the base of the skull
• sensory disturbance such as pins and needles.
• constant fatigue
• Dizziness
• blurred vision

Muscle spasms or cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions of a muscle or group of muscles. They can be caused by too much muscle strain and lead to arm and neck pain. MRI has been used to identify nerve inflammation as being a possible source of symptoms in patients suffering from chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD).

Whiplash Injury Treatment

It may be helpful to take Paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen, you maybe find it helpful to apply a cool pack to your neck to assist with pain and reduce swelling especially in the first 2-3 days. After this heat may also be helpful but not in the first 48 hours. It is import to gently keep moving despite the pain. It is a very important part of your whiplash treatment that you are able to control the pain caused by the injury and to get you back to your normal activities as soon as possible. Key to this recovery will be the ability to return the normal range of motion in your neck. Physical Therapy can help you feel better and may prevent further injury.

How long does it take to recover from Whiplash?

The evidence says that most symptoms of whiplash have gone by 6-12 months after injury but Physiotherapy early on can speed up the recovery time and ensure the recovery is complete and has a low risk of re-occurring symptoms in the future

Medication prescribed to Treat Whiplash

Visit your GP or local pharmacy for advice on pain relief that may help you.