Identifying And Treating Whiplash

If you have ever been unfortunate enough to have been involved in a car accident, you may well have suffered from whiplash as a result.

Whiplash is a very common injury to suffer in this situation. This is particularly true when the car behind you hits you, rather than you driving into the back of someone else. The severity of the accident isn’t necessarily a factor either – in some cases people who have had what would be termed a very minor shunt can still suffer from whiplash to some degree. Although with that said the harder your car is driven into from behind, the more likely you are to suffer from whiplash.

The word whiplash basically refers to a sprain in your neck. A sprain occurs when the ligaments and muscles supporting a particular part of the body are twisted or torn. As you might expect, this can be very painful.

It is quite common for a whiplash injury not to be apparent immediately after an accident occurs. In some cases it may take an hour or two for the symptoms to start showing up; in other cases it could take as much as 12 hours. It depends largely on how bad the whiplash is and also on the individual.

There are some clear symptoms to watch out for should you ever be unlucky enough to be involved in this kind of accident. Headaches are a common feature, and your neck will feel stiff. If you try to move your head or your neck in any way you will find it more difficult than normal.

The symptoms mentioned above are quite obvious ones. There are other whiplash symptoms you may experience as well. Common ones include numbness in your shoulders and arms, a lack of concentration and perhaps even vertigo. Needless to say it is essential to visit your doctor as soon as any symptoms of whiplash present themselves. While most people recover from whiplash without any problems, it is always advisable to have a check up to ensure nothing else is wrong.

The treatment for whiplash is quite easy to administer. Use an ice pack to help bring down any swelling you may experience. Your doctor may advise you to take normal anti-inflammatory drugs as well.

Contrary to popular belief, exercise can also be part of the treatment to reduce the symptoms of whiplash and help you to recover from the injury more quickly. Rest for a day or so but then make a point of integrating some gentle exercise into your day. Moving your neck gradually and carefully will prevent the muscles and ligaments from getting stiff. If they do this your neck will be more painful and even harder to get back to normal.