Whiplash
Whiplash is a neck strain that occurs after the neck has been damaged in some way. A common cause of this injury is through a road traffic accident.
The discs, joints and ligaments to the neck, as well as muscles and nerves, can become damaged in a whiplash injury.
Whiplash can be caused quite easily, through the head being jerked forwards or backwards. The NHS state that cars do not have to be speeding to cause this injury.
Other causes of whiplash can be a blow to the head caused by a sport such as boxing or rugby, or slipping over and having the head jolt one way or the other.
Symptoms may not appear at once, they may be delayed for a period after the trauma takes place. People generally find that they begin to suffer from a variety of symptoms or just one in particular and this occurs within a few days of the injury.
The sufferer of whiplash may experience neck pain, headaches and pain in the shoulder. They may also have stiffness in their neck. Lower back pain is a symptom of whiplash as well as pain in the arm or hand or numbness in this area. Sufferers may experience dizziness, sleep disturbance or fatigue and they may have blurred vision and have some difficulty in remembering certain things.
Whiplash does not show up on CT or MRI scans. However an X-ray might be taken if the doctor believes that a fracture or dislocation has taken place in the spine.
Recovery from a whiplash injury can be aided in a number of ways.
The sufferer can apply ice to the neck to reduce any swelling and to numb the pain. Heat can be used on the area but only after any swelling has reduced. Warm baths can help with whiplash recovery, as they relax the muscles.
Painkillers can be taken, if a doctor recommends them. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory drug which can aid recovery through reducing pain and swelling.
The neck should be kept mobile and gentle exercises should be carried out. Strenuous movement should be avoided, to prevent more serious strain occurring in the neck.
Doctors recommend various exercises, including standing against a wall and moving only your eyes to look at the positions on a clock, such as two, four, eight etc. This will gently move deep muscles in the back of the sufferer’s head. Following this with bending the head forward will continue to work various muscles in a subtle way.
According to NHS statistics, average recovery time is 32 days. In 12% of cases, however, sufferers of chronic whiplash still suffer from their symptoms six months later.
45% of people with neck pain believe that this occurred in a previous car accident. The risk of whiplash injury is far greater in rear end collisions than other types of accidents. According to scientific evidence, injuries can take place even if a vehicle does not sustain any damage.
