subject: How will I recover from whiplash? [print this page] It will not normally take long to recover from whiplash injury, and you may well see improvements within days. However, whiplash can be painful for up to two weeks, and you may feel pain in the back, neck shoulders and head. Most people who suffer whiplash injury, can return to work in a couple of weeks, if not before, depending on the severity of the injury.
There is no specific treatment for whiplash, and it will not show up on an X-ray or CT scan. If you suffer severe whiplash injury you may need specialist treatment or even surgery, but most cases of whiplash clear up quite quickly, with the aid of a soft collar or gentle exercise. It is possible for sufferers of severe whiplash to feel discomfort for up to three months, and if your injuries are ongoing, you may be referred to a specialist.
Tests may then be carried out, such as an X-ray or CT scan to ascertain if there is any other more serious damage to your neck, head or back, causing pain and discomfort. A fracture, for example would show up on this type of scan, where as mild whiplash injury would not. Bone damage could be evident, and you may have sustained more serious injuries which previously went undetected. A specialist will then prescribe you medication or further treatment, including physiotherapy, or in extreme cases, surgery, to help you recover.
If you have been suffering whiplash for over 6 weeks, it is possible you could also suffer some psychological injury, including irritability and depression, often caused by lack of sleep. If whiplash symptoms persist for more than 6 weeks, they are known as whiplash syndrome, which causes ongoing pain to the back and neck.
Seek medical advice if you dont feel your injuries are healing as they should, and you may be referred to a specialist. Whiplash can be diagnosed by examination, as it wont show up on an X-ray, and a doctor will ensure that your injuries are not hiding more serious damage to your neck or back. You may be prescribed complete rest or some gentle exercises to strengthen your neck muscles.
Whiplash can also occur if you are travelling in a car which is hit from the side, although you are much more likely to suffer injury if you are involved in a rear-end shunt where another vehicle runs into the back of yours, even at low-speed. This type of accident typically happens when you slow down at traffic lights or you slow to turn right or left and the driver behind is not paying attention. He may brake too late which will cause him to run into the back of you.
If you suffer a whiplash injury that was caused by someone else, either a car accident, a sports accident or an accident at work, you can claim compensation for your injuries. Personal injury solicitors deal with hundreds of cases of whiplash compensation each year, and the vast majority are successful. Once your injuries have been treated, contact a regulated UK solicitor who will be able to advise you about a whiplash compensation claim.
Whiplash is a common injury with painful consequences, and you should be compensated if the accident which caused it was not your fault. If you are suffering neck or back pain and are unable to return to work because of your injuries, you could claim compensation of up to 16,000 for your injuries.
