subject: All About Whiplash [print this page] Whiplash happens when the head is jolted backwards as the body goes forwards, causing hypertension in the neck. Muscles and ligaments straighten at speed and cause damage to the tissue and tendons in the neck, causing whiplash injury.Whiplash is common when one vehicle runs into the back of another, and even collisions of this type at low speed can cause injury. Bones in the neck are not usually damaged, but muscles, ligaments, soft tissue and joints are likely to be affected during a whiplash injury.
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries to occur after a car collision between two vehicles, but it can also be caused by any accident which jerks the head backwards and forwards at speed. Accidents caused during contact sports can also cause whiplash injury. Victims may recover within a week or two, but severe whiplash injury can take longer to get over.
Surgery is not usually required, although patients may be advised to wear a neck-brace until the tissues, ligaments or muscles have healed. Compensation can be claimed for whiplash injury, if the accident which cause it is the fault of someone else, and sufferers can claim up to 16,000 for severe whiplash injury. Always seek medical help as soon as possible if you suffer a whiplash injury, as it could be masking more serious damage to the neck and back.
Whiplash symptoms
Whiplash symptoms can be painful, particularly just after the accident has occurred. Symptoms typically include: pain in the neck and shoulders, headaches, blurred vision and sometimes, pain in the lower back. Less common symptoms include: pain and heaviness in the arms, and dizziness and numbness in the joints.Referred pain is suffered when the pain is caused by the starting point of the nerve being damaged. Severe whiplash could result in memory loss, insomnia, depression, irritability and blurred vision. You should always seek medical advice as soon as possible after suffering whiplash injury, as it could lead to more serious injury to your back or neck.Whiplash injuries normally last a week or two, and it is extremely uncommon for patients to require surgery.
Whiplash recovery
Most sufferers of whiplash-associated injuries will recover completely within three weeks, with a minimum amount of pain involved. Sufferers of minor whiplash may even feel well enough to go back to work after a week to ten days, and are unlikely to experience any more pain in the future. If, however, your injuries persist for longer than a month, and you are still suffering headaches and neck pain, you may be referred to a specialist. An MRI scan or a CT scan could show why you have not fully recovered.
Nerve damage may be apparent, which could mean your injuries will take much longer to heal. Psychological injuries are not uncommon, and may include depression and poor sleep patterns after a severe whiplash injury. Symptoms which persist over 6 months may be described as late whiplash syndrome, which takes much longer to heal. If you feel your whiplash injury is taking longer to heal than it should, make an appointment to see your doctor, and they may refer you to a specialist for a more thorough examination.
