One of the most painful and common neck conditions that can afflict you is whiplash – often the result of a car accident. Whiplash is the result of a sudden motion of the head in the wake of such accidents, and they should not be ignored; these injuries can lead to significant long-term health challenges if not properly addressed on a swift basis.

Whiplash ultimately takes place when the muscles and ligament in your neck – the soft tissues – are extended beyond their normal range. While it can be a relatively mild condition at times, it can indeed result in longer-term concerns if you don’t take steps to correct the injury or seek advice from a professional.

In addition to car accidents, whiplash can also be a result of injuries that take place during physical abuse, recreational sports, or amusement park rides. You’ll usually be able to detect some of the tell-tale symptoms of whiplash within 24 hours of the initial injury; however, some other symptoms may worsen and become more severe over time, even weeks after the original injury.

What is Whiplash?

These injuries can serve to stretch ligaments and muscles as the neck moves well beyond its normal range of motions.

Specific physical injuries to stay on the look-out for include:

• Stiffness and neck pain
• Headaches
• Dizziness and blurred vision
• A persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears

Be sure to take fast action when you spot these symptoms, as they can lead to a range of cognitive and emotional fall-out, including difficulties concentrating, problems with memory, disturbances to sleep, depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue.

You should especially be sure to follow up quickly with a doctor if moving your head is painful, you feel a reoccurring numbness in your arms, or your symptoms continue to spread throughout your shoulder and arms. A doctor may want to order an X-ray or other tests like a CT scan or MRI to determine the best course of action forward.

For reasons related to men’s comparative strength, women are particularly susceptible to experiencing whiplash.

Luckily, there are a number of treatments available, and most patients tend to recover from whiplash within a month to six weeks. They generally benefit from options for treatment such as taking anti-inflammatory medication and rest. They may also need to explore options for more severe instances, such as corticosteroid injections or even wearing a cervical collar to immobilize the neck for long stretches of time.

The best treatment plan for reducing whiplash pain and restoring a range of motion will ultimately depend on the patient and circumstances by which they experienced the whiplash. You’ll want to work with a team of proven professionals like our team at East Coast Injury to identify if movement therapies or other remedies are recommended. Depending on the circumstances of your injury, you may also explore other options such as cold therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy, and deep tissue massage.

If you’re experiencing some of these signs of whiplash and seeking solutions for how to more effectively cope, contact our team at East Coast Injury. You’ll benefit from our extensive knowledge and experience in treating others who have come through our doors with similar injuries. Our goal is to help get you back on the street and back to your life. You can learn more about our services and how to contact us at https://eastcoastinjury.com/.