Whiplash Injury

Submitted by: carolyn

Whiplash injuries occur when the body experiences strong, forceful jerk movements, either forwards, backwards or sideways, causing the soft tissue around the spine to become stretched, strained and even torn. This type of injury is most common in car accidents, where the victim is exposed to very quick deceleration, although it can occur in other types of circumstances, for example sporting accidents. Symptoms of a whiplash injury can include headaches, stiff necks/back of head, and general pain around the neck area. This is caused by a tightening of the muscles around the injured tissue, as the body reacts to the injury by trying to limit movement in the affected area. Generally, these symptoms will disappear a month or two after diagnosis and treatment, but in some cases the symptoms can last much longer, especially if medical attention is not sought straight away. Other symptoms can range from nausea and dizziness, to difficulty in swallowing and numbness/tingling. Lower back pain, ringing sounds in the ears, fatigue and even mental problems such as a lack of concentration can are all problems victims can experience through a whiplash injury.

There can often be problems with the diagnosis of whiplash injuries, due to the fact that soft tissue damage does not show up on normal x-rays and scans, and so doctors often make their diagnosis based on the pain felt by the victim and the way in which the whiplash injury occurred.

Whiplash injuries are relatively straightforward to treat, and rarely require surgery. Standard procedure used to involve the victim wearing a 'soft collar' or neck brace, in order to minimalise movement, increase stability and make sure no further damage was caused. However, nowadays the common approach is for the victim to be encouraged to attempt movement as early as possible in the recovery programme, and keep the neck free from any collars/support braces to allow this. Full recovery is likely to happen faster where the victim tries to resume their normal routine, including neck exercises, as soon as they can, and staying active whilst avoiding any activities (such as sports) which could lead to further aggravation of the injury. Ice packs should be applied at an early stage, combined with regular doses (at specified intervals) of painkillers/anti inflammatory such as ibuprofen. Massages and physiotherapy session may also be useful, along with any specific exercises advised by the doctor. Treatment can depend on a number of case-specific factors, for example the age of the victim, their overall health, and even personal preference; some sufferers may prefer not to wear a brace as it would restrict their everyday activities. Doctors will take this into account before deciding how best to treat each individual.

Severe cases of a whiplash injury may go unnoticed by the medical staff treating the victim at first, however if any of the afore mentioned symptoms persist, it is important to go back to the hospital/doctor for further check ups, as it may mean that there is more serious damage to the spine, most probably concerned with one or more vertebral discs, and such injuries will require surgery to fix.

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