Whiplash Treatment After an Auto Accident

Have you ever suffered whiplash? If you have, you know how serious it can be. However, you may not even realize that you have whiplash until your neck, back, or head pain worsens. This is why many people fail to seek treatment for this type of injury. Delayed treatment can aggravate the injury or lead to complications. 

You need to know what to do after suffering a whiplash injury following a car accident. Proper response means knowing what to do both legally and medically. You should get the right treatment as soon as possible.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by the rapid and forceful jerking movement of the neck. This injury often results from rear-end auto accidents. However, it can also result from physical abuse, sports accidents, falls, and other types of traumas. 

Most people with whiplash injury tend to get better within a few weeks, as long as they follow the recommended treatment plan. However, some people experience chronic neck pain and other complications. 

Symptoms

You may not experience the symptoms of whiplash for several hours or even days after the injury. But within the first few days, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms: 
 

• Stiffness and neck pain.
   

• Low back pain.
   

• Headaches.
   

• Numbness or pain in the hand or arm.
   

• Pain between the shoulder blades or in the shoulder.
   

• Dizziness.
   

• Irritability.
   

• Fatigue.
   

• Sleep disturbances.
   

• Difficulty remembering or concentrating.

Diagnosis

In most cases, whiplash injuries affect the soft tissues such as the ligaments, muscles, and discs. Thus, a standard X-ray cannot diagnose such injuries. You may need to get specialized imaging tests, such as MRI or CT scans, to diagnose damage to soft tissues that could be causing whiplash symptoms. 

Treatment

Whiplash treatment after an auto accident aims to control pain and restore the neck’s normal range of treatment. It also aims to help patients resume their normal activities as soon as possible. The treatment plan depends on the extent of the injury. 

Some people may need a specialized treatment plan, while others only require over-the-counter medication. Left untreated, whiplash injuries can lead to immobility and chronic pain. So after an auto injury, you need to schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will examine your injury and determine the appropriate treatment plan for you.

Some of the common treatments include:
 

• Icing the neck to help reduce pain and swelling.
   

• Use a neck brace for a few days to provide your neck with additional support.
   

• Take pain medication or anti-inflammatory drugs to help with the pain and swelling.
   

• Other treatments such as massage.

If your injury is more serious, your doctor may recommend other treatments. These include radiofrequency ablation, physical therapy, or epidural steroid injections. 

Complications

Most people with whiplash injury feel better within a few days and do not experience lasting effects. However, some may continue to experience pain for several weeks, months, or even years. It is difficult to predict how you may recover, which is why you need to seek treatment as soon as possible.

To learn more about whiplash treatments, visit Brookdale Health at our office in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. You can call (763) 561-4045 today to schedule an appointment.