Most people are familiar with whiplash, a soft tissue injury that affects the neck. This type of injury happens when your head is suddenly and powerfully thrown backward and forward—often multiple times. As explained by Dr. Pete Lazarnick from Carrollton, GA, this rapid and forceful movement can damage the soft tissues in the neck and spine, including ligaments, nerves, bones, discs, muscles, and other neck structures.
Whiplash is categorized into grades ranging from Grade 0, the least severe, to Grade 4, the most severe. Notably, whiplash symptoms may not show up immediately, highlighting the significance of seeking medical attention following any event that involves the sudden and forceful movement of the head and neck.
Whiplash Causes
Unfortunately, whiplash is all too common of an injury. Most cases occur in individuals involved in rear-end accidents, mainly vehicle mishaps in which the cars move at speeds no faster than 14 miles per hour. Whiplash may also happen as a result of the following-
- Sports injuries.
- Physical assault.
- Repetitive stress injuries.
- Slips and falls, to name a few.
Whiplash Symptoms
Whiplash symptoms can vary in when they appear. Some people experience symptoms immediately. However, symptoms may not be apparent for others until several hours, days, or weeks pass. Common symptoms include -
- Fatigue.
- Dizziness.
- Headaches that manifest at the base of your skull.
- Tingling and numbness in the arms.
- Limited range of motion in your neck.
- A stiff and painful neck.
- Pain and tenderness radiating to the shoulder, upper back, or arms.
- Neck pain that becomes aggravated with additional movement.
Whiplash can be tricky, so it is vital to seek medical attention after any accident or event involving any rapid acceleration or deceleration of the head and neck, even if you are initially asymptomatic.
Treating Whiplash
Whiplash injuries often result in significant neck pain and restricted neck movement. Treatment approaches seek to manage discomfort and improve your mobility so you can get back to your normal daily routine. The specific treatment plan is typically tailored to the severity of your whiplash injury.
Immediately following the injury, foam collars may be used to minimize neck movement and alleviate pain, typically for a few days. However, we try to minimize the use of these in order to prevent muscle atrophy.
Contact Carrollton, GA’s Leading Chiropractor Today
Although not uncommon, a prominent danger of a whiplash injury lies in the potential for a delayed start of your symptoms. Without obvious symptoms, you may mistakenly believe you are uninjured and needlessly delay a proper diagnosis and the start of treatment.
Contact Dr. Pete or a member of our staff at 770-832-2226 or online.