People often like to say that aspects of life can be a figurative pain in the neck, but what happens when there is literal pain? Whiplash, a condition that occurs when the head and neck move back and forth at a very rapid rate, is a very common pain in the neck that people feel. Thankfully, whiplash isn’t a life threatening injury, but it can lead to a lot of discomfort and sometimes temporary loss of range of motion in the neck and head. Although this is a well-known injury, especially common after car accidents, your doctor should exclude other more significant reasons for pain through MRIs, x-rays or other physical examinations.
What Exactly Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a muscular injury to the neck that results when the muscles and ligaments in the neck extend further than their normal range of motion. Typical symptoms include neck pain, decreased range of motion, tightened muscles, stiffness and headaches that start at the base of the skull. The pain may be immediate following a trauma, or it could take some time to show up. Although most commonly caused by car accidents, especially rear collisions, whiplash can also be caused by physical abuse, contact sports, falls, hard hits to the head or roller coasters.
What Can Doctors Do To Help With Whiplash?
Treatment for whiplash is non-surgical and usually consists of prescription medications and physical therapy exercises. If you find yourself experiencing serious neck pain and think it might be whiplash, the team at NewSouth NeuroSpine can help you with a proper diagnosis and treatment options. In some instances of very mild whiplash, you may recover mostly on your own with over the counter medications and ice, but it’s important to get a doctor’s diagnosis to make sure that you aren’t ignoring a serious injury. At NewSouth NeuroSpine, our team of experts are trained to evaluate your condition, determine if you need medications and set up a physical therapy regimen that will help you feel back to normal. It’s important to remember that while whiplash is a serious injury, nearly all patients who experience it will recover. Make an appointment with one of the doctors at NewSouth NeuroSpine - we’ll get you on the road to recovery!
