Whiplash - Symptoms, Risk factors and Treatment

Whiplash is a neck injury due to rapid, forceful, back and forth movement of the neck like cracking of a whip. It occurs when a person moves their head backward and forward suddenly with great force. Whiplash most commonly occurs with rear-end car collisions. However, it can also occur due to physical abuse, amusement park rides, and sports injuries. Whiplash can also be called neck sprain or strain. Medications and exercise can help recover from it in a few weeks. It is a mild condition but can cause chronic pain and discomfort.

Activities that can cause whiplash are;

Falls in which the head violently jerks backward
Blows to the head with a heavy object
Car accidents
Physical abuse, such as falling down or being punched
Playing sports such as football, boxing, and karate
Horseback riding
Cycling accidents

Symptoms

Symptoms of whiplash can occur after 24 hours of injury. However, sometimes it may take several days to weeks. Whiplash can cause the following signs and symptoms;

Dizziness
Blurred vision
Constant weariness
Neck pain
Neck stiffness
Headaches- specifically at the base of the skull

Other symptoms associated with whiplash that are less common are;

inability to sleep well
irritability
problems with concentration
problems with memory
ringing in the ears
chronic pain in the neck, shoulders, or head

Complications

Mostly the pain due to whiplash gets better over time and does not have any lasting effects. But in some people, the pain can last for a few days to weeks. It can cause symptoms like;

Severe neck pain
More-limited range of motion
Pain that spread to the arms

The following factors can make whiplash worse for you;

If you have had a whiplash injury before
Being older-aged
A high-speed injury
Having a pre-existing neck pain or back pain

Treatment

The treatment for whiplash is aimed to;

Lower pain
Restore the normal range of motion of the neck
Get back to normal day to day activities

For pain management, your healthcare provider may prescribe;

Rest for one to two days
Applying heat or cold pack for at least 15 minutes every three hours
Over the counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or naproxen
Antidepressant medications to soothe nerves
Muscle relaxants for a short time to relieve muscle spasm and pain
Lidocaine injection- an anesthetic to lower pain

To restore the normal range of motion of the neck, your healthcare provider may prescribe exercise that helps get rid of muscle strain and spasm. It may include;

Bending your neck toward your chest
Rolling your shoulders
Rotating your neck in both directions
Tilting your head side to side

To get you back to normal day-to-day activities, your healthcare provider may prescribe physical therapy that can help improve posture, strengthen your muscles and restore normal movement. In some cases, mild electrical current is used transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). The number of physical therapy sessions varies according to the severity of the injury and person to person.

Foam collars- can help strengthen the neck by providing support.