Car accidents can cause myriad different types of injuries. These injuries can incapacitate you, require you to be hospitalized and may even keep you from your work for a long time. The intensity of your injuries is directly related to the magnitude of the accident.
Fortunately, not all car accidents are serious. And you can hope to get away with mild injuries from such accidents. One common injury caused by non-lethal accidents is a whiplash injury.
If you have been in an accident, you would be able to tell which parts of your body are injured from the pain and swelling at the sites of the injury. But whiplash injuries are often not detected unless they are very severe.
So, how would you determine if you have suffered a whiplash injury? And how would you alleviate the pain?
What is a whiplash injury?
In medical parlance, whiplash injury is called cervical injury. This is an injury to the neck caused by a rapid and forceful backward and forward movement of the neck. The movement resembles the cracking of a whip and that is the origin of the name of this injury.
Whiplash injuries can be caused by sporting accidents, at an entertainment park (roller coaster or water slides) or physical abuse. The most common cause of whiplash injuries is a car accident, specifically, an accident where your car is rear-ended. The force of the impact will drive your body forward and your head will be flung back. This stretched the ligaments, tendons and muscles of your neck beyond their limit. They will be sprained or tears may develop.
Even though whiplash injuries are very painful, the good news is, with proper care, the pain will dissipate in a couple of weeks. But depending on your age and medical history of backache and prior whiplash or spinal cord injuries, the pain may last longer or even become chronic.
How would you know that you have a whiplash injury?
Whiplash injuries can be detected by the symptoms they trigger. You may experience some or all of them-
- Constant pain in the neck (depending on the speed the car was driving at, and the force of the impact, the level of pain can range from mild discomfort to excruciating)
- Stiffness of the neck
- Reduced mobility and range of movement
- Stabs of pain when you try to tilt the head backwards to turn it to the left or right
- Headaches that originate from the base of the skull
- Pain in the shoulder or along the upper back
- Numbness or tingling in the upper arms
- Fatigue and disorientation
More serious indicators of whiplash injuries include-
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Blurry vision
- Insomnia
- Low levels of concentration
- Mood swings
- Inability to form new memories
Some of these signs could imply brain injuries and will need immediate medical care. If you have witnessed any of the signs of whiplash, visit your doctor immediately.
A physical examination of the soft tissues, discs and bones of the neck by the doctor will reveal if the injury is serious. If it is, you may have to undergo CT scans or MRI. Any delay can cause grave health complications.
How to recover from whiplash injuries
Your doctor will prescribe pain medication such as ibuprofen or topical pain-relieving ointments to deal with the pain of the whiplash injury. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs can work wonders but you must stick to your prescription. Overdosing can be dangerous.
Cold compresses can reduce pain and inflammation of the neck. Ice your neck for 10-15 minutes at least 4 times a day.
After 2 or 3 days of cold compresses, only when the swelling has gone down, you can start applying warm compresses on your neck.
Your doctor may recommend a neck brace to limit movement of the neck and allow the muscles, ligaments or tendons to heal. However, many doctors prefer to allow the neck to heal by itself with the help of medication.
Whiplash injuries that are more serious might require physiotherapy. These gentle exercises will help you slowly acquire the full range of your neck’s movement. Expect the stiffness to last for a few months.
Whiplash injuries will amount to out-of-pocket expenses. You will have to pay your doctor’s consultation fees, purchase medicines and probably opt for physiotherapy. Whiplash injury is considered as a personal injury and you are entitled to compensation from the insurer of the person whose car hit yours. Since personal injury cases involve a lot of paperwork, you will need expert advice.
