Whiplash is the name given to the injury that results when the neck is jerked abruptly in one direction. This can occur due to a sudden trauma, in most cases a motor vehicle collision. Damage to the ligaments and tendons in the neck leads to characteristic stiffness and pain.
The symptoms produced can vary depending on the severity of the trauma which the neck has sustained. The most common symptoms are a stiff and painful neck that is difficult to move freely, muscle spasms, headaches, and referred pain that is felt in the shoulders, arms, or back. Usually the pain starts to become apparent 6-12 hours after the incident, and it may get progressively worse over the next several days.
Occasionally a patient may also experience some symptoms which is less common including vertigo, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, lower back pain, and a tingling or numb sensation in the arms or hands. Some will even be affected by mood swings, and impaired memory and concentration, but these symptoms are even less common. If any of these symptoms manifest, they will not normally last long, if they do however, it's important to contact one's doctor.
Automobile accidents are by far the most common cause of this condition, but it can also happen due to other traumatic events. If a person slips and falls, hitting his or her head, such as down a flight of stairs, or is injured in a contact sport such as boxing, football, or hockey, or is hit across the head in a violent act like a mugging, it may cause this type of injury.
Most physicians will diagnose the condition based on the patient's description of the his or her symptoms, and by simply performing a physical examination of the neck. The more details concerning the accident and nature of the pain that the patient can provide the doctor with, the better. If indicated, the patient may need to have an MRI, CT scan, or x-ray taken as well.
Generally speaking, this condition is one which is largely "self-limiting", this means that it usually improves over time on its own, with minimal intervention. The patient can take over-the-counter analgesics such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, and if it is severe, the physician may write a prescription for codeine. Pain that does not subside in less than six months, although rare, is considered chronic.
Even though movement is bound to be painful at first, patients are urged to keep the neck mobile as much as they can after the injury. The use of a neck brace is discouraged as this keeps it rigid. Recovery will be faster if the patient practices some gentle stretching exercises that will help restore the neck's normal range of motion. Yoga can be an effective healing tool.
Patients who suffer from persistent pain may find that it is having a negative impact on their regular work and leisure activities. In a case such as this, which is rare, the physician may refer the patient to either massage therapy, physiotherapy, or a combination of both. This approach can effectively restore normal movement to the neck.
The symptoms produced can vary depending on the severity of the trauma which the neck has sustained. The most common symptoms are a stiff and painful neck that is difficult to move freely, muscle spasms, headaches, and referred pain that is felt in the shoulders, arms, or back. Usually the pain starts to become apparent 6-12 hours after the incident, and it may get progressively worse over the next several days.
Occasionally a patient may also experience some symptoms which is less common including vertigo, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, lower back pain, and a tingling or numb sensation in the arms or hands. Some will even be affected by mood swings, and impaired memory and concentration, but these symptoms are even less common. If any of these symptoms manifest, they will not normally last long, if they do however, it's important to contact one's doctor.
Automobile accidents are by far the most common cause of this condition, but it can also happen due to other traumatic events. If a person slips and falls, hitting his or her head, such as down a flight of stairs, or is injured in a contact sport such as boxing, football, or hockey, or is hit across the head in a violent act like a mugging, it may cause this type of injury.
Most physicians will diagnose the condition based on the patient's description of the his or her symptoms, and by simply performing a physical examination of the neck. The more details concerning the accident and nature of the pain that the patient can provide the doctor with, the better. If indicated, the patient may need to have an MRI, CT scan, or x-ray taken as well.
Generally speaking, this condition is one which is largely "self-limiting", this means that it usually improves over time on its own, with minimal intervention. The patient can take over-the-counter analgesics such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, and if it is severe, the physician may write a prescription for codeine. Pain that does not subside in less than six months, although rare, is considered chronic.
Even though movement is bound to be painful at first, patients are urged to keep the neck mobile as much as they can after the injury. The use of a neck brace is discouraged as this keeps it rigid. Recovery will be faster if the patient practices some gentle stretching exercises that will help restore the neck's normal range of motion. Yoga can be an effective healing tool.
Patients who suffer from persistent pain may find that it is having a negative impact on their regular work and leisure activities. In a case such as this, which is rare, the physician may refer the patient to either massage therapy, physiotherapy, or a combination of both. This approach can effectively restore normal movement to the neck.
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