How do you know if whiplash is serious?
When to contact a doctor
- pain or stiffness in the neck that goes away and then comes back.
- severe neck pain.
- pain, numbness, or tingling in your shoulders, arms, or legs.
- any issues with your bladder or bowels.
- localized weakness in an arm or leg.
Will whiplash go away by itself?
Here’s the good news: given time, whiplash should heal on its own. To help with recovery, you should: Ice your neck to reduce pain and swelling as soon as you can after the injury. Do it for 15 minutes every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days.
How fast does a car have to be going to give you whiplash?
The impact speed that is required to increase a car’s velocity by 5 mph depends upon the mass of the vehicle that collides with the car, but studies have found that a 6 to 8 mph impact can be sufficient to produce whiplash injuries in some cases.
What will a doctor do for whiplash?
Physical therapy and range-of-motion exercises can help improve your neck move with discomfort and promote healing. Your doctor may also prescribe muscle relaxants for more severe cases. You can protect your neck and help prevent whiplash during a car accident by: Putting your seat upright.
Does whiplash show up on xrays?
How is a whiplash diagnosed? Along with a complete medical history and physical exam, tests for whiplash may include the following. Many whiplash injuries include damage to soft tissue that can’t be seen on X-rays: X-ray.
Can a small accident cause whiplash?
Some people may find it surprising, but whiplash symptoms can appear after a minor accident, where the vehicles involved were driving at less than 14 miles per hour. Many car accident victims experience whiplash, yet they don’t always seek medical attention right away.
Can whiplash occur 2 weeks after accident?
The pain can start immediately or develop days, weeks, or sometimes even months later. Symptoms can vary widely among individuals.
Can whiplash cause permanent brain damage?
Research has proven for some time that whiplash causes injury to the cervical spine. However, recent studies have shown that those suffering from whiplash are also at an increased risk for traumatic brain injury (TBI).
What whiplash feels like?
Pain and stiffness are the most common symptoms of whiplash. You may experience a constant, aching pain, and pain that worsens when you move your head side-to-side or up and down. Pain and stiffness may be accompanied by tense, knotted muscles, muscle spasms, and limited range of motion for moving your neck.
What happens if you leave whiplash untreated?
Whiplash is no different. Like most other injuries, serious side effects can occur when left untreated: Stiffness and loss of motion. As well as the chronic neck pain and stiffness, untreated whiplash can even lead to degenerative disc disease and vertebrae misalignment.
What are the symptoms of Whiplash?
These are the most common symptoms of whiplash: 1 Neck pain 2 Neck stiffness 3 Shoulder pain 4 Low back pain 5 Dizziness 6 Pain in your arm or hand 7 Numbness in your arm or hand 8 Ringing in your ears 9 Blurred vision 10 Concentration or memory problems 11 Irritability 12 Sleeplessness 13 Tiredness
Can Whiplash cause chronic neck pain?
However, some people have chronic neck pain and other long-lasting complications. Signs and symptoms of whiplash usually develop within days of the injury, and may include: Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms
How long does it take for whiplash to go away?
Overview. Common signs and symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, stiffness and headaches. Most people with whiplash get better within a few weeks by following a treatment plan that includes pain medication and exercise. However, some people have chronic neck pain and other long-lasting complications.
When should I see a doctor for whiplash pain?
See your doctor if you have any neck pain or other whiplash symptoms after a car accident, sports injury or other traumatic injury. It’s important to get a prompt and accurate diagnosis and to rule out broken bones or tissue damage that can cause or worsen symptoms.