Whiplash Injury

Whiplash got its start as “railway spine”. Collisions on trains were very frequent in the 19th century. Railroad officials usually denied all cases or claims arising from railway spine because there was no external injuries to prove an injury existed. The first documented case of whiplash from an automobile wreck was in 1919. Whiplash received its title when autos arrived onto the scene. The whipping of the neck from being struck in the rear by another automobile coined the identify whiplash.

Whiplash is an expression that describes a neck injury that happens as being a result of a vehicle accident. The most common car accident is an auto being struck in the rear end. This type of auto accident can increase the danger of injury to the neck.
Whiplash comes from the whipping motion of the neck.

When an auto is struck in the rear, the neck goes through a whipping motion of being thrust forward and then rapidly trust backwards, usually striking the head rest.

A car wreck can result in torn or more than extended ligaments and tendons. Whiplash is most likely the most controversial car wreck injuries. The Whiplash injury is known as by doctors as “distortion of the cervical spine”. Car did not have headrest many years ago. Just about every car built today has a head rest. Improper adjustment of your head rest could result in elevated injuries to your neck. When you are involved in a rear end car wreck.

Your head slams into the headrest. In most cases you don’t have any external injuries. It is possible you may have a closed type injury or torn ligaments, tendons, and muscles. It is more common for a woman to suffer from whiplash than a man, only because most men’s necks are stronger than a woman’s.

A rear end auto accident is the most common accident to get a whiplash injury, but you could get whiplash from

• Sports injury
• Skiing or snowboarding
• Parachuting
• Falls
• Aircraft accident

Symptoms of whiplash

Neck pain or stiffness is the most common symptom of whiplash. Pain or stiffness could come immediately after the accident, or it may take days or even weeks to feel the effects of the accident. After you have been injured in a car wreck, your body could release adrenaline. Adrenalin is the body’s natural pain killer.

It may take days or weeks for you to feel the pain and stiffness in your neck. You may start to feel a shooting pain in your neck at times. This pain may be severe and then it might seem tolerable at times. You may experience severe discomfort in your neck and upper back days after the car wreck.

Your neck might have a severe restriction in movement when turning your head from side to side. This pain and restriction of movement may be caused by swelling of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your neck.

Other symptoms of whiplash might include

• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Neck pain
• Stiffness in the neck
• Pain in the Shoulders and Arms
• Dizziness
• Altered sensation this kind of as pins and needles or numbness
• Weakness
• Visual and auditory signs
• Difficulty swallowing
• Concentration issues

It’s possible a neck injury sustained in a car accident could lead to more serious issues such as

• Pinched nerves
• Nerve damage
• Damaged blood vessels
• Spinal joint injuries
• Fractures to the spine

What kind of Doctor or treatment should I seek for whiplash?

People seeking treatment for whiplash after a car wreck need to see an auto injury doctor. These doctors specialize in auto related injuries and treat the symptoms of whiplash on a daily basis. Their knowledge on whiplash and the mechanics of the injury makes them specialist when it comes to symptoms of whiplash.

Treatment of whiplash is to reduce the amount of pain associated with it. A auto injury doctor will want to restore function and mobility back to your shoulders, neck, and back. Ibuprofen may be ordered by the doctor to reduce the swelling in the neck and shoulders.

When should I see a Doctor for whiplash?

You should see a Doctor for any auto accident immediately. Most people associate pain with injury. If they feel no pain, there must not be any injury. As discussed above, you could be injured and not even know it. You should see a doctor that specializes in auto related injuries.

Doctors who have no experience dealing with whiplash injuries will give you pills and send you home. They may tell you to come back if the pain does not go away after a few weeks. Whiplash injuries could turn into serious life long injuries if not treated properly and promptly.