At Sea Spine
Orthopedic Institute one of the most common yet underestimated injuries we face
with our patients is Whiplash. Whiplash is an injury to the tissues of the neck
from an abrupt pull or "whipping"
of the head. This sudden movement pulls the muscles and ligaments of the neck
beyond their normal range of motion, hence causing pain and discomfort.
Causes
The
most frequent cause of whiplash is car related incidents. When a vehicle suddenly stops
from impact, the seat belt keeps a person's body from flying out. But the head
usually snaps forward, then backward, causing a whiplash injury.
Many people believe that if they are involved in a low speed
impact, they wont suffer whiplash. False!
In reality, low impact collisions can cause more damage on a person because the
force is not absorbed by the vehicle but by the occupants within.
Besides car accidents, one can
sustain whiplash on amusement park rides like roller coasters, while practicing
high impact sports, fighting or being shaken.
[Did you know?] Women are affected
by whiplash more often than men due to the differences in muscular bulk and the
female’s smaller bone structure.
Symptoms
A lot of people don’t know they’ve suffered whiplash after
an accident. Most people don’t notice the pain or disregard it due to how small
the discomfort is. You may feel fine but pain and stiffness can surface several
days after the initial accident. In the worst case symptoms can last for months
or years. If after an accident you feel any of the following you might have
suffered whiplash.
·
Neck pain and/or stiffness
·
Blurred vision
·
Difficulty swallowing
·
Fatigue
·
Headache
·
Shoulder pain
·
Irritability
·
Dizziness
·
Pain between the shoulder blades
·
Low back pain and/or stiffness
·
Nausea
·
Vertigo
·
Numbness and tingling
·
Pain in the jaw or face
Diagnosis & Treatment
If you feel you have any of the symptoms listed above ask
your orthopedic doctor to take a look. For minor injures or strains of the
neck, without serious signs and symptoms as, or without evidence of any
neurologic problems, home care may be appropriate. If there is any question
about the severity or treatment of a neck injury, see a doctor.
The recovery time from whiplash depends on the gravity of
the injury. Most minor whiplash injuries usually resolve
within a few weeks.
However severe injuries especially those that
involve nerve damage t or disc injury to the spine, may require future surgical
intervention to avoid chronic or permanent disability.
If you find you have suffered minor whiplash. The symptoms
can be treated with simple proper home care:
· Cold packs or ice can be applied to the neck to minimize swelling
and pain.
· If its first time and the pain is minimal take over-the-counter
pain medications (Contact an Orthopedic expert)
· Reduce motion of the head and neck until pain and muscle tension
are gone.
·
Reduce strenuous activities such as sports or heavy lifting.
·
Perform slow range-of-motion exercises to gradually stretch the
neck muscles.
·
Massage the sore or painful areas.
·
Use a neck collar for a short period of time to relieve
discomfort.
If you suffer
severe whiplash immediately contact an expert to see what measures need to be
taken, depending on the severity of your case. Many
times patients don't seek treatment until more serious complications develop.
In fact 45% of whiplash victims report they still suffer with symptoms two
years after the indicial incident.
Prevention
Prevention is the most effective way to avoid whiplash,
there are few precautions one can take such as:
· Properly adjusting the car seat headrest. Make sure that the headrest is
positioned properly according to the your height.
· Using the proper safety equipment when participating in sports.
· Obey laws and regulations on carnival high-velocity rides, such as
roller coasters.
·
Monitor children's activities to prevent
falls or serious injuries
·
Drive safely
·
No matter how small of an accident
still get a professional opinion.
Even without symptoms, it’s prudent to see a
doctor in the case of a car accident. There can be damage without symptoms, or
there can be delayed symptoms. If you or someone you
know is experiencing pains or discomfort from car accident, it may be a good
time to get checked by a local chiropractor. If you're looking for professional
and experienced high-rated Florida orthopedic surgeons, contact Sea Spine Orthopedic
Institute today at (http://www.seaspineortho.com/) or call 866-816-ORTHO.
