It is caused by a sudden and vigorous movement of the head, sideways, backwards or forwards. When the neck is moved beyond its usual range of movement, the soft tissues of the neck tendons, muscles and ligaments may be overstretched or sprained. This causes pain and discomfort in the neck and shoulders and may also cause back pain. Pain from a whiplash injury often begins 6 to 12 hours after the injury. Many people feel uncomfortable on the day of the injury or accident and find that pain, swelling and bruising increase over the following days.
The symptoms often greatly improve or disappear within a few days to weeks. It may take longer for symptoms to completely disappear and some people experience some pain and neck stiffness for months after a whiplash injury. Whiplash injuries are commonly caused by motor vehicle accidents. The neck is quickly accelerated and decelerated due to rear-end or side impact. It can also be caused by a sudden blow to the head from contact sports such as rugby or boxing, being hit on the head by a heavy object, or a slip or fall where the head is jolted or jarred.
If there is any suspicion that the injury was not the result of an accident, and that it was deliberately inflicted, you should seek help from a healthcare professional as soon as possible. Your doctor will examine you, feel your neck and see how well your neck moves in different directions. They may order a neck x-ray to rule out a bone fracture or dislocation. The best thing you can do to recover from whiplash is to stay active and do some gentle neck exercises. People who drastically change or reduce their activity level after a whiplash injury tend to take longer to recover.
At first you may need to adapt how you move to take care of your neck. Then gradually build up to your normal activities as your neck improves. It may be necessary to adapt some work or recreational activities for a while to avoid unnecessary strain on your neck. An ice pack can relieve swelling and pain. You should apply this as soon as possible after the injury, for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
They may also do a physical exam to check your range of motion and look for areas of tenderness. Other tests, such as CT scans and MRI , will allow your doctor to assess any damage or inflammation in the soft tissues, spinal cord, or nerves. Certain imaging studies, such as diffuse tensor imaging DTI or positron emission tomography PET scan , may be helpful, especially when there may be a brain injury.
These tests will help localize and measure the extent of an injury to the brain or other areas. The treatments for whiplash are relatively simple. Doctors will often prescribe an OTC pain medication like Tylenol or aspirin. More severe injuries may require prescription painkillers and muscle relaxants to reduce muscle spasms. In addition to medication, physical therapy plays a crucial role in recovery.
You may want to apply ice or heat to the injured area and practice simple exercises to build strength and flexibility in your neck. Practice good posture and learn relaxation techniques to keep your neck muscles from straining and to help with recovery. You might also be given a foam collar to keep your neck stable. Collars should not be worn for more than three hours at a time.
They should only be used the first couple of days after your injury, as well. Read more: No exercises needed to fix your posture ». Some people with whiplash do experience chronic pain or headaches for years following their accident. Doctors may be able to trace this pain to damaged neck joints, disks, and ligaments. Giangarra CE, et al. Whiplash injury: Treatment and rehabilitation. NINDS whiplash information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Miller MD, et al.
Whiplash Cervical strain. Essential Orthopaedics. Frontera WR, et al. Cervical strain or sprain. Daimon K, et al. A year prospective longitudinal MRI study on cervical spine after whiplash injury: Follow-up of a cross-sectional study.
Journal of Orthopaedic Science. This is true even if you are experiencing pain. As a result, symptoms remain the primary way to tell if you have whiplash.
A: Yes. Some people are more prone to having whiplash after an accident. Risk factors identified through research include:. A: A vast majority of neck pain goes away within a few days, and even more within three months. You are more likely to have this lingering pain if:. The more severe your pain is after the initial injury, and the higher your anxiety level, the more likely it is that your acute short-term neck pain will develop into a chronic problem. Applying heat rather than cold to the area might also help loosen tight muscles.
The purpose of treatment is to regain your range of motion as quickly as possible. We start physical therapy early and focus on stretching, rotating and moving the neck back and forth.
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