When a car accident occurs, you may not think that you have a significant injury. However, the symptoms and signs of a car accident might not be noticeable until days or weeks later. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries from a car accident.
At first, you might not even realize that you’re suffering from whiplash. In some cases, imaging tests such as MRIs will not detect this injury. For this reason, it is important for you to understand the signs of whiplash from a car accident.
Let’s go over some of these symptoms.
Whiplash From a Car Accident Causes Neck Pains and Stiffness
What does a whiplash injury feel like? A whiplash injury is a strain on the cervical spine. This injury happens when there is a severe forward and backward jerk to the head and neck area in a car accident.
This sudden movement can stretch and tear the tendons and ligaments in your neck.
Generally, you will feel common symptoms such as neck pains, tenderness, headaches, and stiffness. You might also feel muscle spasms and pain along your shoulders and arms.
These symptoms are more pronounced days after the injury. Some individuals might feel symptoms 12 hours after an accident. These symptoms will usually last for up to several weeks.
Less Common Symptoms
Less common symptoms from a whiplash injury include problems concentrating, irritability, you may have problems falling asleep, ringing in the ears and chronic head and neck pains. Whiplash symptoms will also become worse several days after the car accident.
If you’re experiencing this type of discomfort, be sure to contact a car accident doctor that specializes in these particular injuries.
Treatment for Whiplash
Doctors prescribe simple medications such as Tylenol or aspirin to relieve the symptoms from whiplash. For severe symptoms, your doctor will prescribe muscle relaxants that minimize muscle spasms and prescription painkillers.
Also, physical therapy plays a significant role for you to completely recover from a whiplash injury. Professional therapists will help you to engage in simple exercises and relaxation techniques. Physical therapy helps you to build strength, to make your neck flexible and to prevent straining.
Associated Complications
When you don’t treat your whiplash symptoms, you may experience chronic pains that could possibly linger for years after the car accident. In general, few people experience long-term complications from a whiplash injury.
When whiplash is treated by a doctor, you can get a full recovery within several weeks. Therefore, it is necessary for you to make certain that you consult with a doctor as soon as possible to treat your whiplash injury.
Need More Help to Improve Your Health?
When you have symptoms of whiplash from a car accident, make sure you get a prompt and accurate diagnosis. This is an important step that prevents your symptoms from becoming worse.
For more health and wellness information, visit the health section of our blog.
