- Auto Accident Injuries, Whiplash
It’s not unusual for a car accident victim to suffer a neck injury. One of the most common types of neck injuries is whiplash. Many people assume that this injury will go away on its own. That isn’t always what happens. In many cases, you will need to seek treatment for whiplash.
If you’ve been injured in a car crash, it’s in your best interest to contact our injury center in Easley sooner rather than later.
Whiplash Is the Most Common Neck Injury in a Car Accident
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries suffered in a car crash. You can suffer this injury in any type of motor vehicle accident. However, more people experience whiplash after a rear-end collision than any other type of accident.
Whiplash occurs when your neck is stretched too far in one direction. If the impact of the crash is strong enough, it can even cause the tendons and ligaments in your neck to tear.
Not only is this extremely painful, but it can also make it difficult to work and function in the days and weeks after your accident.
How to Recognize the Symptoms of Whiplash
One of the unfortunate things about this injury is that you may even know it’s there. You may not feel the effects of whiplash until days after your accident. By then, there’s a chance that your injury has gotten worse.
It’s important that you keep an eye out for the symptoms of whiplash right away. These symptoms include:
- Tingling or numbness in your extremities
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Ringing in your ear
- Concussion
- Shoulder pain
- Vision problems
- Neck pain and stiffness
You may experience some or all of these symptoms. The moment you notice them, it’s time to visit an injury center in Easley.
How Can a Doctor Diagnose This Type of Injury?
Whiplash is that it isn’t apparent on imaging tests, but your doctor will likely order tests to rule out a more serious neck or head injury. These tests can include X-rays, a CT scan, and an MRI.
The doctor will also ask you about your symptoms and do a physical exam. The doctor will check the range of motion in your neck and shoulders, and see if moving your neck causes pain or makes it worse. They’ll also check for tenderness in your neck, back, or arms.
Treatment for Whiplash After a Car Crash
Whiplash can be very painful. It can also limit the range of motion in your neck. It’ll be hard to drive because you won’t be able to turn your head all the way in either direction. It may even hurt to hold your head upright.
The goal of treatment for whiplash is to control your pain, improve your range of motion, and help you get back to your normal activities. The treatment plan will depend on the severity of your injury.
A doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers and suggest that you wear a foam collar. If your pain is more severe, prescription medications, muscle relaxers, and injections may be recommended.
A physical therapist can guide you through exercises to strengthen your muscles and help restore your neck’s normal range of motion. Chiropractic care can also help with neck pain from whiplash.
The good news is that our Easley injury center can offer these services to you. Our team includes specialists in pain management, chiropractic, and more.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Whiplash?
You may be wondering how long whiplash lasts. The answer is – it depends. If your injury is minor, it may stop hurting within several weeks. For some people, symptoms of whiplash can persist for months. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, most people recover fully within 3 months.
You’ll know when you feel better. Your doctor will also have you perform various exercises to confirm that it’s healed.
Visit Injury Medicine After a Car Accident
Whether it’s whiplash or some other injury, it’s important that you see a doctor after your car accident. You could have injuries that you aren’t aware of. When you visit our Easley treatment center, we’ll run a full set of diagnostics and determine the nature and extent of your injuries.
We offer various treatments for whiplash, including physiotherapy, chiropractic care, pain injections, and more. Injury Medicine also has offices in Anderson, Camden, Duncan, Greenville, and Lexington.
Simply call our office today at 864-866-PAIN and schedule a time to come in for your initial assessment.
