Car Accidents and Whiplash

Although usually associated with car accidents, whiplash (also called neck strain) is from any impact or blow that causes your head to quickly jerk forward or backward, resulting in pain. This sudden force stretches and tears the muscles and tendons in your neck.

Don’t Avoid the Pain

The pain from whiplash is hard to ignore, and it will be pretty obvious that something is wrong.

Some of the common symptoms of whiplash include:

• Pain, decreased range of motion and tightness in the neck. It may feel like you have a large knot in your muscles.
• You will feel pain when you rock your head from side to side or backward.
• Feeling of tenderness in the area.
• Headaches at the base of the skull that may go toward the forehead.

Sometimes the pain from whiplash may not occur right away, and you may not feel the pain for several hours or even days. To diagnose whiplash, your doctor will give a thorough examination that may include X-rays, CT scans and other tests.

Treating Whiplash

Treating whiplash can help the condition heal on it’s own in time.

To speed up recovery, you can:

• Ice your neck for 20 to 30 minutes each day, every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days or until you see pain and swelling begin to decrease.
• Painkillers or other drugs recommended by your doctor can help with your pain also. Some of these drugs may have side effects and should not be taken unless your doctor says you should.
• A neck brace or collar can add support and your doctor may recommend you wear one for certain times of the day. They are not recommended for long term use because this can potentially weaken your neck muscles.
• After 2 to 3 days of icing your neck, apply moist heat, but only after the initial swelling has gone down.
• Other treatments, such as chiropractic care and massage therapy, may also help your whiplash pain.

Need Our Help with Your Personal Injury Claim?

In order to navigate the terrain of personal injury law it is imperative to have an experienced Tucson Personal Injury Attorney on your side. If you have been injured in a vehicle accident, call the Thrush Law Group in Phoenix or Tucson to speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer immediately.