Symptoms of Whiplash After a Car Accident

After a car accident, you’re probably in a state of shock, whether you feel immediate pain or not. However, no matter the extremity of the crash or your symptoms, it’s important to seek treatment following the car accident to prevent any injury from developing.

Often times symptoms can be delayed, and unless you’ve been treated early on, you could put your body at a disservice and feel a great deal of pain in the days or weeks to follow. Whiplash, in particular, which happens from a rear impact within a stationary position, is a common injury that is less noticeable upon onset—yet it’s very serious, and it can lead to tension throughout the body over time.

Here are 4 signs of whiplash to note.

Headache

You probably won’t notice a headache right after an accident, but rather the next morning or so after. It comes up from the neck, and into the back of the head to create a painful sensation. Meeting with a chiropractor will help alleviate pain, as well as using heat therapy and taking anti-inflammatories.

Back Pain

The spine involves physics and alignment, and when motion and load bearing in the spine is not aligned properly, it can cause increased wear and tear and subsequent pain. Whiplash is a common cause of these types of spinal problems. A chiropractor can help with joint mobilization to keep the spine aligned properly and expedite recovery.

Neck Pain and Stiffness

The sudden back-and-forth motion and jerk during a car accident can cause neck pain and stiffness, which can lead to serious injury and joint complications over time unless treated early on. The sudden motion stretches and tears muscles in the neck, but through physical therapy and mobilization exercises, you will alleviate the tension and create greater range of motion to aid in recovery.

Arm Pain or Weakness

You might notice pain in the shoulders and arms following a car accident and an incidence of whiplash. The arms might feel weak and heavy. Due to pressure on the neck during whiplash, nerve receptors can be blocked between brain and body, causing pain, numbness, and tingling in the arms. If left untreated, it can lead to a torn rotator cuff, torn cartilage (labrum), or a frozen shoulder, among other serious complications.

Dealing with Symptoms of Whiplash

Dealing with recovering from a car accident is never easy. Whiplash and other injuries can make an already difficult time worse and symptoms can arise after you thought you could move on. Taking these early steps to find treatment after a car accident, regardless of severity of symptoms of whiplash, will help you avoid any potentially debilitating life longside effects.