Whiplash occurs due to a sudden and forceful movement of the head, abruptly snapping in one direction and then another. While commonly associated with automobile accidents, whiplash can also result from various activities such as sports and workplace incidents.
Typical symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and restricted neck mobility accompanied by discomfort. Additionally, individuals may experience a generalized sense of soreness extending from the shoulders to the arms and back, often accompanied by tingling sensations in one or both arms and feelings of fatigue.
Treatment of whiplash injuries is most successful if the patient seeks early evaluation following the time of injury. All too often, an accident victim will fall prey to the concept that “it will get better on its own” and, unfortunately, might miss opportunities to treat the injuries before they become chronic. There has been a significant expansion of treatment modalities for whiplash injuries over the past several decades. It is important that an injured patient receives early consultation with a pain management expert who can guide them through the appropriate steps to recovery.
