Whiplash injuries can be incredibly painful and debilitating. These types of injuries occur when an individual’s head and neck move back and forth in a forceful manner. Whiplash, aptly named to describe the similarity between the injury and the movement of a cracking whip, is common in the course of car accidents and can also occur in other traumatic situations. Whiplash is essentially a violent neck sprain/strain, and it can leave the sufferer with extremely uncomfortable symptoms in its wake.
Most people who have suffered a whiplash injury will know how to diagnose it based upon the symptoms they cope within the aftermath of a traumatic incident. Literal pain in the neck, headaches or migraines, and stiffness in the head/neck area are all solid indicators that someone has endured whiplash.
This injury can lead to chronic or more severe pain problems but is most commonly treated with the pain easing in several weeks. Your doctor may prescribe you therapeutic exercises and a pharmaceutical regimen to help get you back on track.
If you have questions or think you might have suffered a whiplash injury as a result of a recent accident, contact an orthopedic doctor in Atlanta today to schedule a time to come in for a diagnostic consultation and to have your questions/concerns addressed.
What Will Our Team Look For?
There are several telltale signs that our team will be on the lookout for when we examine you initially:
Pain or Stiffness
The most common (and, let’s face it, most obvious) symptom of whiplash is pain and tenderness in the head and neck where the violent jerking motion occurred. If you complain of pain either to the touch or when you attempt to move your head/neck, our specialists will take note.
Signs of Disorientation
Many patients present signs of dizziness and fatigue following an accident where whiplash has taken place. This is often accompanied by headaches that radiate from the base of the neck.
Restricted Motion in the Head and/or Neck
If your range of motion, as compared to normal or before your incident, has become limited, it is likely that you have suffered whiplash. Of course, our team of doctors will work with you to come up with a treatment plan that restores your range of motion in the head and neck so you can return to your normal activities.
Less Common Symptoms Should Not Be Overlooked
Although these symptoms are more elusive or are suffered by fewer patients, they are still strong indicators of whiplash and will be checked out by your orthopedic doctor.
- Numbness in the arms
- Difficulty processing information as you would before (examples: trouble with memory, concentration issues, even blurred or impaired vision)
- Emotional symptoms, such as feelings of depression or irritability/impatience
- Difficulty sleeping or altered sleep
- Tinnitus
When Do You Seek Treatment for Whiplash?
If you are suffering from any or all of these uncomfortable symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact our team of professionals today. At AICA Orthopedics, our goal is to get you back on your feet and feeling like yourself again in response to an accident or trauma.
Many people find themselves asking “should I really see a doctor for simple neck pain?”. Our answer is an emphatic “Yes!”. If you have been involved in an accident or another event that caused you harm, and your head or neck are showing signs of being affected by this accident, it is important to at least obtain an evaluation to be certain that your injuries are minor.
In the case of an auto accident, conventional wisdom says that if your vehicle, which is much larger and less fragile than you, has sustained damage, you likely have, too. Contact our team today to obtain expert advice, and to be sure that you are on the path to wellness!
