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How Long Does Whiplash Last?

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The sudden impact of vehicles during a car accident can cause the body to jolt or jerk severely back and forth, causing you to experience whiplash. Symptoms may not develop right away, and they also may take a while to dissipate, depending on the severity of the case.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and think you may be suffering from whiplash, Atlanta orthopedic specialists will help get you on the road to recovery swiftly and safely.

Causes of Whiplash

Because the neck has such a wide range of motion and is not restrained in a car, your neck may overextend backward and forward in such a way that it causes severe strain on your neck muscles.

Especially during a rear-end collision, the abrupt stopping motion of the car causes your body to jostle around, especially if the seatbelt is not in use or the headrest is not at a proper angle.

The more extended range of motion your head and neck experience unexpectedly, the more severe the case of whiplash.

Whiplash Symptoms

Whiplash can affect not only the neck muscles but also tendons, ligaments, the spinal column, and upper back. Initial symptoms typically include neck pain and stiffness, headaches, tenderness, and pain with range of motion or loss of range of motion in the neck.

Immediately after the accident, you may only experience neck and shoulder tension or a headache radiating from the base of the skull, but these other symptoms can develop in the days following the accident.

Other symptoms can include dizziness, fatigue, and tingling or numbness in the arms. More serious symptoms may develop, especially if the whiplash goes untreated, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, difficulty concentrating, and a change in mood.

Diagnosis of Whiplash

A doctor will first ask you about your symptoms and a description of how the injury occurred. They will also perform a comprehensive exam of the head, neck, back, and other affected areas as needed, in order to assess for whiplash.

While a doctor may be able to diagnose based on a physical exam, they may also want to use advanced diagnostic imaging tools to further assess the damage caused by the injury to determine the severity. The most common forms of diagnostic image tests are CT scans and MRIs.

A CT scan is like a 3D X-ray of the affected area so the doctor can view the injury from multiple angles. An MRI provides the doctor with high-resolution images of the injury site and how soft tissues are affected.

Whiplash Recovery

A patient’s timeline for recovery from whiplash can be difficult to predict, though it is generally considered to be linked to the severity of the symptoms. In most cases, your doctor will recommend you resume daily activities as soon as possible, with low-impact, non-invasive treatment options such as:
• using ice and heat to address the muscle spasms or inflamed area
• pain management medication
• specific exercises recommended by a physical therapist
However, if you experience a rapid onset of symptoms upon injury and severe neck pain and very limited range of motion, you may be more at risk for developing chronic pain if you do not seek treatment right away.

Other risk factors for chronic pain after whiplash include older age, injury caused by a high speed, any existing back or neck pain, or if you have had whiplash before.

At AICA Orthopedics, our team of orthopedic specialists will develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient in order to address current symptoms, the root cause, and preventative approaches to discourage chronic pain.

Our team of multidisciplinary doctors includes orthopedic specialists, neurologists, chiropractors, and physical therapists who can all address various aspects of your care and treatment plan to encourage a holistic approach to your healing. Schedule an appointment at AICA Orthopedics for a comprehensive examination and learn what treatment modalities might be right for you.

Reviews

6,380 Reviews from our Amazing patients

I’ve had a wonderful experience at AICA. The customer service is fantastic. The doctors and office staff were very caring and understanding of my situation. I’d highly recommend them to anyone!
Jordan C.
Jonesboro, GA
Thank you so much for the assistance! My back has never felt better, if you're ever in an accident and need healing this is the place to go!
Ryan M.
Jonesboro, GA
Love the atmosphere. Very relaxing. Everyone there gets 5 stars as far as I'm concerned. Excellent facility. Would definitely recommend.
Cassandra A.
Jonesboro, GA
Yesterday was my last day at AICA College Park since my accident in December, there is so much to say about the people who work here and the level of customer service, care, attention, friendliness, and overall amazing atmosphere that they provide. Location is perfect in College Park, right off the highway and in a small plaza with plenty of parking. The entire staff, from the front desk girls, to the physical therapy girls, to the chiros, and the medical team are AMAZING! I feel like I just lost my friends not being able to visit them twice a week every week. I will definitely miss coming here. All the smiles and warm welcomes received. The physical therapy - asking about my day, if everything is okay and helping my back and neck get better. I had the pleasure of having Dr. Hector as my chiropractor, he is awesome, was very helpful in the healing process and also a native Spanish speaker which is a plus for those of us who do speak Spanish. Before coming to AICA, I tried another injury clinic in ATL and walked out after 5 mins - so impersonal and cold. I am so glad that I found AICA in College Park. Trust me, if you are injured and need some healing and TLC you NEED to come to this clinic! Highly recommend to everyone. Thank you again to the guys and girls at AICA - xo Ms. Colon
Francheska Colon
College Park, GA
WOW, THIS IS AN AMAZING PLACE OF BUSINESS FROM THE RECEPTION DESK TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE AND TREATMENT ROOM. I RECEIVED THE BEST CARE AND INFORMATION CONCERNING MY INJURIES. EXCELLENT SERVICE. I WILL BE BACK. I RECOMMEND THIS BUSINESS.
Sherille Gayle
College Park, GA
The ladies at Aica are very helpful and nice, I really enjoyed my visits to the office personally I’m going to refer friends in the near future.
Marco Starr
College Park, GA
Great service and treatment.
Chicolla Berry
College Park, GA
Very professional group and excellent teamwork
Earnestine Moss
Lawrenceville, GA