The Short and Long-Term Effects of Whiplash Injury

Nov 13, 2017

Whiplash is the most common car accident injury treated by the Orthopedic Doctors and Chiropractors at AICA Orthopedics. Even victims who are involved in low-speed accidents (under 30 miles per hour) are vulnerable to a Whiplash Injury due to how sensitive the ligaments and tissue are that surround the neck.

 

AICA doctor examining whiplash neck injury

Unlike other types of car accident injuries that are easy to identify, Whiplash does not always produce immediate symptoms and can take several weeks or months to appear. That is part of why it is so very important that if you are involved in any type of an automobile accident, you contact us for a full examination right away. We know what signs to be on the lookout for, and can help track any symptoms you may have.

Atlanta Orthopedic Whiplash Treatment

Since whiplash does not always produce noticeable symptoms immediately, many accident victims do not seek Orthopedic Treatment after a crash occurs. Allowing whiplash to manifest can cause a series of short and long-term health consequences that influence other chronic conditions or create permanent impairments.

If you are involved in a car accident, contact our Atlanta Orthopedic Doctors to diagnose and treat potential injuries before they cause more damage. Just dial  (404) 855-2141  to schedule a same-day appointment at our office. The longer you let your whiplash symptoms go on untreated, the more symptoms you are likely to struggle with, and the larger the chances become of your pain becoming long-term.

 

Truly Understanding Whiplash

 

Few people outside of the medical field truly understand whiplash, unless they go through it. The damage that can occur to the soft tissue that encapsulates the neck is amazing. Even with small accidents or those that occur at a very low rate of speed can lead to long-term issues if not treated as quickly as possible. For whiplash to occur, it usually means that you were either stopped or traveling at a sustained rate of speed, then got hit from behind (or possibly from the side). This caused your body to lurch forward, leaving your head stationary for a moment. Then, as your body stopped moving, the head would then whip to catch up, causing the damage. It is the delay that tends to cause the most damage because bodies are not meant to jerk around like that without consequences. Going from one location to another in a short amount of time, where the head has any type of a delay in movement, can lead to a whiplash injury.

 

Short-Term Consequences of Whiplash

When left untreated, or when prompt treatment is delayed, a Whiplash Injury can cause the following symptoms:

  • Headaches
  • Migraines
  • Neck pain
  • Mid-back pain
  • Low back pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Confusion
  • Exhaustion
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Visual Disturbances
  • Temporal Mandibular Joint Pain (TMJ)

 

It’s important to understand that potential short-term health concerns may not ever go away without treatment. In fact, allowing such symptoms to exist can lead to chronic pain or long-term damage. The more time that passes before treatment begins, the higher your chances become of having to try to manage many, if not all of these symptoms on an ongoing basis. Having an Atlanta Orthopedic Doctor examine and treat your condition is the only way to prevent further health hazards.

Long-Term Consequences of Whiplash

The long-term health consequences of Whiplash Injury include:

  • Permanent neck impairments
  • Permanent postural impairments
  • Ligament Injuries
  • Degenerative Joint Disease
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Diminished eyesight
  • Temporal Mandibular Degeneration
  • Recurring headaches
  • Recurring migraines
  • Chronic neck pain
  • Chronic back pain
  • Chronic shoulder pain
  • Confusion
  • Exhaustion

 

Orthopedic Treatment Prevents Short and Long-Term Health Concerns

 

It is imperative to understand that the existence of one particular symptom can lead to the onset of others. If left untreated, something as simple as a headache can have a snowball effect that causes a series of other health issues. Your headache could lead to migraines, which could then affect your ability to perform daily tasks. This could lead to TMJ problems and even leave you with permanent ringing in your ears.

 

To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to seek Orthopedic Treatment within 72 hours of a car accident. Our team of Orthopedists can diagnose potential injuries using state-of-the-art imaging devices that capture the exact source and location of each patient’s condition. Using this information, we can create treatment solutions that are personalized to align with the unique characteristics of your specific injury, allowing you to experience a complete, safe recovery.

 

We will work alongside you to ensure that you have the best chances possible of meeting or exceeding your recovery goals. Without creating a unique treatment plan that meets your specific needs, there is no way for you to reach any realistic recovery goal that you can track. We want you to feel amazing about how far you have come, and we want to be the team to help you get there.

Contact or call our office immediately after a car accident to avoid short and long-term symptoms associated with Whiplash. Just dial (404) 855-2141 to schedule an immediate appointment with one of our friendly staff members. We will do everything we can to help you get back to the life you love to live. Contact us today.

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