How do you identify and treat whiplash?
Connecticut residents who have been involved in any type of car accident may want to keep an eye out for whiplash signs. Many people don’t consider it a big danger, but the truth is, it can have a huge impact on your overall health and happiness.
WebMD lists out several symptoms of whiplash. These symptoms can appear immediately after an accident, or they can take a while to show. They may also be mistaken as “general soreness” from the crash at first. However, their persistence and frequency indicate a more dangerous problem. Symptoms include:
- Stiffness or tenderness in the neck
- Pain when looking over the shoulders or rocking the head
- Headaches from the base of the skull
- Decreased range of motion
- Tightness in the neck or knotted muscles
Together, these symptoms can indicate a case of whiplash. Some think whiplash will simply go away on its own, but severe enough cases can actually require medical intervention.
Treatments for whiplash include icing the injury and taking painkillers to help with both swelling and pain. Massage or ultrasound treatments may also be used if the pain is particularly intense. You will also want to keep your neck still so that the muscles have a chance to recover and heal. Wearing a neck collar or brace will help you do this, especially if your doctor recommends it. Just keep in mind that you should not use neck braces over a long period of time, as it can also create muscular weakness.
Be sure that you treat these symptoms quickly and see a doctor if you need to. Letting whiplash sit untreated can cause you unnecessary pain and potential complications later on.
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