Whiplash injury is an injury caused to your neck. During a car accident, sports injuries, or amusement park rides, the person tends to move with great force, causing rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck. The resulting injury is called a whiplash.
Whiplash injuries damage the neck’s soft tissues, such as the muscles and ligaments. The symptoms might not be visible immediately after the accident. One could easily misjudge whiplash as a mild condition that can cause long-term discomfort and pain.
Irresponsible drivers cause car accidents. Unfortunately, the third party has to pay the price for no mistake of theirs. So, if you were in a car accident, there is a high chance you would have had a whiplash injury or worse. But you can get a fair settlement from the party that caused the trauma through a well-experienced, top-notch attorney. Find the best Stockton personal injury attorney here!
Symptoms of whiplash
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Dizziness
- Numbness in your arm
- Shoulder pain
- Lower back pain
- Ringing in your ears
- Memory problems
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Sleeplessness
- Irritability
Whiplash symptoms may come as other conditions altogether, so it’s always advisable to seek your health provider’s diagnosis.
When do you need medical attention?
The first thing on the list to do after a car accident is to seek medical attention, although you should seek special attention if you have the following symptoms:
- Pain in the neck that comes and goes in intervals.
- Stiffness comes in intervals.
- Unbearable neck pain
- Pain sensation in the shoulders, arms, and legs.
- Issues with your bladder or bowel movement.
- Weakness in an arm or leg.
In most whiplash conditions, the symptoms arrive after a few days or weeks of the accident, but if you have the following symptoms, you should consider it an emergency:
- Pain spreads to the shoulders and arms and is unbearable.
- Moving your head becomes impossible due to the pain.
- You might experience weakness in your arms.
Diagnosis
Your medical practitioner may do a complete physical exam, along with the following tests:
- X-ray
- MRI
- CT scan: Computed tomography scans are more detailed than X-rays.
Treatment
Treatments for whiplash include Prescription medication for pain, muscle relaxants, Cold or heat compression. It’s also crucial for one to exercise and maintain good posture. Generally, whiplash patients wear a foam collar to support the neck.
Hire a professional today!
Health is of paramount importance to one’s well-being. You might get the best of treatment and a reasonable recovery period. But a professional can only give you a chance at a fair settlement with the car owner that caused the accident and a good chance at a successful claim with your insurance company.