When you think of whiplash, a car accident is likely one of the first things that come to your mind. After all, car accidents comprise the majority of whiplash cases. But whiplash can also be caused by any hard, sudden, back-and-forth motion. This means that it can occur while playing contact sports, riding a roller coaster, or even falling in a certain manner.
Whiplash can be painful to the point of debilitation. This is why it’s vital to get treatment from someone you trust. For more than 50 years, patients throughout the Triangle area have trusted us with their serious spinal issues and injuries. We encourage you to see how our state-of-the-art care can help you.
We’ll review the challenging long-term effects of whiplash and explain how our effective treatment for whiplash can help you return to your regular activities with less pain and more confidence.
How Long Does Whiplash Last?
This depends upon the severity of the injury and your individual case. We’ll provide an accurate prognosis after a thorough examination. However, in general, whiplash lasts up to a few weeks in mild and moderate cases. Most with whiplash-associated disorders will improve within three months.
However, almost half of those with these disorders will have continual pain that can last for years. Of those patients, 30% have pain so severe that it can disable them.
How Serious Is a Whiplash Injury?
This all depends upon the severity of the injury and the extent of the whiplash. More minor injuries can cause pain, soreness and stiffness, but have no long-term effects. In this case, it’s much easier for us to help you return to your regular activities and alleviate your discomfort.
However, sometimes whiplash is so severe that it can be debilitating. These cases often involve long-term, intense pain and spinal injuries–even to the point of permanent disability.
How We Effectively Treat Your Whiplash
As we mentioned earlier, mild cases may be handled by applying ice or even using NSAIDs like ibuprofen. Muscle relaxers can also be effective. We’ll fit you with a cervical (neck) collar to limit how much you can move your neck. We do this to give your neck a chance to heal.
If you have a more serious case, we may also include:
Fortunately, it is rare that a whiplash injury will need surgery. But in the unlikely event that you do need it, our orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh specialize in treating spinal injuries using the latest, minimally invasive techniques.
Your treatment is tailored for you. While we may use some or all of these techniques, our approach to medicine is highly individualized. We also take a conservative approach: Surgery is only considered after other treatment methods have been exhausted.
What Precautions Do I Need to Take When I Have Whiplash?
We know that you want to get out of pain and back to your normal routine as soon as possible. But you can’t rush your whiplash recovery. It’s vital to not only rest your neck, but avoid any activities that may strain it. Avoid activities such as participating in contact sports, performing heavy lifting or riding roller coasters that increase the likelihood of making your injuries worse.
If your whiplash pain gets worse or is accompanied by signs such as muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, tingling or vision problems, this could be a sign of a traumatic brain injury. If you’re exhibiting these signs, seek immediate medical care at an emergency room.
How Can I Avoid Whiplash?
There are some things—like car accidents—that are somewhat beyond your control. Therefore, it’s vital to control the things you can. This includes:
- Wearing your seatbelt
- Adjusting your car seat properly
- Driving safely
- Using protection and caution when playing contact sports
- Avoiding carnival rides like roller coasters that carry a risk of whiplash. (If you choose to participate, please check with us first so we can help ensure you can do it safely.)
How Can You Tell If You Have Whiplash?
In extremely mild cases, it may be difficult to tell. The lowest levels of whiplash may not exhibit any pain or only stiffness when moving or tenderness around the injury.
However, if the case is more serious, you may have symptoms such as:
- Radiating pain that affects your face, back, shoulders and head
- Muscle spasms
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Headaches
- Numbness
- Weak muscles
- Burning or tingling in your upper extremities or neck
- Dizziness
- Vision problems
Even If you believe you have a mild case, it’s crucial to contact us for an appointment so that we can start an effective treatment for whiplash.
What Do I Need to Know About The Long-Term Effects of Whiplash?
A serious case of whiplash can cause chronic pain that lasts for years. But there’s hope: We utilize the best practices based on the latest research to provide treatment that can minimize your pain. Remember:
- You’ll likely need some type of long-term physical therapy.
- You’ll probably need long-term medication management.
- You may need a referral to a pain management specialist; if you do, we’ll be happy to provide it.
- Whiplash often has psychological effects, so we encourage you to develop stress management techniques or talk to a professional counselor if needed.
Our Safe, Effective Treatment for Whiplash Tailored Just for You
We’re Wake County’s oldest, independently-owned orthopedic practice. This means we have privileges at a variety of hospitals and medical centers throughout the area—so you can have a voice in where you receive treatment.
Through our board-certified orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh, we can determine the severity and extent of your whiplash, offering solutions that will eventually help you return to your daily routine.
Do you think you’ve sustained a whiplash injury? Don’t delay. It’s vital to receive treatment as soon as possible to minimize long-term problems. Just contact us for an appointment.
