Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when your head moves backwards and then forwards very suddenly. This motion pushes the muscles in your neck, as well as the ligaments, past their normal range of motion.

This type of injury can be either mild or severe. The typical treatment is to use over-the-counter pain medication and apply ice to the injured neck muscles. Sometimes, medications and physical therapy is prescribed if the pain is continuous.

The majority of people recover fully in a few weeks. However, some people experience chronic pain from this injury.

Whiplash symptoms typically develop within 24 hours. Some common symptoms are:

  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Headaches—typically at the base of the skull
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Fatigue

Occasionally people complain of:

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Memory problems
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Irritability

Contact you doctor if:

  • The pain spreads to your shoulders or arms
  • It becomes painful to move your head
  • You experience numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms

Mayo Clinic (2014). Whiplash. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whiplash/basics/definition/con-20033090