Whiplash

Now medically referred to as Cervical Acceleration/Deceleration Syndrome, whiplash is a general term which describes the head suddenly whipping backward in extension and then forward in flexion most commonly from rear end collisions. Other synonyms include cervical sprain/strain. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, stiffness, loss of normal range of motion, muscle spasm, headaches, hoarseness or difficulty swallowing, numbness or tingling in the arms or hands, and upper back pain. The most common structures affected by whiplash include the muscles, ligaments, joints, disc and potentially the spinal nerves or spinal cord depending on severity. The most common mistake I see patients make is not following up with a doctor after this type of injury, even though your injuries or pain may be minor and seem fairly insignificant. More often than not I see patients one, two or sometimes even ten years after their accident and state they are still having dull achey pain in the neck that is worse and better at different times. Why is this, how can that happen in low impact or low severity collisions? This phenomenon known as hidden injuries or latent injuries occurs do to improper healing of the muscles, ligaments and joints and how they function. If your muscles, joints and ligaments essentially heal "crooked," they will stay that way until they are restored to their original state as in before the accident. More severely, whiplash injuries can also damage the disc between the bones. See topic of herniated discs above to learn about the potential risks and symptoms associated with disc herniations.