If you have been in a car accident then you may have struggled with Whiplash. It is an injury to the neck and soft tissues of the upper spine, head and shoulders. It is a condition that is normally able to be fixed with a variety of treatment, including using a well fitted soft cervical collar to immobilize the neck, use of different types of muscle relaxants and pain medication, and physical therapy.
While most of the time people associate whiplash with riding in an automobile, it is no the only way that you can get injured. Nearly 2 million people in the United States each year struggle with whiplash, and while many of these incidents do come from car accidents, there are certainly other ways to be injured and suffer from Whiplash.
Injuries can result from playing in various types of sports, from a fall or collision on foot, or from being attacked, punched or shaken vigourously. The actual injury can take days, weeks or even months to manifest itself, you are injured but may not know it until later on you begin to experience stiffness, pain and tight feelings in the shoulder area. This is typically one of the ways that the onset of whiplash occurs.
If you do not have pain after a neck injury you should still make an appointment to see your doctor. Whiplash can have a variety of long term effects and should always be treated, no matter how long it takes to show itself, its important to seek and receive qualified medical treatment.
Whiplash can also sometimes be associated with other types of spinal conditions and spinal injuries including osteoarthritis and various joint pain, and it can be a sign of premature disc failure and degeneration which is aging of the spine itself.
One of the treatments that you will undergo when you seek medical help is a course of physical therapy. It helps reduce the muscle spasms, promote healing and can include ice, moist heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and exercise to promote and build up your strength.
Surgery is not normally needed following a Whiplash type injury. Any type of intervention using surgery is considered a bit extreme but it can be useful in some types of severe injuries that do extensive damage. Surgery to remove a broken or ruptured disk is one type, there are basically several surgery procedures that may be utilized to provide relief.
Keeping healthy is a proactive thing, and treatment of whiplash normally will assist a person to feel better and to be in better help. While Whiplash is serious, it is something that is fully treatable, and once treated the average person will be able to return to their regular job and activity.
The most important thing about Whiplash treatment is to make sure you are seen by a medical professional, so they can properly determine the best course of treatment for you to make sure of full recovery.
