It’s a beautiful day and you are driving in Santa Clarita or the busy streets of the San Fernando Valley. You stop for a red light, and all of a sudden, you are rear-ended by a careless driver.
You seem fine at the time. So, you exchange information and move on to your destination. But, the next morning, you wake up with a stiff neck and a headache. You have suffered whiplash.
What is Whiplash and How Does it Occur?
Whiplash is a painful and debilitating neck injury that can occur when the head is thrust forward and then backward in a sudden, forceful motion. This type of injury is often associated with car accidents, especially rear-ended collisions. However, whiplash can also be caused by sports injuries, falls, or any other sudden impact that causes the head to jerk back and forth.
The sudden forward and backward movements of the head, which cause whiplash, can significantly damage the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the neck and the head. Symptoms of a whiplash injury can range from mild to severe and often include:
- Neck pain;
- Neck stiffness;
- Headaches;
- Dizziness; and
- Sometimes tingling or numbness in the arms or hands.
How is it Diagnosed?
Diagnosing whiplash typically involves a physical exam, a medical history review, and imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. This is why seeing a healthcare provider, such as a chiropractor or a medical doctor, following an accident is important.
Treatment Options
Treatment for a whiplash injury typically involves a combination of:
- Rest combined with ice;
- Chiropractic treatment;
- Physical therapy; and
- Pain management.
Rest
Rest is important because it allows the injured neck muscles time to heal, and icing the neck helps reduce inflammation in the injured area.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic treatment is important to reposition the spine to its natural curvature. The spine in the neck area has a natural curvature, which allows it to reduce the stress placed on it by the weight of the head.
However, car accidents, including rear-end collisions, often straighten the curvature of the neck spine, which then places extra weight and stress on the spine. Chiropractic treatments can restore the lost curvature, and without restoring the lost curvature, an accident victim can suffer chronic and long-term effects in the future.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can help restore range of motion and strength to the neck muscles, and may include exercises, massage, and other techniques.
Pain Management
Pain management may include the use of over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription medications, and/or muscle relaxers.
Severe Neck Injuries
In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair damaged tissues or to stabilize the spine. It’s important to seek medical attention if you suspect you have whiplash, as prompt treatment can help prevent chronic pain and long-term complications.
We Can Help
Here, at The Mason Law Firm, we have over 27 years of experience in handling personal injury and accident cases. Throughout that time period, we have handled thousands of car accidents that involved a whiplash injury.
We handle matters all throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, including in Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando Valley, Ventura County, Orange County, San Bernardino Valley, and Kern County. So, you don’t have to go through this alone, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
We work on contingency, which means that we only get paid when there is a recovery on the case and there are no out of pocket expenses. So, if you have any question, you can reach us for a free consultation at (661) 476-5678 or by filing our Contact form by clicking here.