Real-Life Scenario
Imagine driving on a beautiful day in Santa Clarita or the bustling streets of the San Fernando Valley. You come to a stop at a red light when suddenly, you’re rear-ended by a careless driver. Although you feel fine at the time, the next morning, you wake up with a stiff neck and a headache, indicative of whiplash.
What Is Whiplash And What Causes It?
Whiplash is a painful and potentially debilitating neck injury that occurs when the neck is subjected to sudden and forceful backward and forward movement, commonly associated with car accidents, especially rear-end collisions. However, it can also result from sports injuries, falls, or any other impact that causes the head to jerk back and forth rapidly.
The abrupt and forceful movement of the head during whiplash can significantly damage the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the neck and head. Symptoms of whiplash can vary in severity and may include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, shoulder pain, dizziness, and sometimes tingling or numbness in the arms or hands.
How Is Whiplash Diagnosed?
Diagnosing whiplash usually involves a physical examination, review of medical history, and imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. Seeking prompt medical attention from a healthcare provider, such as a chiropractor or medical doctor, is crucial after experiencing an injury to ensure an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.
What Are The Treatment Options Available For Whiplash?
Treatment for a whiplash injury typically involves a combination of rest, ice application, chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, and pain management techniques. Rest is essential to allow the injured neck muscles time to heal, while ice application helps reduce inflammation in the affected area.
Chiropractic treatment plays a key role in repositioning the spine to its natural curvature. This natural curvature helps reduce the stress placed on the neck by the weight of the head. Car accidents, including rear-end collisions, often compromise this curvature, leading to additional stress on the spine. Chiropractic treatments aim to restore the lost curvature to prevent potential chronic and long-term effects.
Physical therapy can aid in regaining range of motion and strength in the neck muscles through exercises, massage, and other techniques. Pain management may involve over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription medications, and muscle relaxers, depending on the severity of the symptoms.
Addressing Severe Neck Injuries
In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair a damaged spine or stabilize the spine. One should only consider neck surgery as a last resort.
Seeking timely medical attention is essential when suspecting a whiplash injury, as it can help prevent chronic pain and accelerate the healing process.
We Are Here to Help
If you are involved in an accident and are suffering from a whiplash injury, we at The Mason Law Firm can help.
The Mason Law Firm is managed by Mason Rashtian, who has over 27 years of experience as a litigator. Our main priority are our clients. Our clients get the “big law firm experience” with the “small law firm’s personal touch”. Clients are familiar with the staff, and the staff is familiar with our clients.
We also work on contingency. So, there are NEVER out-of-pocket fees or costs. We serve the Los Angeles County (including Santa Clarita Valley, and the San Fernando Valley), Orange County, Ventura County, Kern County, and San Bernardino County.
We can be reached at (661) 476-5678 or (855) MASONLA, or you can contact us on our firm’s contact page by clicking here.