The Symptoms of Whiplash



Whiplash is a kind of neck injury that is usually caused by a sudden, uncontrolled movement of the neck. Commonly referred to as neck injuries caused due to jerk-like movement, whiplash injuries can attain serious proportions if not treated in time. Thus, it is vital that The Symptoms of Whiplash are understood.



Detecting Whiplash Symptoms-some of the common causes of whiplash injuries include automobile accidents, sudden neck movement induced during a vigorous exercise session or fall from a certain elevation. Please understand that even some physicians fail to recognize The Symptoms of Whiplash. The reason lies in some characteristic features of a typical whiplash injury wherein no bones are chipped and there is minimal damage to the soft tissue. As a result, many whiplash injuries are hard-to-detect since they cannot be identified through conventional check-up routines that include x-rays and radiograph tests. However, the patient may still complain of severe pain and restricted motion in the neck region, causing further confusion. Most whiplash symptoms can be recognized through more invasive investigative procedures like imaging through CAT Scans or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Failure to conduct such tests often leads to misdiagnosis of a whiplash injury. Among such misdiagnosed cases, stiffened neck musculature or a simple case of neck strain is put forth as the problem. Thus, when seeking medical advice for a suspected whiplash injury, the patient should be very precise about providing the details. This includes detailing the exact circumstances under which the pain started, tendency of the pain to radiate and the reaction of pain to OTC (over-the-counter) pain-killers.

The Symptoms of Whiplash include:
* Pain and sustained stiffness in and around the neck along with some degree of swelling and tenderness around the base of the neck.
* Considerable discomfort in moving the neck causing severed restriction of head-movement and repeated spells of headache.
* Pain radiating to the lower back or along the arms and hands, often causing short spells of numbness and muscle spasms.
* Patients whose whiplash injury is serious can also exhibit symptoms of dizziness along with tiredness in completing daily activities, including difficulty in swallowing and nausea when bending down.
* Serious whiplash injuries can induce spells of blurred vision, vertigo and ringing in the ears, called tinnitus.
* Some patients even complain about a tingling sensation in the jaw along with pain when chewing food.

Whiplash Symptoms & Automobile Accidents-in cases of automobile accidents, whiplash sufferers are susceptible to developing a life-threatening condition. This happens due to the early onset of whiplash in a disguised manner wherein the symptoms don't surface until a few days after the accident. Further, due to the history of the accident, symptoms such as stiffening in the neck are usually ignored. Such mistreated whiplash injuries often assume a more serious threat, often leading to spells of dizziness and blurred visions. In its most fatal form, an undetected whiplash injury can cause a life-threatening concussion. A similar situation can arise if whiplash is sustained through harmless-looking activities such as taking rides in amusement parks or an intensive gardening session. Thus, any neck injury-like symptoms that emerge after physical exertion or accidental circumstances should be thoroughly examined with the help of a healthcare practitioner.