How does whiplash feel

Whiplash is an injury to your neck. It is caused by your neck bending forcibly forward and then backward, or vice versa. The injury, which is poorly understood, usually involves the muscles, discs, nerves, and tendons in your neck.

Most whiplash injuries result from a collision that includes sudden acceleration or deceleration. Many whiplash injuries occur when you are involved in a rear-end automobile collision.

They also happen as a result of a sports injury, particularly during contact sports. The symptoms of whiplash may look like other conditions and medical problems.

Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. In some cases, the chronic pain can be traced back to joint, disk, or ligament damage. For some patients, the cause of the long-term pain is never found. Driving — patients with severe stiffness and pain should refrain from driving until they are able to turn their heads quickly without pain. Make sure the headrest in your car is adjusted correctly so that your head is prevented from moving backwards.

However, there is nothing you can do to prevent your head from moving forward or sideways if the collision comes from in front or from the sides. What are the different types of bleeding, and how can a person treat them? Read on to learn more. Minor bleeding into the skin is common and often the result of an injury. Learn about causes of bleeding into the skin, bruising, diagnosis, and…. Shin splint stretches can reduce pain, speed up recovery time, and prevent further injury. Find out the best stretches and tips to prevent shin….

Trauma centers provide immediate definitive care to severely injured people. Depending on the U. Unexplained bruising on the legs may be a symptom of a forgotten injury.

However, in some cases, the cause could be an underlying condition. Whiplash: What you need to know. How does it happen? How does it feel? Causes Diagnosis Treatment Complications Prevention Whiplash refers to a series of neck injuries caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck. Share on Pinterest Whiplash symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, and vision problems.

Causes of whiplash injuries. However, it is also common to be symptom free right away, as your body might be slow to react due to the shock of the incident. But pay close attention to the development of any further symptoms. For many, symptoms of whiplash may develop in the hours or even days after a car accident.

Because of adrenaline rushing through your body after an accident, your symptoms may be masked until you are able to calm down and truly assess your body after the crash. Because the muscles and tendons in the neck are overstretched and even torn due to the sudden motion, pain and stiffness are the most common experiences with whiplash. The pain comes from the hyperextension of the muscles and any soft tissue damage in the neck and surrounding areas.

As your body reacts to the strain, you may experience swelling and inflammation in the area as well. The muscles of the neck and upper back can often feel very stiff and you may have difficulty turning your neck from side to side or up and down. Pain management specialist Robert Bolash, MD, answers our questions about what causes whiplash, who is more at risk and how long it may last.

A: People associate whiplash with a motor vehicle collision, and that often is the cause. But it can also happen with a sports injury, physical abuse such as being violently shaken by the shoulders or by being punched. These all can cause an intense flexing and extension of the neck — a movement similar to when you nod your head to say yes.

Whiplash happens when structures in your neck, including discs, ligaments, nerves or muscles, are damaged. Sometimes a small vessel tears after an accident and releases inflammatory substances in the neck, causing swelling and pain. A: You might feel symptoms of whiplash immediately after the injury, or they can show up several days later. Common signs of whiplash include:. A: Your assessment will start with a physical exam. Depending on the results, a doctor might order a magnetic resonance imaging MRI , computed tomography CT scan or X-ray if they suspect whiplash.

But for most people, the injury occurs within structures too small to be seen in these tests.