What Is Whiplash?

It is defined as injury to the muscles, ligaments, discs, and facet joints of the neck.

Whiplash often occurs after a car accident or incident when the neck is strained to the ends of its range of motion and may ensue for many months after the incident.

Symptoms:

• Neck pain
• Swelling of back of the neck
• Muscle spasms
• Difficulty turning neck side to side or up and down

Whiplash pain is diagnosed through use of a patient’s history, physical exam, and radiographic imaging, like an X-ray or MRI.

If a patient is experiencing severe neck pain, dizziness, headaches, or weakness of the arm and legs they should obtain immediate medical care.

Most pain settles within six weeks, however pain persists in some patients for months sometimes years after the injury.