The Dangers of Whiplash
Whiplash, also known as a neck sprain or neck strain, is an injury that affects the neck. This injury is often caused as the result of being involved in a car accident. When you’re in a car accident, it’s common to be subjected to abrupt backward and forward jerking motions of the head, neck and shoulders. Whiplash symptoms sometimes take a day or two after the initial trauma to kick in. Symptoms like neck pain, neck stiffness, headaches, shoulder pain, back pain, arm pain, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, irritability and fatigue are common.
In whiplash, the inter-vertebral joints, discs, ligaments, cervical muscles and nerve roots may be damaged, usually after enduring heavy trauma. Usually, whiplash is not something that can be detected by getting a simple X-ray. The soft tissues (discs, muscles and ligaments) can’t even be seen on an X-ray, so to diagnose whiplash one must undergo special imaging tests like a CT scan or an MRI.
In order to treat whiplash, it’s suggested that you ice the area for the first 24 hours and then after that, introduce gentle but active movement to that area of the body. Since there are no actual treatments that have been scientifically proven to cure whiplash, doctors recommend the use of pain killers like Advil and Tylenol. It’s also suggested that those with whiplash seek physical therapy. It’s important to not shock the muscle but instead introduce it slowly to active movement again. Massaging, applying heat or ice, injections, and ultrasounds have been known to be successful as other forms of treatment.
Although there’s no way to actually prevent whiplash, many automobile safety advances have been made in an effort to help reduce the risks. Advances in seat belts and head restraints have been said to reduce the risk of whiplash but proper use of those advances is vital. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident in Detroit or any other city in Michigan, make sure you call Motor City Accident Attorneys. Motor City Accident Attorneys know how stressful it can be and want to help you by standing up for your rights and getting you the compensation you deserve.
