Over 3-million people a year suffer a whiplash injury, often from auto accidents, and these injuries can be severe and painful.
If your vehicle is rear-ended in a car crash, your head can snap back suddenly, then thrust forward. This jerking neck motion can hyperextend the neck, causing injuries in the region’s ligaments and muscles.
A study from Japan performed an anatomical analysis of the human neck under a whiplash motion and found that the forces involved in even a mild collision can stretch the ligaments and reduce their ability to stabilize the spine.
Weakened ligaments can result in permanent disability and chronic pain, as the spine can lose its stability and integrity.
VIOLENT MOTION OF A CAR CRASH CAN DRAMATICALLY IMPACT YOUR NECK
The neck is a powerful yet delicate region of our physiques.
The bones of your neck are held together with bands of tissue called ligaments. The ligaments keep your spine stable and protect spinal nerves. A car crash can expose your neck to rapid, violent motions that may strain or tear the ligaments.
The top part of your spine is called the cervical spine, which has seven bones that combine with those ligaments and muscles to form protection for the spinal cord. The cervical spine performs many other functions, such as supporting the head and helping you move it side to side and up or down.
WHIPLASH SYMPTOMS CAN BE SEVERE
If you suffer a whiplash injury, your capacity to move your neck and head may be severely compromised, and you may suffer extreme pain.
Whiplash symptoms can include a stiff and painful neck, headaches, numbness, dizziness, and back and shoulder pain. Some patients also report issues with memory, sleeping, depression or anxiety.
GET TREATMENT EARLY AND YOUR DOCTOR WILL CHECK FOR RELATED INJURIES
If you are injured in a crash, it’s essential to get treatment right away to prevent worsening conditions. Injuries that cause whiplash can also impact other parts of your head and body.
Your pain doctor will assess whether you suffered other related conditions, such as head injuries and concussions, loss of coordination, and pain in your extremities.
At Tri County Pain Management Centers, we have a team of doctors who specialize in treating painful injuries, including a neurologist skilled in diagnosing head injuries. We can determine your injury’s nature and develop a treatment plan that will get you on the road to recovery.
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