Soft Tissue Injuries
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash — also called a hyperextension/hyperflexion injury, acceleration/deceleration injury and cervical sprain/strain — is an injury that occurs most often to drivers and passengers involved in rear-end-collision automobile accidents, when the force from the impact causes their heads to snap violently backward and/or forward. The crash does not need to happen at high speed; even at low speed, the unexpected motion can cause injury to muscles, tendons, nerves and vertebrae in the neck. Symptoms may appear immediately or after several days have passed. After seeking medical attention for your injury, contact an attorney from Brodie & Friedman, P.A. in Boca Raton, FL, to discuss your next steps.
Causes of Whiplash
While whiplash injuries most often result from car accidents, they can occur any time a sudden, forceful backward and/or forward "whipping" movement occurs in the neck area. Slips, falls, blows from an assault and injuries suffered through participation in sports are some of the ways the neck can be injured.
Whiplash is an injury that is not always recognized immediately. If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, for instance, your natural physiological responses and the "heat of the moment" may not allow you to relax. In addition, symptoms just take time to develop in some cases. Whether it is right away or days after the accident, you could experience:
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty swallowing
Treatment for Whiplash
If you are suffering from a whiplash injury, you will most likely see a medical specialist for treatment. You may be referred to an orthopedist, physical therapist, neurologist or chiropractor. Treatment from such medical specialists can include immobilization of the neck with a brace or cervical collar, cervical traction, range-of-motion exercises and physical therapy, medications and massage therapy. In severe cases of whiplash, where damage is extensive, surgery may be necessary. Because the pain of whiplash can cause stress and anxiety, you may also wish to seek the help of a counselor who can help you deal with these effects.
In some cases, recovery from whiplash injuries can take as little as two or three weeks and, in most instances, the neck heals within three months. More serious cases can last for a year or more, and in rare situations severe whiplash results in long-term chronic pain.
Consult an Attorney
Whiplash may seem to be a minor injury at first, especially due to the lack of visible symptoms. If left undiagnosed and untreated, however, whiplash can lead to more serious pain. If you have been involved in an automobile accident or other incident that caused a whiplash injury, it is crucial that you obtain medical attention. Then seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney from Brodie & Friedman, P.A. in Boca Raton, FL, to protect your legal options.
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