If you're concerned that you may have whiplash, it's wise to learn about the warning signs. Each year millions of Americans are diagnosed with whiplash, which causes neck pain and stiffness, among other symptoms.
Auto accidents are a common cause of whiplash. Even minor fender benders can cause your head to forcefully snap forward and backward, resulting in whiplash. Car accident specialist Robert Mitchell, MD, has the experience and expertise necessary to quickly and accurately diagnose your neck pain.
At Tulsa Accident Care Center, our team can help you get the care you need. Our state-of-the-art facility has on-site imaging equipment to help us perform a comprehensive evaluation. We provide a quick diagnosis so you can start your recovery.
Throughout each step of the process, our experienced professionals ensure that you receive top-quality accident care. Here's what to know about the six most common symptoms of whiplash.
Neck pain is one of the primary symptoms of whiplash, and the pain is typically felt at the back part of the neck. That pain may radiate to other areas, and it may come and go or persistently ache. With whiplash, the pain typically worsens with movement.
Immediately after an auto accident, you may not feel any pain. This is because the body releases stress-related chemicals, such as adrenaline and cortisol, to help the body cope with stressful events.
You may be tempted to think that everything is fine, but it's important to pay attention to any symptoms that crop up. If you start to experience pain in your neck following a car crash, it's important to seek medical evaluation right away.
Stiffness can appear following an auto accident, especially after rear-end collisions. We can quickly diagnose whiplash using a CT scan or MRI. It's typical for patients with whiplash to have trouble turning their necks from side to side. Listen to your body if you're having neck stiffness to avoid making the injury worse. It’s wise to see a doctor immediately.
In addition to neck pain, whiplash can cause your upper back and shoulders to feel sore. This can happen because the forceful snapping motion of your head can injure, irritate, and inflame the muscles around your spine. The upper back and shoulder muscles may feel tight and ache persistently.
Because whiplash occurs when the head snaps forward and backwards quickly and forcefully, it’s common to experience headaches. The type of headaches associated with whiplash tend to cause pain near the forehead, and can cause you to feel dizzy and unwell.
Physical symptoms aren't the only warning signs to look out for. Whiplash can cause you to feel tired without an obvious cause. You may also notice fatigue upon waking up in the morning and find that your fatigue isn’t relieved by a good night's sleep. Lack of energy and poor sleep from whiplash can lead to memory or concentration problems.
Eye movements are closely related to brain function. With enough force, the brain can collide with the skull as a result of the forceful snapping motion of the head and neck, causing a concussion along with whiplash. These symptoms may not appear for several days after an auto accident. Any changes in vision, including blurred vision, require immediate attention.
If left untreated, whiplash can cause serious health issues to arise. If you sustained a neck injury in an auto accident, our team can get you the care you need to recover and get back to life. To get started, call 918-888-8080 to schedule a visit with Dr. Mitchell.
