Tinnitus | Whiplash

Tinnitus

In some cases, whiplash injuries can also lead to tinnitus, i.e. noises in the ear with no external cause for the sound. The causes are irritation of the muscles and nerves directly involved in hearing or located in the immediate vicinity. Tinnitus can also become chronic after whiplash and can occur repeatedly over years.

Therefore an early detection and treatment of the symptoms is important. For this purpose, certain infusions are used in particular, which ensure better blood circulation in the inner ear. You will find detailed information in our main article: Tinnitus

Treatment

There are several treatment options for whiplash injuries. The therapy is usually conservative, so there is usually no need for surgery. Depending on the symptoms and their severity, different treatments are in the foreground.

If the whiplash injury causes pain in the neck area, different painkillers can be taken. These include common medications such as ibuprofen or diclofenac.If the pain is prolonged, a doctor may administer a local anaesthetic or muscle relaxant (a substance that relaxes the muscles). This is done by means of a syringe in the immediate vicinity of the painful area.

Heat treatments and massages can be helpful to strengthen the overstrained muscles again and reduce tension. Depending on the symptoms, electrotherapy, in which the damaged nerves are activated via the skin, or psychotherapy for longer lasting emotional stress can also be considered. The mobility of joints and strengthening of muscles can be supported by physiotherapy.

This is also important to avoid long-term damage and should always be part of the treatment, depending on the symptoms. You can find more detailed information at: Treatment of a whiplash injury Physiotherapy is an important part of the treatment of a whiplash injury as it can prevent long-term damage to the muscles and joints. This includes the massage of the musculature tensed up by the whiplash injury and the specific treatment of the so-called trigger points, from which the strongest pain in the affected area emanates.

In addition, the movement of the joints of the cervical spine is promoted by exercises, which can be performed at home in addition to the physiotherapy and in consultation with the therapist. In order to avoid possible damage caused by starting physiotherapy too early, the therapy should always be carried out in consultation with the treating physician. There are various exercises that can help to strengthen the muscles of the shoulders and neck after a whiplash injury.

On the one hand stretching the muscles to improve mobility and on the other hand strengthening the muscles is important. The exercises can also be instructed by physiotherapists or practiced in a gym with a trainer. One possible exercise is, for example, folding the hands into each other behind the back with arms stretched out.

For many people who suffer from whiplash, a treatment with heat has a relaxing and pain-relieving effect. A heat pad, which can be heated in hot water or the microwave and then placed in the neck, is a simple and effective way of heat treatment. The increased temperature increases the blood circulation in the area of application, which helps the muscles to be better supplied and to relax. In addition, the soothing effect of the heat on the whole body is also beneficial.