Generally, whiplash is referred to as an injury in the cervical spine. This injury can be caused by the hyperextension of the head or by sudden strong bending. Only muscles and connective tissues are affected.
What is whiplash injury?
A cervical collar or cervical brace is made of plastic or foam. It is used to relieve pressure on the cervical structures when the cervical spine is injured. In most cases, whiplash is caused by an accident. Sports injuries or rear-end collisions are examples of a typical accident sequence in which the cervical spine is abruptly severely flexed and hyperextended. From a medical perspective, whiplash is harmless in many cases. However, whiplash can lead to temporary swelling or inflammation of the tissue as a result of the short-term strong stress, which is often very painful for the person affected. In many cases, the symptoms subside after a few days, depending on the severity of the whiplash injury. However, the psychological component can also influence the course. This depends on how the affected person deals with the injury and the possibly frightening situation. Depending on this, the symptoms can vary in severity. To what extent psychological and physical factors play a role is still controversial.
Causes
The most common cause of whiplash is a car accident. In a rear-end collision, the head is thrown forward or backward and the cervical spine is forcibly flexed and hyperextended. This trauma is immediately followed by a second trauma in the opposite direction. But other causes may also be involved. Sports such as diving, karate, boxing, wrestling or judo, for example, carry an increased risk. Not to be forgotten are also the so-called amusement accidents, for example when riding bumper cars or roller coasters.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
The complaints after a whiplash injury depend on how strong the impact was. The first symptoms are headache and limited range of motion of the cervical spine and head. This can occur immediately after the triggering event, but also after a few hours. Typically, the symptoms increase in intensity, which is called crescendo symptoms. In individual cases, the pain and restrictions may not become apparent until days after the accident. The unaccustomed head position causes muscle tension, which can lead to a stiff neck. Sometimes the pain radiates to the shoulders, back or jaw. The mouth area feels cramped and difficulty swallowing is possible. Furthermore, additional complaints such as nausea and dizziness may occur. Some patients complain of ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and visual disturbances. Sweating, concentration disorders, depressive moods and sleep disturbances also occur after a whiplash injury. Symptoms peak after about one to three days and usually improve thereafter. In rare cases, complications can occur if, for example, nerves or the spinal cord have been injured. Unconsciousness, sensory disturbances, paralysis or memory loss may then occur. Damage to the brain or fractures to the spine can occur if the force is severe.
Diagnosis and course of the disease
Depending on its severity, whiplash can cause a variety of symptoms, such as neck pain, headaches, or muscle tension in the neck. Among these, restricted movement of the head is one of the first signs. They can occur immediately after the accident or with a delay of one to two days. Often, the pain increases in severity. Often, no medical reasons can be found for this. Fine injuries in the tissue with inflammation are just as conceivable as muscle tension in the area of the cervical spine. Further complaints can occur in the form of depressive moods, dizziness, nausea, visual disturbances, tremors, ear noises or difficulty swallowing. However, these are rarely experienced.
When should you see a doctor?
If a whiplash injury was present, a doctor should be consulted in any case. No matter how this trauma occurred. It is important to rule out internal injuries as soon as possible.If the affected person complains of severe headaches and a feeling of dizziness, no time should be lost. In the event of whiplash, it is essential to consult a specialist. Without medical clarification, painful and dangerous late consequences can occur. Even slight headaches or other symptoms should always be clarified by a brief check by a specialist. Many sufferers downplay whiplash and in some cases even risk their lives.
Treatment and therapy
Essentially, the diagnosis of whiplash is based on the history of the accident as well as the symptoms described and a physical examination. X-rays of the cervical spine also allow the physician to rule out bony involvement of the cervical vertebrae. For diagnoses of more severe soft tissue or bone injuries, the physician sometimes uses computed tomography as well as magnetic resonance imaging. However, this is not part of the routine for whiplash. If the symptoms are delayed and in the case of acute unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting and memory loss, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Through the previously mentioned procedures, a skull or brain injury can thus be proven or ruled out. From person to person, the course of whiplash varies. Mild whiplash may resolve in a few days, even without treatment. Treatment for whiplash depends on the extent of the injury. If it is a strain without serious findings, the therapy is symptomatic, this means alleviating the discomfort. If the affected person wears a neck brace for a long time or takes too much rest, this can delay healing. For this reason, doctors recommend resuming everyday activities after a short period of rest in the case of mild whiplash. The healing process can still be supported with physiotherapeutic neck exercises. If the symptoms are more severe and last longer, physiotherapy treatment can also help. Furthermore, in the case of permanent tension, heat applications as well as acupuncture can be pain-relieving in some cases. Wearing a neck brace is only an option if more serious soft tissue strains have resulted from the whiplash injury. The area is immobilized for an extended period of time for fractures of the cervical spine and may also require surgery.
Aftercare
Aftercare for whiplash depends on the nature of the injuries as well as associated sequelae. It is not possible to make general statements about aftercare in this case because the effects of whiplash can vary widely. Anything from spontaneous healing after the accident to chronic pain is conceivable. Insofar as the symptoms have subsided as a result of the whiplash injury, it is appropriate to check the mobility of the neck and head as aftercare. In this way, any tension or tissue damage can be detected. If functionality has been fully restored, no further measures are necessary. This is different in long-lasting and chronic cases. Here, exercise therapy is suitable as aftercare. Regular massages and any relaxation techniques can be used against persistent pain. In severe cases, administration of painkillers at regular intervals is conceivable. It has been shown that the patient’s attitude regarding whiplash contributes significantly to its chronicity. Where fears are stoked and the injury is excessively glorified as a medical catastrophe, the healing process slackens. Conversely, chronic (and therefore requiring follow-up care) cases are almost unknown in some areas. These are those countries where neither extensive treatment nor financial compensation are known to be available in the event of whiplash.
What you can do yourself
After a whiplash injury, sufferers can relieve their pain and tension themselves. For this purpose, for example, cooling the respective areas are ideal. Moist towels or quark compresses are equally suitable. Other patients, on the other hand, find heat pain-relieving. Thick clothing or wraps provide muscle relaxation. Which temperature ultimately helps is something everyone has to find out for themselves. In addition, rest is advisable, but should not be exaggerated. A back-ergonomic posture is indicated in leisure time and at work. For this, chairs and tables should be adapted to the body size.Under no circumstances should you adopt a protective posture that causes posture problems in the long term. The neck area in particular is often affected. You can integrate a short pressure point treatment into your daily routine, for example, which initially makes the muscles feel uncomfortable and then provides relief. For example, the tense muscles can recover if a patient lies flat on the floor and places a tennis ball under the neck. In addition, building muscles at the gym also reduces the effects of whiplash. However, a physician should approve this self-help measure beforehand.
