Whiplash: What to Do?

In whiplash, a sudden force on the cervical spine (C-spine) – for example, in a car accident – causes injuries to the neck area. As a result, symptoms such as neck pain and headaches may occur. In most cases, whiplash does not require any special treatment. Painkillers and muscle relaxants can be used to relieve the pain. It is important not to adopt a protective posture, otherwise long-term consequences are possible. Learn more about the causes, signs and treatment of whiplash here.

Whiplash: car accident as a common cause

In a whiplash injury, there is an injury in the area of the cervical spine (HWS). In most cases, the injuries are so-called soft tissue injuries. This means that primarily connective tissue and muscles are affected. In severe cases, however, joint injuries or bone fractures may also be involved. It is also possible that the ligaments of the cervical vertebrae are torn or pulled, that the intervertebral discs are affected or that blood vessels tear and bleeding into the tissue occurs. The cause of whiplash is sudden, severe bending and subsequent hyperextension of the cervical spine. Such an injury is typical for a rear-end collision with a car. However, whiplash can also occur during sports – especially martial arts. Likewise, such an injury can occur during recreational activities such as riding roller coasters or bumper cars. It is crucial that the force acting on the neck occurs unexpectedly, because a tense musculature would protect the neck from overstretching.

Signs of whiplash injury

A typical sign of whiplash is that there is a restriction of movement in the spine. This is often caused by severe tension in the muscles around the neck and throat. These tensions also cause neck pain and headaches to become noticeable. In most cases, the first symptoms appear immediately after the triggering event. In some cases, however, one to two days pass before the first symptoms are felt. In addition to headaches and neck pain, there may be other symptoms associated with whiplash. These include:

  • Sleep disturbances
  • Dizziness
  • Sweating
  • Visual disturbances
  • Tremors

Similarly, there may be pain in the mouth and difficulty swallowing. In some cases, depressive moods may also occur.

Make a diagnosis

For the attending physician, it is often relatively easy to make a diagnosis of whiplash. It is often sufficient for the patient to describe how the accident occurred and his or her complaints, and for the physician to perform a brief physical examination. In addition, imaging procedures such as an X-ray – or, less frequently, computer or magnetic resonance imaging (CT or MRI) – may be used. The latter examinations are performed only if a more severe soft tissue injury is suspected. In general, you should always consult a doctor if you suspect whiplash. This is especially the case if there is severe pain or delayed onset of symptoms. The same applies to signs such as nausea and vomiting, paralysis, unconsciousness and memory loss. If there is a suspicion that nerves may have been injured, a neurological examination is necessary. This may include checking reflexes and nerve conduction velocity or performing an electromyogram.

Whiplash injury: proper treatment is important

Conservative treatment is usually sufficient for whiplash, and surgical therapy is usually not necessary. It is important that those affected put as little strain on themselves as possible. However, the head and neck should not be excessively spared in the case of a mild whiplash injury, but should be kept mobile. So do not adopt a protective posture, but move carefully, but as normally as possible. In addition, therapy for whiplash may include various other measures:

Duration: How long sick?

How long it takes for a whiplash injury to heal always depends on the severity of the injury. Generally, whiplash heals completely on its own within a few days to a few weeks. If the injury is only minor, the affected person can usually resume everyday life immediately. If, on the other hand, there was already damage to the spine before the whiplash injury or if there is a serious injury, this can prolong the healing process.

Chronic course is possible

In rare cases, whiplash can take a chronic course. It is suspected that psychological causes also play an important role in this. In a chronic course, patients can develop a so-called pain memory. This means that the symptoms persist even when the actual cause has long since subsided. To prevent the development of a pain memory, it is important to treat pain as early as possible. Other causes of a chronic course include:

  • The spine was already damaged before the whiplash injury by, for example, osteoarthritis.
  • The affected person takes a gentle posture, through which the spine is loaded on one side and tension is promoted.

Whiplash: compensation for pain and suffering after rear-end collision.

If whiplash is caused by a car accident, the injured party may be able to sue the person responsible for the accident for damages for pain and suffering. The degree of injury is the deciding factor in determining the amount of pain and suffering damages. Generally, there are five different degrees of severity for whiplash:

  • Severity 0: There are no injuries.
  • Severity I: Mild discomfort such as neck pain or a feeling of stiffness is present.
  • Severity II: There are additional movement restrictions, pain in the area of the mouth and tingling in the arms.
  • Severity III: The functional capacity of the neck muscles is limited, there are malpositions, cracks, fractures or dislocations of the cervical spine.
  • Severity IV: Fractures in the cervical spine lead to paraplegia or take a fatal course.

In about 90 to 95 percent of all cases, a mild whiplash injury (severity 0-II) is present.