Whiplash is so commonly associated with car accidents that you may not think of it as a serious injury, but the truth is whiplash can vary in severity. Especially when it’s untreated, whiplash can cause serious damage and even lead to chronic conditions. If you’ve suffered from whiplash, you know that it’s something you want relief from quickly, as it can be both painful and a nuisance. How long this process takes will depend heavily on the extent of your injuries and seeking proper whiplash treatment.
How Whiplash Starts
The term whiplash actually refers to a movement that happens during a traumatic impact, typically a sports injury, fall, or car accident. In these events, the head is jolted forward and then snaps backwards almost immediately- likened to the cracking of a whip. This sudden movement stretches tissues in the neck beyond their normal capabilities, damaging the tendons and ligaments or even tearing them. This is especially common in a car accident because the body is held still by a seatbelt, placing the main force on the head and neck. If your head is turned during the collision, it may be worse.
While this injury occurs immediately upon impact, it’s very common to not experience symptoms for hours or days after the event. The adrenaline from your accident can stop your body from noticing pain, allowing the damage to worsen over time. After any accident, you should seek whiplash treatment immediately to identify the problem early, or rule it out and diagnose any other injuries.
Once you are diagnosed with whiplash, a doctor will help you determine a full plan for recovery. Whiplash treatment is usually not invasive, focusing on a combination of home care, chiropractic adjustments, and physical therapy. The goal will be to regain range of motion in the neck and reduce pain by repairing the damaged tissues and spine. The severity of the original injury will influence how long these treatments continue.
Mild Whiplash
A minor car accident may result in whiplash that lasts for only a few days. Symptoms in these cases are usually mild as well, limited to slight pain in the neck or upper back. Even if you are starting to feel better, seeing a doctor is advised in order to rule out serious or related problems.
These cases can be addressed primarily through home remedies, primarily over-the-counter medication that includes anti-inflammatory properties like ibuprofen. This not only reduces pain, but also reduces swelling, allowing faster healing. Rest is also important, though the neck shouldn’t be immobilized. Gentle stretches and paying attention to your posture can go a long way and symptoms can usually resolve in a few weeks.
Moderate to Severe Whiplash
When whiplash is more serious, it may include tears to the tissues in the neck or other damage. This usually leads to related symptoms beyond pain and stiffness, such as headaches, blurred vision, mood or sleep disturbances, or loss of mobility in the upper spine. Managing these symptoms will be a part of whiplash treatment, but further intervention is typically needed.
Chiropractic adjustments will be recommended to help align the spine, promote healing, and relieve pain. This approach does not focus on masking pain but rather healing the damage that occurred. Along with adjustments, you may work with a physical therapist to regain muscle strength and learn exercises that help your neck regain movement.
Most cases of whiplash in this category resolve fully within a few months.
Chronic Whiplash
When symptoms of whiplash last beyond six months, it can be known as chronic whiplash. This may simply last for longer periods of time or become a chronic, lifelong problem. In these cases, symptoms besides pain persist, leading to trouble sleeping or with vision long-term and chronic headaches.
Whiplash treatment after this time may necessitate stronger pain management techniques and ongoing physiotherapy, as well as a full evaluation of what is causing symptoms to persist. In very rare cases, more invasive treatments may be recommended.
Shorten Whiplash Recovery
The best thing you can do to ensure a full recovery from whiplash is to seek treatment as quickly as possible following your accident, even if you do not yet have symptoms. An early diagnosis will allow you to begin treatment immediately, before your injury has a chance to worsen. Once you’ve begun treatment, complying with doctor’s orders and avoiding re-damaging your tissues will be key.
