Do I Have Whiplash?

Have you had a car accident?

Did you slip or fall (falls in which the head violently jerks backward)?

Do you have a neck pain?

Does the pain get worse when you move your neck?

Do you have neck stiffness and difficulty moving your head?

Do you have headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull?

Do you have pain and muscle spasms (cramps) in the shoulders, upper back or arms?

Do you have tingling, weakness, or numbness radiating down the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers?

Do you feel fatigued?

Do you have dizziness, ringing in your ears or blurred vision?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have whiplash. Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a severe jerk to the head. It is usually caused by traffic accidents (rear-end collisions), sports accidents, falls and other types of trauma. This injury occurs when a person’s head moves backwards abruptly and forcefully, and then suddenly moves forward. This strong jerk of the head can injure the bones of the spine, as well as the tissues of the neck, including muscles, ligaments and nerves. More than 3 million new whiplash cases occur each year. It is five times more common in women than in men.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have whiplash. Whiplash is a specific type of neck injury which occurs due to a vigorous bending of your neck backward, and then forward or vice versa. Most people experience symptoms within 24 hours to a few days after the injury. You may feel a neck pain and have a swollen neck, as well as a limited range of motion. People who have a pre-existing medical condition such as arthritis may have more severe symptoms. The symptoms usually go away within a few weeks. A diagnosis is based on a physical examination and imaging tests.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have whiplash. Whiplash is a neck injury, which is caused by a sudden forced movement of your head backward and then forward. It is often the result of collisions and injuries in contact sports. This type of injury puts a lot of stress on your cervical spine and about 50 percent of people with whiplash will develop some degree of chronic neck pain. The treatment includes medication and physical therapy. The goal of treatment is to control the pain and restore the normal range of motion of your neck.