Understanding the symptoms of Whiplash

Whiplash refers to soft-tissue neck injury which occurs in case the head is pushed back and forth in a violent or rapid motion. Owing to this, the neck is stretched and the surrounding tendons, ligaments and muscles are damaged. This injury leads to a variety of symptoms which you must watch out for.

What are the early symptoms of Whiplash?

This is an injury which commonly occurs during road accidents. This usually happens when a car is shunted by another one, causing the passengers and driver to have their heads pushed back and forth. Owing to this whipping action, lot of damage is caused to the neck. However, the damage depends on various factors such as the victims’ age, force of impact, severity of injury and whether or not they are already having some underlying health issues. 

  

The whiplash symptoms might not be apparent immediately after the accident, as it would take time for the injury to materialize. However, when it does, the following symptoms are experienced:

·         Tiredness

·         Dizziness

·         Headaches

·         Back and shoulder pain

·         Painful and stiff neck

Often, the symptoms would worsen couple of days post the accident. Those who have had an extensive injury would suffer from:

·         Weakness in arms

·         Poor concentration

·         Memory loss

·         Visual disturbances

If you are suffering from any of these Whiplash symptoms, immediately contact a good doctor for advice. You can either take an appointment of your General Practitioner or contact the nearest Accident and Emergency department, if the symptoms are very severe. When medical intervention is sought, it would ensure that the appropriate course of treatment is being given.