Can whiplash be serious?

Whiplash occurs when an accident whips the head and neck abruptly back and forth, damaging the soft tissues of the neck. Whiplash can be an incredibly serious injury with symptoms such as chronic pain and immobility.

How long does whiplash take to heal?

Most people who have whiplash feel better within a few weeks and don’t seem to have any lasting effects from the injury. However, some people continue to have pain for several months or years after the injury occurred. It is difficult to predict how each person with whiplash may recover.

Can whiplash heal on its own?

Here’s the good news: given time, whiplash should heal on its own. To help with recovery, you should: Ice your neck to reduce pain and swelling as soon as you can after the injury. Do it for 15 minutes every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days.

What does whiplash look like on MRI?

While whiplash does not have a definitive appearance in MRIs, they are useful for diagnosis. First, MRIs can rule out things like fractures, slipped discs, or other severe injuries that may cause pain, allowing doctors to determine whiplash as the primary injury to treat.

Does whiplash show up on MRI?

What will doctors do for whiplash?

Ease Your Pain with Whiplash Treatments A soft neck collar that supports your head can help relieve pressure and promote healing. Physical therapy and range-of-motion exercises can help improve your neck move with discomfort and promote healing. Your doctor may also prescribe muscle relaxants for more severe cases.

Which part of spine is affected in whiplash injury?

Whiplash occurs when the neck and head are suddenly forced backward and then forward, putting the cervical spine through lightning-quick motions and extreme stresses. Most cases of whiplash are caused by car accidents where the person has been rear-ended.

How long does neck whiplash last?

Whiplash symptoms such as neck pain and stiffness usually start improving a few days to one week after you get hurt. Most people fully recover within a month. Check in with your doctor if pain or other symptoms that are long-lasting after an injury or causing you any concern.

What does a doctor do for whiplash?

Physical therapy and range-of-motion exercises can help improve your neck move with discomfort and promote healing. Your doctor may also prescribe muscle relaxants for more severe cases. You can protect your neck and help prevent whiplash during a car accident by: Putting your seat upright.