Picture this: you’re suddenly thrown forward and backward in just a second, and your head snaps with force. This quick movement can happen during car crashes, sports accidents or falls. It may not seem serious at first, but it can harm the delicate parts of your neck. Many people don’t know what this injury is, how it affects them or what to do if they notice symptoms. Learning about whiplash—its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment—is an important step toward healing and avoiding future problems.
If you’re in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and experience whiplash, the neck and spine experts at Summit Orthopedics can help.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a common neck injury that happens when the head is suddenly thrown backward and then forward quickly. This fast motion can stretch and irritate the muscles, ligaments and other tissues in the neck, causing pain, stiffness and other symptoms. Whiplash is often linked to car accidents, especially when someone is hit from behind. But it can also happen during sports, falls or any sudden event that makes your head move fast.
Doctors also call whiplash “cervical strain” or “neck sprain.” These names describe injuries where the soft tissues in the neck are overstretched or torn. Even though whiplash might seem like a small injury, it can sometimes cause long-lasting pain if it’s not treated correctly.
The neck is a complex structure made up of bones (vertebrae), muscles, ligaments, discs, nerves and other tissues. When a sudden force causes rapid movement, it can hurt any of these parts:
- Discs and nerves: The cushioning discs between vertebrae may be injured, and nerves might become compressed, leading to neurological symptoms.
- Muscles and ligaments: These soft tissues may become overstretched or torn, resulting in pain, swelling and muscle spasms.
- Vertebrae and joints: The bones and joints in the neck may be displaced or strained.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash symptoms can be different for everyone, depending on how bad the injury is and what parts of the neck are hurt. Some people may feel only mild discomfort, while others may have serious pain. Common symptoms include:
- Decreased range of motion: Difficulty in moving the neck easily, which can interfere with daily activities.
- Dizziness or vertigo: You may feel lightheaded or unsteady.
- Fatigue: Your pain can lead to being tired and not having enough energy.
- Headaches: You may have headache pain at the base of your skull.
- Muscle spasms: You could have uncontrolled muscle contractions in your neck and shoulder areas.
- Neck pain: The main symptom is dull, aching or sharp pain that usually gets worse with movement or certain positions.
- Numbness, tingling or weakness: These symptoms may means that your nerves are involved.
- Stiffness: Your neck isn’t as flexible and you have a hard time turning or tilting your head.
In some cases, symptoms may not appear immediately after injury. They may develop over the next few hours or days. Recognizing these early symptoms is important, because you can seek medical attention and possibly prevent long-term issues.
Causes and Risk Factors
Whiplash injuries most often result from sudden, forceful impacts. Common causes include:
- Falls: Falling onto the head or neck can injure the neck.
- Motor vehicle collisions: Rear-end car crashes are the leading cause. In most cases, the sudden stop causes the head to whip backward and forward.
- Physical assaults: Getting punched in the head or neck during a fight can cause injury.
- Sports injuries: Contact sports or getting hit during a sport can cause similar neck trauma.
Certain factors may increase the risk of severe or prolonged whiplash, such as:
- Age: Older adults often have less flexible tissues and slower healing.
- Muscle weakness: Weaker muscles provide less support, and this increases the injury risk.
- Pre-existing neck conditions: Degenerative disc disease can worsen outcomes.
Diagnosing Whiplash
Doctors diagnose whiplash by carefully checking their symptoms and medical history. Usually, a spine specialist or orthopedic doctor does this. Here’s what they commonly do:
- Physical examination: The doctor checks how your neck moves, looks at muscle strength, test reflexes and checks if nerves were hurt.
- Medical history: The doctor will ask about how the injury happened, what symptoms you have, your past injuries and your overall health.
- Imaging tests: Pictures like X-rays, MRIs and CT scans might be taken, but usually only if they’re needed to make sure there are no broken bones, disc problems or other serious injuries.
Most of the time, doctors can diagnose whiplash just by looking at symptoms and doing a physical exam. They may use imaging studies to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other problems.
Nonsurgical Treatment Options for Whiplash
Most cases of whiplash get better with simple, nonsurgical treatments that help reduce pain and help you heal. Treatments may include:
Rest and Self-Care
When you get hurt, resting for a short time can help lessen swelling. Using ice packs during the first two days can also help reduce swelling and pain. It’s important to be careful with activities and how you move to avoid making things worse.
Medications
- Muscle relaxers: These medicines can help with muscle spasms.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS): Ibuprofen and naproxen can help reduce pain and swelling.
- Pain relievers: Acetaminophen can help manage pain.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a custom plan to help improve movement, strength and flexibility. It includes exercises like stretching, strengthening and hands-on treatments. Therapies like heat, ultrasound or electrical stimulation may also be used to help the body heal.
Alternative Therapies
Treatments like biofeedback and relaxation techniques can help with pain and muscle tension. Chiropractic care, massage therapy and acupuncture might also help ease symptoms.
When Is Surgery Needed?
Surgery for whiplash is very rare. It is only used for serious problems, like pinched nerves, slipped discs or torn ligaments that don’t get better with regular treatments. If surgery is needed, the doctor might suggest procedures like:
- Discectomy: Removing a damaged disc to take pressure off the nerves.
- Spinal stabilization: Making the spine more stable and fixing problems like slipped or damaged discs caused by whiplash.
These surgeries are used to fix big issues and help when other treatments haven’t worked.
Whiplash Care at Summit Orthopedics
Summit Orthopedics surgeons are available at nearly 30 convenient locations across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our state-of-the-art, comprehensive orthopedic centers offer same-day appointments from a team of experts who offer the full scope of orthopedic care, including for whiplash.
Find your Summit Orthopedics spine expert, request an appointment or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.
