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Conditions
Whiplash injury

Whiplash injury

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Applied to the neck or cervical region that overcomes the strength of the neck's structures resulting in damage to those structures ranging from muscles, ligaments, joints, discs, bones or nerve tissue. Most typical injuries just involve the soft tissues & the force is applied usually from behind as in a rear end collision from a car accident.

Dr. Thomas Dowling reviewed this

42 year experience in Orthopedic Spine Surgery

Is a type of:

Neck injury

How long it usually lasts:

Short-term (lasts days to weeks)

How common it is:

Very common
Baby
0-2
Common
Preteen
6-13
Very common
Teenager
14-18
Very common
Young adult
19-40
Very common
Middle-aged adult
41-60
Very common

Body locations

Neck (back)

Symptoms

Muscle cramps or spasms
Neck pain
Muscle spasm
Back pain
Shoulder pain
Load more

Medications

Ratings show how effective doctors think these medications are at treating Whiplash injury
Antiinflammatory
Pain medicine
NSAIDs
Muscle relaxants
Ibuprofen
Load more

Medical devices

Aspen collar

Other treatments

Physical therapy
Warm compresses
Cool compresses

Related questions

A 36-year old asked:

I suffered a whiplash injury? What can I do?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

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What is the definition or description of: whiplash injury?

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I believe I have whiplash injury, does this need to be treated?

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Could a motorcyclist get a whiplash injury or would he just fall of the bike?

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Can I get pt for a whiplash injury?

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Could pituitary problems be caused by a whiplash injury?

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Neck swelling from whiplash injury?

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What doctor do I see if I suffered a whiplash injury?

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A 60-year old female asked:

Can tinnitus occur as a result of a "whiplash" injury resulting from a car accident?

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A 37-year old female asked:

I have; Anterior Osteophytes, felt in middle of front neck. Had a whiplash injury 14yrs ago Will it get worse? (no symptoms as such). exercises help?

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A 28-year old female asked:

I have a whiplash injury to my neck & shoulder from an accident 2.5 weeks ago, i forgot to ask my physio if I should attend gym & what I should avoid?

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A 42-year old female asked:

Could whiplash injury cause calcium deposits at c1-c2?

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A 61-year old male asked:

How can a whiplash injury to the neck cause balance, dizziness and gait problems? Can it be due to a slipped, herniated or bulged disc(s)?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 37-year old female asked:

Can a whiplash injury make you prone to migraines? After this injury i'm now super sensitive to headaches as a side effect of various meds.

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 30-year old female asked:

If whiplash injury and muscle spasms did not heal properly, who can I see to be fully evaluated and can things still be repaired if injuries occurred ?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 34-year old asked:

What do you advise if I'm currently suffering from a whiplash injury, should I feel pain directly on my neck bones?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 45-year old asked:

Is it possible to get wrist tendonitis from a whiplash injury even though i didn't hit my wrist on anything at all in the accident?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 23-year old female asked:

Hi, I had a whiplash injury. Although its gotten better, my head, jaw, neck, and back still badly hurts. Head feels heavy. What to do? Help!

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 61-year old female asked:

What are some treatments for migraines caused by cervical degeneration from old whiplash injuries that are "not bad enough for neurosurgery?"

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 16-year old male asked:

Can massaging a whiplash injury cause more irritation and numbness?I'm experiencing numbness in back of neck and arm worse after a"nonprofessionalone.

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 19-year old male asked:

19days back i had whiplash injury, my neurosurgeon examined says no problem. only neck pain.NOW my head is SHAKING ABIT when turning left and right.

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 36-year old asked:

Can't bend my fingers, is it possible to get wrist tendonitis from a whiplash injury even though i didn't hit my wrist on anything at all in the accident?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 29-year old male asked:

Can a whiplash injury cause mild cognitive attention/eye focusing problems?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 49-year old female asked:

Chronic whiplash injury and luq has malfunctioned. Brachial plexus triggers nerve symptoms but nerves not injured. Starting rehab. Healing possible?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 16-year old male asked:

Feel like there's a ball pushing on the right side of my throat. It's on the opposite side as my whiplash injury..... Is it whiplash or somethingelse?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 51-year old male asked:

My neck shoulder and left arm are very sore 12 months after whiplash injury but doctors can't find the problem. What could it be very debilitating.

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 19-year old male asked:

Dear Doctor,20days back I had whiplash injury,my neurosurgeon examined me, but now I hear VERY SLIGHT SOUND ONLY SOMETIMES when moving my head up&down?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A female asked:

Can a whiplash injury cause bone edema? I am being sent for an MRI following spinal x-ray, and am a little concerned. Whiplash injury 2 months ago, X-ray showed swelling and damage as well as bone oedema?

2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

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