In assessing the damage caused by car accidents, most Massachusetts residents probably do not take into account that they may have suffered whiplash. This pain may require car accident victims to undergo extensive treatments. In addition, those with severe whiplash disorders may not be able to work. The combination of these can result in a serious decline in the quality of life for these victims.
As explained by the Mayo Clinic, whiplash is a type of neck injury. It is often the result of rear-end car crashes. The usual recovery time for whiplash patients is a few months. However, some continue to have persistent neck pain for much longer than this.
According to the North American Spine Society, whiplash and its related conditions may result in pain that persists for months or even years. This condition may produce a number of different symptoms. These include the following:
- Spinal nerve compression – often leads to pain in the neck and arm.
- Strained muscles – may result as the body attempts to correct itself and protect damaged discs, joints or nerves
- Torn discs – if allowed to stay injured, these discs may become weaker, often leading to chronic neck pain
- Facet joint pain – a very common injury for car accident victims that, in many cases, will result in persistent neck pain
Diagnosing and treating whiplash-related conditions is no easy feat. Often, costly tests are involved, such as CT scans, MRI scans, and x-rays. Treatment options include prolonged immobilization, analgesics, extensive physical therapy and spinal injections.ca