Self Help
Back and Neck Problems
How You Can Deal With a Whiplash Injury
A Summary of the medical evidence
Although many people get pain after whiplash injuries permanent damage rare and the long term outlook is good. Whiplash injuries often give rise to neck pain, however low back pain, headaches, shoulder and arm pain are common. The acute pain may come on a day or two after the injury but usually starts improving within a few days or weeks. Even if the pain takes three months to go away it is unlikely to give long term problems. You may get recurrences of your neck pain, however these will usually settle down.
What you do in the early stages after the whiplash injury is important. Rest for more than a day or two usually does not help and may even prolong the pain and disability. The people who cope best with whiplash are those who stay active, exercise their neck and get on with life despite the pain.
You may get shooting pains or tingling in the arms, however minor nerve irritation usually tends to settle down. MRI Scans and X-rays rarely show any changes caused by the injury.
If you have had a violent accident and have any of the symptoms listed below you should see a doctor. These would include
- blurred vision
- severe muscle spasm (with an abnormal neck posture)
- and needles
- or weakness of the arms or legs
- difficulty with balancing or walking
- if you have been unconscious
So what should you do?
Stay as active as possible and gradually build up your activity levels. This can be as simple as increasing your daily activity and doing some simple neck and shoulder stretching exercises. However increasing your activities further and staying fit is often helpful. You may try regular brisk walking, starting some ‘keep fit’ exercises or going to the gym.
It is reasonable to try and control the pain with painkillers or anti—inflammatory drugs. Remember that anti—inflammatory drugs may give indigestion and asthma and should not be used in pregnancy.
Collars can give support for a day or two but should not be used for a longer period of time as they can delay recovery.
Some treatments can be of use to control pain. These include manipulation, mobilisation, acupuncture or massage. Everyone responds slightly differently to treatment so it’s up to you to find out what is of help for you. What really matters is whether it helps you get mobile and active as soon as possible.
You can get advice about neck and shoulder exercises from your doctor or any competent physical therapist. The exercises usually involve moving the neck forward, backwards, sideways and looking round as well as moving the shoulder girdle and arms.
Stress can aggravate or prolong pain. If stress is a problem you need to recognise it at an early stage and try and do something about it. You cannot always avoid stress,however simple relaxation techniques may be of use. For some people exercise is a good way to reduce stress and tension.
There is a risk of having a chronic pain problem after whiplash injuries. What surprises a lot of people. is that the likelihood of this happening is dependant on our own feelings about the pain rather than any “positive medical findings. The risks of having a chronic pain problem increase if you
- believe you have a serious injury
- believe you will become disabled
- somebody will fix it
- continue to rest
- avoid movements or activity due to fear of doing damage
- become withdrawn and depressed
The idea is to strike a balance between being active and not putting too much strain on the neck. The basic rules are simple.
- keep moving
- not stay in one position or do anything for too long
- about before you stiffen up
- do a little more every day (or week)
- don’t completely avoid doing things just alter the way you do them
If you don’t manage to get back to most normal activities quite quickly you should seek additional help.
However ultimately you have to get on with your own life. Don’t let a whiplash injury take over.
Source: The Whiplash Book HMSO £2.50 ISBN 0—ll—702029—X