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You’ll often hear people joke about having whiplash because they turned their head too quickly to see something, or were startled by someone walking up behind them and shook their head in a wild fashion. True whiplash, however, is not something to be taken lightly. Whiplash injuries, a type of soft tissue injury, are often the result of a strain, sprain or bruise to a tendon, ligament or muscle. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, approximately 80% of insurance claims following motor vehicle accidents result from soft tissue injuries. The Definition and Symptoms of Whiplash The term “whiplash” is defined, specifically, as an injury to the neck resulting from the head being suddenly thrust forward and snapped back, or from side to side, similar to the cracking of a whip. The resulting injury is referred to as whiplash. Typically, whiplash injuries resulting from a motor vehicle accident are not severe, but they can still result in temporary stiffness, tenderness or mild discomfort in the neck. In more severe cases of whiplash, the discs and nerves in the neck can also be damaged. If not treated properly, the damage can become permanent. The most common symptoms of whiplash include: • neck, shoulder or low back pain
• neck stiffness
• dizziness
• pain or numbness in the arm and/or hand
• ringing in the ears
• blurred vision
• difficulty with concentration
• difficulty with memory
• irritability
• sleeplessness
• tiredness Since these symptoms can also be related to a variety of other ailments, it is strongly recommended that you see a physician as soon after being involved in an automobile accident. In addition to a thorough exam, you can expect the your physician will likely request a CAT (computed tomography) scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to help determine the severity of your injury. Whiplash Injury Treatment Options If you are diagnosed with a whiplash injury, treatment can vary based on your specific needs. Treatment options may include: • applying ice to the injured area for the first 24 hours
• gentle but active movement after the initial 24 hours
• anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce the swelling in the injured area
• muscle relaxing medications to relieve the tension in the injured area
• wearing a cervical collar to help hold the head and neck as motionless as possible
• physical therapy If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a whiplash injury as the result of an automobile accident in Vancouver or anywhere in British Columbia, please contact Stephens and Holman Personal Injury Lawyers.
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