If you were involved in a car accident, you most likely suffered a whiplash type injury. Multiple factors contribute to the severity of your injury as well as duration of care needed and the likelihood of permanent damage.
The scary thing is, often the pain doesn't start right away. Worst than that permanent damage is not that uncommon.
Often patients think that they have not been injured after a car accident. They might feel some stiffness maybe an ache or two. Then 2 weeks later you wake up and can barely move your neck, or you find you are have constant headaches, or worst. If you have closed your case, you are left paying the bill or worst, suffering with the problem for the rest of your life!
Whiplash Symptoms Can Include
- Neck pain and stiffness (often in the front of your neck too)
- Headaches, often at the base of the skull
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Ringing in the ears
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability
- Emotional upset- from fear, to crying to anger, unexpectedly
- Speech changes
- Difficulty Swallowing
- Memory problems
- Concussion
The first thing we will address is Types of collisions: ( It does not really matter if you were the driver or the passenger. Criteria does not consider loss
of consciousness, the use of seat belts, shoulder harnesses or other
factors).
Type I Primary rear impact (struck car moving or stationary) Type II Primary side impact Type III Primary frontal impact Other: Multiple Impacts, Rollover, Spinout etc.
Road conditions as well as the size of both cars is a contributing factor as well. Having played football in school, I can tell you, I would much rather get tackled by someone weighing 150lbs than someone that weighs 250lbs.
The first thing that your doctor needs to do is access the severity of your injury. There are 5 grades of severity of injury :
Grade I: Minimal; No limitations of motion or ligamenetous injury, No neurological findings Grade II: Slight; Limitations of motion no ligamenetous injury, no neurological findings
Grade III: Moderate; Limitations of motion; some ligamenetous injury, neurological findings may be present.
Grade IV: Mod/severe; Limitations of motion; ligamenetous instability; neurological findings present. Fracture or disc derangement
Grade V: Severe; requires surgical management/stabilization
Grade III: Moderate; Limitations of motion; some ligamenetous injury, neurological findings may be present.
Grade IV: Mod/severe; Limitations of motion; ligamenetous instability; neurological findings present. Fracture or disc derangement
Grade V: Severe; requires surgical management/stabilization
Typical Frequency and Duration of Care in Whiplash Injuries
5x/w 3x/w 2x/w 1x/w 1x/mos. TD TN
Grade I 1w 1-2w 2-3w <4w nbsp="" span="" w="">
Grade II 1w <4w mo.="" nbsp="" span="" w="">
Grade III 1-2w <10w mos.="" nbsp="" span="" w="">
Grade IV 2-3w <16w nbsp="" prn="" span="" w="">
Grade V Surgical stabilization necessary–chiropractic care post-surgical
Grade II 1w <4w mo.="" nbsp="" span="" w="">
Grade III 1-2w <10w mos.="" nbsp="" span="" w="">
Grade IV 2-3w <16w nbsp="" prn="" span="" w="">
Grade V Surgical stabilization necessary–chiropractic care post-surgical
Again often patients do not feel the severity of their injuries in the beginning or they think it will go away by itself. They do not get the care that they need, and close their case. Then years later, you wake up and can barely move your neck, or you find you are have constant headaches, or worst. If you have closed your case, you are left paying the bill or worst, suffering with the problem for the rest of your life!
If you have been involved in a car accident, you most likely suffered a Whiplash type injury.
Research shows that left untreated, you most likely will end up with
some type of permanent damage. Don't wait till it is too late, Get
checked today!
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