Whiplash headache

 Whiplash headache

Whiplash is a non-medical term referred as  injuries to the neck caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck associated with extension.  People who experience whiplash develop a chronic headache also known as a cervicogenic headache. In some people this  symptom appear within the first couple of days after the accident and usually pass after a few days to a few weeks. There are a number of  other symptoms related to whiplash - neck pain,  dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue and memory problems . There are a number of people who might walk away feeling very fine even after suffering from a whiplash injury only to experience symptoms on the next day. The headache can start immediately after the incident or can even take some time to develop. There are a number of people who suffer from late whiplash symptoms,  means that the headache can last for months and at times even years.

What causes headache whiplash injuries

When the head is jerked back and forth, there is sudden strain on the neck’s muscles and ligaments.  This might happen during a car accident, repetitive stress to the neck , a sports injury, a punch or something falling on the head.  The shaking of a child is a common cause in children (child abuse). In most cases, the headache whiplash injury will be resolved in the weeks after the original trauma.  However, in a very large minority pain will continue for months.

 Symptoms of headache whiplash

After neck pain, headache  is the second commonest symptom that patients experience. After whiplash injury person feel the pain in the back of their head, or discomfort at their forehead or behind their eyes. The symptoms of this type of headache include pains that travel from the neck and up to the head. Headache after whiplash injury often shows itself for the first time on the morning after the accident. The pain sweeps up from the neck and over the back of the head. Most sufferers find that heat on the back of the neck will ease the headache. Cold makes it worse. Neck movements often aggravate the problem – particularly if the neck is moved towards extension, looking up to the ceiling is often very painful. Patients with whiplash related head pains often also get shoulder pain and touching the big trapezius muscles over the back of the neck and shoulders often provokes pain or spread of symptoms upwards. There are often tender spots or trigger points in these muscles. Women get pains in the head after whiplash injury more often than men. The other problems that can result from a head injury, caused by a whiplash incident, include problem in focusing. People might face problems in shifting their visions from one point to another. This is seen to occur more frequently in people who try to shift their vision more quickly from one point to another. There can also be a delayed tracking movement of the eye and also incidents of blurred vision in just one eye.The symptom can also lead to dizziness and disorientation, in most of the people who suffer from a whiplash injury.

 Treatment of whiplash injury

1)    neck collar is little bit useful but prolonged immobilization of the neck by means of collar leads other problems.

2) other treatment include

Massage; It is helpful in the areas where there is pain, especially in the neck

      Ice and heat therapy:  Using ice is  helpful  early on in the injury (to decrease inflammation), and heat is used more often later on.

     Stretching and physical therapy:   stretching exercises may be benificial.

     Medication:  Sometimes the pain is short term and mild, and  don’t need much more than a few over the counter painkillers.  More severe pain may call for more powerful medication.  Sometimes  injections to numb the pain and avoid muscle spasms should be taken

       Rest:  Resting the injured areas can be important, perhaps bed rest early on.

      Alternative treatments:  some other  treatments  are also helpful. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with exercise is beneficial. protect head from trauma by using sports equipments, seat belts etc

Long term effects of whip lash injury

Long term effects of whip lash injury

A whiplash injury is a non medical term , commonly seen when the neck is thrown violently forward or backward which occur most often during car accidents. When the body is suddenly slammed backwards,( during car accident) the muscles in the neck, shoulders and back are put into so much impact and pressure that makes the patient available to whiplash injury and due to which there is difficulty in performing their day to day activities. Even in a slow speed car accident there is a good chance that the neck will be thrown forward or backward at a rate of speed or with a force that is outside the range of normal. whiplash injury can be limited to a soft tissue injury, it can also cause much more severe and long lasting effects. The long-term effects of whiplash include neck and shoulder strains, difficulty in movement, and pain when bending the head down. Sometime people also experience back aches, and random headaches. Whiplash also affect certain parts of the brain and affect the memory of the person. many times in whiplash injuries the tendons, ligaments and muscles of the neck are affected. This can cause soreness and stiffness for days or weeks following the accident. In some cases the spine itself is damages in the accident. the spine can suffer damages to the disc material found between the bones. This can result in a herniated disc – often known as a “slipped” disc or “bulging” disc. When a disc bulges out it can push on the tendons and nerves found inn the spinal column. If a disc begins to push on a nerve it can cause sever pain in your arms, hands and fingers, loss of feeling in your fingers, tingling and eventually lose strength in the arm and hand.Strain in the neck and shoulder and limited or no mobility are also most common long term outcome of whiplash.Another long term outcome of whiplash are certain brain injuries in which memory retention will be affected or even get worse.Permanent headaches and backaches are also caused by whiplash, and these conditions can sometimes prevent the person from doing work or certain activities.
Specific neck exercises can help the person in the treatment of whiplash and can speed up recovery. These neck exercises strengthen the muscles and tissues in the neck and the shoulders. These exercises promote better posture and improved neck muscles. whiplash incidents can also overcome by making some modifications in car seat and overall road safety.

Whiplash Compensation

Whiplash is extremely common in horse racing and on-road accidents. Whiplash injuries are most common in UK. Most part of the accident insurance goes towards paying for whiplash compensations. Many masterminds and criminals take advantage of such type of compensation plans. They simply set up fake accidents and bring all fake witnesses to get their compensation done.

This is one of the major factors as to why government is being strict towards handing out those compensations. A conclusive and effective evidence of the accident and the related injury has to be produced, before the government hands over the compensations to you. So a doctor’s report is of much importance when it comes to handing over the compensation, as well as a genuine proof is a must to get your compensation.

This is the exact reason as to why whiplash compensation companies are in such a high demand. They know how to handle each and every such situation and have an effective approach which can get you huge sums of benefits in no time.

Victims of whiplash might not be completely aware of the fact that they have been affected by such an injury, and might not get the benefits of compensations. Hence it is always recommended to approach or consult your nearest doctors when you get some kind of neck pain or other such whiplash related symptoms. Whereas some other victims of whiplash might not be aware of such compensations and benefits they are entitled to. If you are unable to work due to whiplash injury then apply for compensation. It is the job of the compensation company to provide you with those benefits and find out the maximum number of heads than an applicant can be entitled to.

Many solicitors are taking advantage of their huge demand and have raised their fees, and even whiplash compensation companies have done the same thing. These fees are unnecessary as the government looks after all their legal expenses when the claim is put into its place, so always be warned of such type of cheats and make sure to avoid them and raise questions when they demand the fees. Never fall for such cheats.

Whiplash companies and other solicitors related to giving compensations to victims of whiplash, give you a contract to sign when you apply for the first time. They might also try to trap you into one such case where you might have to pay huge fees unnecessarily. Never fall for such traps, always make an effort to go through each and every document placed before you. Have a good look at the terms and conditions before you sign one such compensation contract. The main thing to look out for is to see to that you don’t have to pay a single buck from your own pocket if the compensation is being rejected.

A genuine whiplash compensation company who are true to their clients always has the following features.

. 1. The company makes sure that the victim is properly compensated for all expenses incurred because of their treatment, loss of work time and damage that has occurred due to accidents.

2. The company must not demand any extra fees or charges other than the money they get legally through the government to cover all these costs.

Look for these features at the beginning and then go and choose the one you feel is best for you.

Whiplash Injury Claims

Whiplashes being the most common injury have been on a rise in recent years. Since these injuries are raising there are many whiplash injury claims been made recently. Now there are whiplash claims companies which handle all the injury claims which head their way.

A whiplash claims company is known for their huge experience and their skilled approach towards people. These companies approach people and make a complete set of algorithms and give a rough picture about the way they can make your case in your favor. It’s better to approach one of these companies to make your claims rather than going for solicitor directly. As these companies know all the strategies and important points that might fetch you the victory in this sort of case. These companies know all the legal representatives who can handle cases in the best possible way, so that you might get the full compensation related to your whiplash injury.

Whiplash Claims Company needs all the documents and relevant details regarding the issue and the basis by which you are applying for the claim. Most importantly you are said to submit all the names, addresses and all the necessary contact information of the person who caused the accident. Later these details are passed onto the solicitor appointed by the Whiplash claims company, you are then said to discuss all the other details and the matters related to this claim. After the solicitor comes across all the details, he will plan the next step based on the incidence that had occurred during your injury.

The solicitor appointed by the whiplash claims company are much experienced and are trustworthy as they carry a huge experience in the cases that they try to resolve. These solicitors resolve the cases much quicker providing you with as much compensation as you have expected to get from the case. Hence it is always recommended to use the help of whiplash Claims Company before you get into the process of getting your whiplash claim.

Always have direct contact with the solicitor handling your case as he is the only one who can help you get your full claim. He will be your legal representative throughout the time of your claim. These solicitors know what it takes to get your whiplash injury claim on your side. They can easily decide as to what is right and what is wrong for you.

Compensation cannot take your physical pain away from you, but they can certainly save your hard earned money. If you win the case, you will have the power to take away the money of any further medical treatments that you take, relating to whiplash from the one who is accused of the incident. Hence it is extremely important to reach out to the best solicitor. Hence always choose the right solicitor for your case. Never take any decision right away, go through each and every solicitor who is willing to take up your claim and be wise in choosing the right person for the job.

 

What is Whiplash

Whiplash is an injury caused by a severe jerk to the head. In other words the head is being whipped very harshly around the neck. Such incidents occur generally during motor vehicle accidents, where the head moves completely against the momentum of the body.

Whiplash is a non-medical term which describes variety of injuries related to the neck caused mainly due to sudden distortion of the neck. However, there are many other incidents like falls from ladder, bicycles and horses which can cause Whiplash. Whiplash is most commonly found in sports such as horse racing where the head and neck is thrown very quickly in just one direction leading to Whiplash injuries.

In 2007 it was known that 430,000 people of United Kingdom (UK) made a claim for whiplash. That was about 75% of the insurance claims in the country. Whiplash causes extreme discomfort and sometimes can also cause internal body dysfunctions. These injuries should be avoided as far as possible and all necessary protection should be taken such that the impact caused by this injury is lessened. Whiplash generally happens when a car is been hit from the rear end , as their head stays in the same place whereas the body moves forward causing an injury termed as whiplash.

Whiplash injuries are most common and are the most dominating injuries during car accidents and horse races. Horse racers are always given necessary suggestions to follow such that they can avoid facing such problems due to a fall. Car drivers should always take care when they drive, so that they can avoid being a victim of whiplash. Whiplash not only occurs during big accidents, they also do occur in case of minor accidents where there is no damage to the car or the vehicle. People always complain of neck pain these days, but remember all neck pains need not be because of whiplash.  Victims of whiplash generally get headaches. They might also face numbness in their arms and hands. If the damage caused is heavy then it can also lead to a loss of memory.

Doctors have come up with even more methods to address this issue. In minor cases doctors usually make use of ice packs and heat packs. Whiplash injury is generally temporary and people can recover from these injuries. But in some cases they might leave a permanent mark on the skin or neck. Medication is always recommended to victims of whiplash.  Performing yoga might be the best approaches for this type of injuries, but it is always advised to contact your nearest doctor and to follow their advice carefully, so that you don’t end up worsening the injury. Always make effort to heal this injury as quickly as possible. Whiplash occurs mainly due to somebody else’s negligence, so you can always take legal action against them and demand the money you need to get treated for this injury. Don’t think of the costs that might come in your way while getting treated, as it does not require huge amount of money. Always approach the concerned doctor as soon as you feel the existence of such an injury.

 

Whiplash Symptoms

Symptoms of whiplash aren’t quite immediate. They can even last for several years depending on how badly you have affected the nerve of your neck. All people aren’t the same some might have better immunity than the other, so it can’t be decided on how long the injury might last just based on other peoples experience.

Neck pain is one of the major and common symptoms of whiplash. If you are involved in an accident or had a big fall, you are more likely to be a victim of whiplash injuries.

There are many symptoms of whiplash, some of the major symptoms of whiplash are:

  • Neck/shoulder pain.
  • Lower back/spinal cord pain.
  • Unusual Fatigue.
  • Dizziness.
  • Vision problems.
  • Insomnia.
  • Loss of memory/ difficulty in concentrating.
  • Hearing problem.
  • Frequent headaches.
  • A feeling of numbness.

 

These symptoms might occur directly after the injury, but they are often not felt until days afterwards. Whiplash is usually restricted to the spinal cord and some of its areas. Necks and mid-backs are most likely to be affected. If these injuries are not treated on time then they might last for several long years.

Whiplashes often result in sudden violent moments involving the neck.  In the case of normal
whiplash injury there would be pain in the muscles, at the front end of the neck, movement of the neck could also help you identify Whiplash injuries. There is no doubt that these injuries don’t have any proven remedy to defend it.

In the case of accidents involving the neck or back it is better to approach a spinal therapist of a chiropractor wellness care. Hiring them quickly would certainly help you to get rid of this injury quickly and effectively.

Spiral therapy’s might help you in a long way to heal it off, as quickly as possible as this therapy gives relaxation to your muscles, at the back end of the body and you will obviously feel very comfortable and relaxed.  Any gentle massage between the vertebrae and the tissues surrounding it might help you to get rid of this injury very quickly.  This might generally take around a few weeks to be fully cured, but spinal therapy is always beneficial and would prevent the injury from spreading rapidly.

It’s not unusual to experience whiplash symptoms rather lately. In fact it is much more common thing to have indication of whiplash around a gap of 30 hours – 72 hours, after really falling into this injury. This might be because of the fact that human body cannot sense it as soon as it occurs and would certainly take more than 24 hours to generate a kind of irritation. It might also turn out to take more than weeks of time to identify such a kind of injury, it never happens in a flash. Irritation is certainly one of the best ways to identify this injury. Care must be taken to avoid worsening of this injury. Some kind of legal drugs can also be taken when whiplash occurs.

 

Symptoms and Treatment of Whiplash

Whiplashes vary in their symptoms. Neck pains are the most common and the major symptoms of whiplash. Numbness of arms, shoulder or hands is most commonly seen in these patients. Headaches and vision related problems are other symptoms of whiplash which cannot be neglected and must be taken into consideration, and a few lots of people even experience hearing difficulties and dizziness.

There are various set of treatments for Whiplash. Quebec task force have recommended that individuals who are a victim of whiplash associated disorder grade 1-2 must be involved in motion related exercises, mobilizations, and manipulations.   Drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and Non-narcotic analgesics can also be prescribed if the case comes under WAD 3 or WAD3. But the use of these drugs should be limited. They can only be used up to the period of 3 weeks only, not more than that. A cervical collar must be used within the period of 72 hours, i.e. 3 days from the first one or it might lead to a series of inactivity for many years. Doctors treating patients with such type of injuries always encourage their patients to perform natural activities, as that might lead to a fast recovery.

The national institute for Neurological disorders and stroke has taken a little bit more different approach to these injuries which includes pain medications, antidepressants ,the use of muscle relaxants and cervical collar apart from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which was already recommended by Quebec Task Force (QTF). As said earlier these medicines must not be taken for more than 3 days in a row. Apart from drugs and medications, the national institute for neurological disorders and stroke has also prescribed exercises related to motion, physical therapies and cervical traction. To relive muscle tension they recommend the use of supplemental heat applications.

There are many healthcare clinics that you can approach. Chiropractic wellness care is one such noted clinics which are very famous in dealing with injuries related to whiplash, you can always approach these clinics to get treatment.

During treatments the important parts that doctors concentrate are:

  • Spinal motion.
  • The way in which the victim holds on to his/her body
  • The damage that have occurred to the nerves and spinal cord of these victims.
  • The present status of the joints, muscles and Ligaments.

 

Though these treatments might work out, but always keep in mind that “Prevention is better than cure” .There is no substitute for prevention.

Hence always consider these 4 points to avoid whiplashes.

  • Use headrests in cars and wear helmets while driving motor vehicles.
  • Use headrests effectively and make sure that they are not lesser than your height.
  • While performing exercises make sure that you don’t give a lot of stress to your neck.
  • Approach the concerned doctor immediately if you get any sort of neck pain.

While getting treated for whiplash injuries don’t go for ordinary doctors, just take an advice or two from your nearest doctor and then go for specialist doctors to get it treated. Never neglect any of the neck pains. Communicate properly with the doctor who is treating you, never hide any of your pains, and always be frank.