subject: How Long Will My Whiplash Injury Last For? [print this page] How Long Will My Whiplash Injury Last For?
Copyright (c) 2011 Nicholas JervisIf you have been unfortunate enough to have sustained a whiplash injury as a result of a road traffic accident you may be experiencing significant pain and discomfort and you may be wondering how long it will take you to recovery from your injury. There is no clear answer to this question but it may help to understand how a whiplash injury is caused and what action can be taken to aid recovery. A whiplash injury occurs when the head and neck are forcefully and suddenly thrown back and forth causing damage to the soft-tissue and ligaments in the neck. This often occurs in road traffic accidents, for example, when a stationary vehicle is hit in the rear by another vehicle that fails to stop in time for some reason or another. The symptoms of whiplash are often not apparent until several hours, or even several days, after the accident. Along with an aching neck which can be stiff and have a limited range of movement, you may also experience symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, lack of concentration, back pain and pins and needles. The symptoms of whiplash injuries must be taken seriously and it is important that you visit your GP or local Accident & Emergency Department if you think you may have sustained a whiplash injury. Whiplash injuries vary in severity from those where the symptoms have completely disappeared within a week or two of the accident to those, fortunately quite rare cases, where the sufferer will continue to suffer from the symptoms of their whiplash injuries indefinitely. It is usually the case that the sufferer has completely recovered from the symptoms of their whiplash injury within a year or two of the accident at the most, however, each case is different and will depend on factors such as the force of the collision, the age and agility of the injured party and any pre-existing medical conditions. The treatment for whiplash injuries also varies, usually depending on the severity of the injury. Some patients will simply be advised to carry out gentle mobility exercises to increase the range of movement in their neck, whilst other patients may require painkillers, osteopathy or chiropractic treatment. It is essential that anyone suffering from a whiplash injury follows the advice of their doctor to ensure that recovery from the injury can be achieved as soon as possible. If you make a whiplash claim for compensation, your solicitor is unlikely to advise you to agree to settle your whiplash claim until you have either made a completely recovery from your injuries or a firm prognosis has been given by a medical expert who has examined you, providing a strong base upon which to negotiate settlement of your claim. If you think you may be suffering from a whiplash injury you should seek the advice of your GP as soon as possible to try and increase your chances of falling into the bracket of those sufferers who recover from their injury sooner rather than later.
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