subject: Treatment and diagnosis of whiplash [print this page] It is not easy to diagnose whiplash, as it will not show up on a CT scan or X-ray. Classic symptoms include neck pain and headaches, and if you have been involved in a recent car accident, a doctor will ask questions to ascertain how much pain you are in.Whiplash symptoms may show up immediately after the accident, or they may take longer to develop. In some rare cases, it can even take up to a week for symptoms to show, and you should see a doctor as soon as possible if you have suffered any type of accident, which has caused your head and neck to be jolted forwards.
Minor or severe whiplash that goes untreated can develop into more serious injury weeks later, and a doctor will be able to see how much pain you are in, and prescribe painkillers and/or a soft surgical collar to help support the neck directly after your accident.If your doctor thinks you have suffered a more serious neck, back or head injury, or if he suspects a fracture, he may refer you to a specialist or recommend different treatment. Pain from minor whiplash can normally be treated with painkillers, but if your GP suspects a spine injury, a specialist will carry out more intense physical and neurological tests to see if surgery is necessary.
Whiplash often causes shoulder and arm damage, and a doctor may perform tests which highlight nerve damage. Most cases of whiplash injury will heal within a couple of weeks and surgery is not usually necessary.While many symptoms of whiplash will clear up with painkillers or with the help of a soft surgical collar, other cases may require some physiotherapy, depending on the severity of the injury.
Physiotherapy can be combined with pain relief medication to speed up the recovery process for whiplash injury, and sufferers can be completely pain-free within just a couple of weeks. Whiplash causes soft tissue in the neck to be damaged, ripped or strained, and a physiotherapist will work to restore normal function to the neck.
Some whiplash treatments will relax the body and reduce the amount of pain you feel, and prescribed gentle exercise will help to strengthen the neck and soft tissues.A deep tissue massage could also help to relive muscle tension which results from whiplash injury, and a trained therapist could apply direct hot or cold pressure to the affected area of the neck to release tension. Hot and cold therapies can also be used to help the blood flow more freely around the affected area. Ultrasound treatment can also be used to help the blood circulate and to help reduce muscle spasms.Gentle exercises may be prescribed by a physiotherapist, and some physical therapy will help to reduce swelling and increase blood circulation to the painful area of the neck. Soft neck tissue will then heal quicker.
Treatment and diagnosis of whiplash
By: Adrian
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