You may not need any time off work for a minor whiplash injury where you can manage any pain with over-the-counter painkillers. In contrast, if you suffer severe pain and require physical therapy, you might be off work for months. The specific symptoms you experience.
Contents
- 0.1 How long should I be off with whiplash?
- 0.2 What are the worst days of whiplash?
- 0.3 Should I go back to work with whiplash?
- 1 Should you rest after whiplash?
- 2 How do I know if my whiplash is serious?
- 3 How much money do you get for whiplash?
- 4 What is Grade 1 whiplash?
- 5 What makes whiplash worse?
- 6 Does whiplash show on xray?
- 7 Do you sleep a lot with whiplash?
How long should I be off with whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by sudden movement of the head. It usually gets better within 2 to 3 months.
Can you work after whiplash?
How Long Will I Be Off Work For Whiplash? – The time it takes you to recover from whiplash depends on the severity of the injury. Although mild whiplash symptoms typically resolve in a few days, it could take weeks or even months to heal from a whiplash injury.
- Each accident victim’s recovery period will differ, affecting how long they may be off work.
- Because muscles and tendons can become weak or tighten after a whiplash injury, they are more susceptible to being re-injured.
- If you have previously sustained a whiplash injury, you might need more time to recover, which means more time off work.
Physical therapy or rehab might be necessary before you can return to your job. If you are unable to work after an accident that was someone else’s fault, you might be entitled to pursue compensation to cover your lost income. If you incur medical expenses and lose your ability to work due to another person’s negligence, you need an attorney to help you pursue compensation for your injuries and financial losses.
What are the worst days of whiplash?
1. What is Whiplash? – Whiplash is a non-medical term describing a range of head and neck injuries resulting from an acceleration-deceleration mechanism of energy transfer to the neck. Whiplash presents as a complaint of neck pain, stiffness or tenderness and decreased range of motion.
- This condition is most often associated with car accidents and specifically rear end collisions, although any forceful blow to the head or body can cause whiplash,
- Over a million whiplash injuries are reported each year due to motor vehicle accidents, making this condition one of the most common non-fatal motor vehicle accident injuries,
Victims of both slow and high speed collisions are at risk, An impact from any direction can cause a whiplash injury; however, a hit from behind is the most common. The more sudden and forceful the impact is, the more damage to the soft tissues of the body. 
Figure 1: Typical range of motion that results in Whiplash Injury Whiplash differs in severity from patient to patient, and as such, symptoms vary between cases. Directly after impact, patients may not be aware of any neck swelling or bruising. Symptoms typically arise between 12 and 24 hours after the accident. 
Fortunately, most people recover from the pain and stiffness associate with whiplash in a matter of weeks, but some cases require longer healing time and treatment from a physician and physiotherapist. In rare cases, patients can experience chronic pain for months or even years following their accident. Healing time varies with the level of tissue damage and the promptness of treatment.
Is whiplash a big deal?
Whiplash and Related Injuries – Whiplash is just one of a medical category of back, spine, neck and head injuries. If you suffer whiplash, you may also suffer any of these related injuries that are serious enough on their own, but when combined with whiplash pose a very substantial risk.
Should I go back to work with whiplash?
The severity of your whiplash injury. You may not need any time off work for a minor whiplash injury where you can manage any pain with over-the-counter painkillers. In contrast, if you suffer severe pain and require physical therapy, you might be off work for months.
Should you rest after whiplash?
Pain management – Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatments to lessen pain:
Rest. Rest may be helpful for a day or two after your injury, but too much bed rest may delay recovery. Heat or cold. Either heat or cold applied to the neck for 15 minutes every three hours or so can help you feel better. Over-the-counter pain medications. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), often can control mild to moderate whiplash pain. Prescription medications. People with more-severe pain may be given certain antidepressant drugs that have been shown to relieve nerve pain. Muscle relaxants. Short-term use of these drugs may be recommended to loosen tight muscles and soothe pain. The medicine also can make you feel sleepy. It may be used to help restore normal sleep if pain prevents you from getting a good night’s rest. Injections. An injection of lidocaine (Xylocaine) — a numbing medicine — into painful muscle areas may be used to decrease pain so that you can do physical therapy.
Do you sleep a lot with whiplash?
How Your Body Copes with Stress – In stressful events like a car accident, you might feel overwhelmed or even experience some level of shock. This type of situation generally causes the body’s adrenaline to start pumping, which can help give you the energy to get through the accident and then leave you exhausted afterward.
How do I know if my whiplash is serious?
Most people recover fully in 3 months after experiencing whiplash. During your recovery, medical treatments can help manage the symptoms. Whiplash occurs when a person’s head moves backward and then forward suddenly with great force. This injury is most common following a rear-end auto collision.
It can also result from physical abuse, sports injuries, or even amusement park rides. Whiplash happens when the soft tissues (the muscles and ligaments) of your neck extend beyond their typical range of motion. Your symptoms might not appear for a while, so it’s important to pay attention to any physical changes for a few days following any crash or other injury event.
Whiplash is thought of as a relatively mild condition, but it can cause long-term pain and discomfort. Whiplash occurs when the muscles in your neck suffer a strain because of a rapid movement backward and then forward. The sudden motion causes your neck’s tendons and ligaments to stretch and tear.
car collisionsphysical abuse, such as being struck or shakencontact sports, such as football, boxing, and some martial artshorseback ridingcycling collisions or fallsfalls in which the head violently jerks backwardblows to the head with a heavy object
Some people with whiplash experience chronic (long-term) pain or headaches for years after the event that caused the initial injury. Doctors may be able to trace this pain to damaged neck joints, discs, and ligaments. But chronic pain following a whiplash injury typically has no medical explanation.
neck pain and stiffness headaches, specifically at the base of the skull dizziness blurred vision constant tiredness
Less common symptoms associated with chronic whiplash include:
problems with concentration and memory ringing in the ears (tinnitus) inability to sleep wellirritabilitychronic pain in the neck, shoulders, or head
Most mild to moderate cases of whiplash can be treated at home using over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, ice, and other remedies. You should see a doctor after an auto crash or other injury event, or if you have the following symptoms:
pain or stiffness in the neck that goes away and then comes backsevere neck painpain, numbness, or tingling in your shoulders, arms, or legsany issues with your bladder or bowelslocalized weakness in an arm or leg
Seek urgent care You should follow up with a doctor immediately if:
your symptoms spread to your shoulders or armsmoving your head becomes painfulyou have numbness or weakness in your arms
Your doctor will normally ask you questions about your injury, such as:
how it happenedwhere you feel painwhether the pain is dull, shooting, or sharp
They may also do a physical exam to check your range of motion and look for areas of tenderness. Your doctor might order imaging tests that will allow them to assess any damage or inflammation in the soft tissues, spinal cord, or nerves. They can also detect the presence of a brain injury. These imaging tests may include:
X-ray (to make sure your pain isn’t connected to any other type of injury or degenerative disease, such as arthritis ) CT scan MRI scan
Rarely, a doctor will order diffuse tensor imaging (DTI) or positron emission tomography (PET scan), which will help find and measure the extent of an injury to the brain or other areas. The treatments for whiplash are relatively simple. Doctors will often prescribe an OTC pain medication like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or aspirin.
Does whiplash get worse before getting better?
Whiplash gets worse – Even though you may not have noticed the effects of whiplash for days, weeks, or months, your symptoms could worsen if not treated. You may have stretched or torn key ligaments, tendons, or muscles in your neck or shoulders. Over time, you may have trouble moving your neck or develop chronic pain.
- After Dr. Panjabi conducts a thorough physical exam and takes images of your head and neck, he customizes a treatment plan.
- Depending on the extent of your injuries, he may simply recommend lifestyle changes, such as rest or physical therapy.
- He may also prescribe other treatments, including medications, painkillers, and,
The aim of therapy is to heal any injuries to prevent long-term complications and chronic pain. Don’t shrug off a minor or other type of collision, fall, or trauma. Call today, or use our today to book a complete physical evaluation for possible whiplash-related injuries that might lead to chronic pain if not caught and treated in time.
What is stage 3 whiplash?
How Is Whiplash Classified? – To help grade and better understand the severity of whiplash injuries, experts created The Quebec Classification Of Whiplash-Associated Disorders, On this scale, a whiplash injury is classified from Grades 0–4 according to the symptoms:
Grade 0 : No pain or symptoms. Grade 1 : Pain, stiffness, and tenderness around the injury but no physical signs of an injury. Grade 2 : Beyond pain, stiffness, and tenderness—which may be more pronounced than in Grade 1 whiplash—Grade 2 whiplash also includes musculoskeletal signs of injury, such as bruising and/or swelling. Muscle spasms can also occur at this stage. Grade 3 : With Grade 3 whiplash, there are also neurological signs beyond the pain and swelling. These can include numbness, tingling, headaches, vision problems, trouble swallowing, vertigo, muscle weakness, and more. Grade 4 : Whiplash is classified as Grade 4 when there are fractures or dislocations. These injuries tend to exacerbate all of the symptoms from lower grades, particularly neurological issues.
How much money do you get for whiplash?
What Are The Whiplash Compensation Amounts For 2023? – Compensation for whiplash ranges from a minimum of £240 to a maximum payout of £4,345. Typically, the average compensation amount for whiplash is between £570 and £630. As part of the Civil Liabilities Act, compensation amounts for whiplash injuries are now based on how long your injury lasts.
Is whiplash a minor injury?
What is whiplash? – Many people think whiplash is a minor injury. But it can have uncomfortable, long-lasting effects on your life. In severe cases, whiplash symptoms and damage can be permanent. Whiplash is the most common injury in car accidents, with half of all car accidents in England resulting in a whiplash injury.
Whiplash is caused by a sudden jolt or stretching of the neck that damages the ligaments. It’s a common injury for drivers or passengers involved in a rear-end shunt on the road – and it doesn’t take much force. Many whiplash injuries occur in low speed collisions – between five and 10 mph. The severity of a whiplash injury depends on how well you’re restrained (so always wear your seatbelt) and if your seat headrests are positioned correctly or not.
Whiplash can also be caused by a trip, slip or falling accident, The impact snaps the head forward and back suddenly, which causes a sprain. Symptoms include swelling, pain, headaches and dizziness – all of which can affect how you go about your day-to-day life. 
What is Grade 1 whiplash?
What are Whiplash Associated Disorders? Whiplash Associated Disorders or WAD, is a term used to describe the injuries commonly seen in motor vehicle accidents and within contact sports. More specifically, it’s used to describe the aftereffects of rapid-fire start/stop motions that are the hallmarks of whiplash. The injury occurs in three stages:
Stage 1: the upper and lower spines experience flexion Stage 2: the spine assumes an S-shape while it begins to extend and eventually straighten to make the neck curve inward again Stage 3: shows the entire spine in extension with an intense sheering force that causes compression of the facet joint capsules
Studies with cadavers have shown that whiplash injury is the formation of the S-shaped curvature of the cervical spine, which induces hyperextension on the lower end of the spine and flexion of the upper levels, which exceeds the physiologic limits of spinal mobility.
WAD include a range of symptoms related to the head and neck. Based on the symptoms, and the severity of those symptoms, each patient is classified within a certain “grade” of WAD. The Quebec Task Force classifies patients with WAD based on the severity of signs and symptoms, as follows: Grade 1 : The patient complains of neck pain, stiffness, or tenderness with no positive findings on physical exam.
Grade 2 : The patient exhibits musculoskeletal signs including decreased range of motion and point tenderness. Grade 3: The patient also shows neurologic signs that may include sensory deficits, decreased deep tendon reflexes, muscle weakness. Grade 4 : The patient shows a fracture.
- The symptoms and injuries due to WAD can be very serious.
- It’s important that if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident, and with motor vehicle accidents in particular, to go to the emergency room and see a physician as soon as possible, even if you’re not experiencing any initial symptoms.
After these kinds of accidents the physicians may want to take an x-ray of the neck to rule out the possibility of a fracture. Based on presented symptoms they may have suggestions or give specific restrictions to aid in the healing process. All of this is important information to bring to an initial Physiotherapy appointment.
What can be done to decrease and eliminate the symptoms if WAD? Following a whiplash injury, the evidence from “Clinical Guidelines for Best Practice Management of Acute and Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorders”, “Guidelines for Management of Whiplash Associated Disorders”, and “Your Guide to Whiplash Recovery in the First 12 Weeks After the Accident” all suggest that “early implementation of active exercise has a positive effect on pain and disability.” It is best to seek advice from a doctor or healthcare provider before performing exercises.
Studies by Cervical Overview group exercises for mechanical neck disorders, The efficacy of conservative treatment in patients with whiplash injury: a systematic review of clinical trials, and the task force on neck pain and it’s associated disorders have recommended “implementing range of motion exercises immediately results in reduced pain levels and improved function”.
- It bears repeating, you need to have been given the go ahead from your doctor, healthcare provider or physiotherapist, to avoid further injury.
- According to task force on neck pain and it’s associated disorders they found that “some systemic reviews found that exercise (range of motion, neck, and scapular strengthening exercises) is beneficial in relieving neck pain in acute whiplash injuries”.
One systematic review by the task force on neck pain and its associated disorders “cautions that exercise may produce transitory increase in pain levels but is beneficial in the long run for reducing pain”. A meta-analysis by conservative interventions provide short-term relief for non-specific neck pain: a systematic review concluded “specific exercises such as neck stabilization exercise showed significant short-term effects on pain levels in whiplash disorders”.
Randomized controlled trials (RCT) by grade II whiplash injuries to the neck: what is the benefit for patients treated by different physical therapy modalities?, generally “found that active exercises were more effective in reducing pain and improving function, especially when implemented early (within 96 hours) after injury”.
References can be found at the bottom of this post. The prognosis of WAD is unknown and unpredictable, some cases remain acute with a full recovery while some progress longer. Early interventions is always your best course of action. If you have any questions for our team please contact us here,
References Acute Whiplash Disorders (WAD) Cervical Overview Group Exercises for mechanical neck disorders Clinical guidelines for best practice management of acute and chronic whiplash-associated disorders Conservative interventions provide short-term relief for non-specific neck pain: a systematic review.
Guidelines for management of whiplash associated disorders Grade II whiplash injuries to the neck: what is the benefit for patients treated by different physical therapy modalities? Photo 1 Credit: MedicalNewsToday Physiopedia Task Force on Neck Pain and it’s Associated Disorders The efficacy of conservative treatment in patients with whiplash injury: a systematic review of clinical trials YouTube Video Your guide to whiplash recovery in the first 12 weeks after the accident Ashleigh Low, Registered Physiotherapist.1
What makes whiplash worse?
5. When it comes to whiplash, rest equals rust. – You may not want to move around after a whiplash injury for fear of making the pain worse. But resting for more than a few days can cause the muscles in your neck, shoulders and back to get stiff and weak — and actually prolong the pain.
Does whiplash show on xray?
Diagnosis: – First of all it is vital that you seek an appropriate medical diagnosis. This is not because whiplash is life threatening or because serious damage will be done if you do not seek help. Establishing that you do indeed have whiplash can ensure that any other more serious conditions, such as having a fracture etc can be ruled out.
- So ensure that you do have whiplash and not something more serious! A diagnosis is usually made by a doctor or pain specialist.
- The difficulty with diagnosing whiplash is that it does not really show up on an X-ray, CT scan or an MRI scan.
- The diagnosis is usually made by asking the patient how they feel and then proceeding from there.
People usually have pain in the back of their neck and they find that the pain is worse when they move. Pain can also transfer to the head, shoulders, shoulder blades or even the arms. Headaches can also develop which are felt initially at the back of the head, but are then felt all over.
There can be some other symptoms such as feeling dizzy and unable to stand properly, pins and needles etc. (These should be immediately checked out). When you go for a diagnosis, you will be asked how you feel and from there the GP or specialist will be able to establish if you are suffering from whiplash.
Sometimes patients are told that an X-Ray or MRI scan may be useful. These do not detect whiplash, but will establish if there is anything fractured, so they offer a good insight as to whether or not you have whiplash or something more serious! The pain that is being experienced my originate from the cervical facet joints, which are shown to be responsible for causing whiplash pain in around 50% of patients.
Will whiplash show on MRI?
Whiplash is a descriptive term for the type of motion experienced by a person’s head and neck following a rear-end collision. The head and neck are at rest when the impact occurs. The vehicle and seat are pushed forward with the head and neck moving backward into hyperextension initially and then recoiling forward into hyperflexion as illustrated in the image below. Whiplash injuries are the most common condition sustained in motor vehicle accidents and are the most costly to the medical system and insurance companies. There have been millions of medical publications on the topic and yet the exact cause for the symptoms that people experience is still poorly understood.
In most cases there is no specific injury that can be identified on imaging studies such as x-rays, CT scans or MRI scans. It has been suspected that the forces caused by the accident result in injuries to the muscles, ligaments or facet joints in the cervical spine. However, it has been difficult to prove this.
Whiplash injuries have been categorized by the Quebec Task Force as Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) grade 1 – 4 with grade 1 having neck pain, stiffness or tenderness but a normal examination, grade 2 having neck pain with decreased range of motion of the neck and tenderness on examination, grade three having neck pain and neurological symptoms such as weakness or sensory abnormalities, and grade 4 with damage to the spine demonstrated on an x-ray or CT in the form of a fracture or subluxation with associated damage to the spinal cord or nerves in the cervical spine.
The most common type of injury is Whiplash associated disorder type 2 (WAD2). Most people who suffer a whiplash injury experience a gradual improvement in their neck pain and stiffness over a few weeks or months with complete recovery by 3 months. However, there are large numbers of people who develop pain that can last for months or years and some people have permanent pain after whiplash injuries.
It has been difficult to determine who will get better, who won’t, and why they don’t get better. Head restraints can limit the motion of the head and neck at the time of impact and can reduce the injuries. Having the head turned to the side at the time of impact can be associated with worse symptoms.
- Placing people in a neck collar after the injury can make the symptoms worse and more prolonged.
- Active treatment with range of motion exercises can hasten recovery and decrease the chance of long-term disability.
- Studies have identified the facet joints in the back of the neck as common sources of pain following whiplash injuries.
Autopsy studies on people who have died in car accidents have identified damage to the facet joints in the neck. Some people with neck pain from whiplash injuries also experience headaches, which are felt to be associated with damage to the facet joints in the upper part of the neck.
- These are called cervicogenic headaches and are probably due to the tension in the muscles that attach to skull at the back of the head.
- People who experience pain in the lower neck and shoulders or upper back probably have damage to one or more of the facet joints in the lower part of the neck.
- Injection of local anesthetic onto the medial branch nerves that supply the facet joints can determine if the neck pain is arising from the facet joints and which joints are involved.
These injections are called medial branch or facet joint blocks. There are also publications that suggest that chronic whiplash symptoms are due to damage to the shoulder joint or ligaments. Animal experiments have shown that damage to the discs can result in changes in the muscles in the neck with an increase in the fat content.
This is due to the release of inflammatory chemicals in the region of the injury. These changes can be reversed by the injection of stem cells into the damaged disc. This has not been done in human whiplash patients. Fatty changes in the neck muscles are often seen on the MRI scan of patients with chronic neck pain following whiplash injuries.
Whether it is due to reduced movement because of pain or due to damage of the disc or other structures is unclear. Exercises to strengthen the neck muscles can result in a progressive decrease in the fatty infiltrates in the muscles. Most MRI scans are performed months or years after the whiplash injury and usually do not show any signs of damage.
- MRIs that are performed within days of the injury sometimes show damage to the muscles or ligaments, but this is a small percentage of patients.
- Performing upright flexion and extension MRI scans in the early days after injury has greater potential to identify an injury to a muscle, ligament or facet joint than delayed images that are not weight bearing.
In most people who develop chronic neck pain and headaches after a whiplash injury, the exact source of pain cannot be identified. Treatment such as physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment and medication can help improve the pain. Studies have shown that stress, anxiety and depression can worsen the symptoms and prolong disability after whiplash injuries.
- Therefore, these symptoms also need to be identified and treated if the patient is to make a full recovery.
- The Welcome Back Centre has the only MRI machine in Canada that can perform scans with the person sitting and bending their head and neck forward (flexion) and backward (extension), mimicking the mechanism of injury.
The clinic also performs diagnostic medial branch blocks to determine if the facet joints in the neck are the source of pain following whiplash injuries. The clinic also performs a minor surgical procedure called facet joint rhizotomies that cauterizes the nerves that transmit pain signals from the painful joints to the brain.
