Whiplash Injuries

Injuries Resulting from Whiplash:

 It is impossible to accurately predict the exact pattern of symptoms that each individual patient will experience due to the many variables associated with case.  Whiplash symptoms often have a delayed onset, many times taking days or weeks to present.  There are a number of symptoms that are very common among those who suffer from whiplash injuries.

Neck Pain:

Neck pain is the most common symptom associated with motor vehicle collision injuries, experienced in over 80% of the cases.  Many times the pain will radiate across the shoulders, down between the shoulder blades and up into the head.  Generally, all the structures in the neck will be affected by whiplash trauma, including the ligaments, muscles, nerves, facet joints and the discs.

Facet joint pain is one of the most common causes of neck pain after whiplash trauma.  It cannot be visualized on plain film x-rays or MRI.  Facet joint pain is often experienced on the back and sides of the neck and is usually tender when touched.

Intervertebral disc injuries are also common causes of neck pain after whiplash trauma.