Why Whiplash is Common After a Car Crash

There you are, waiting at a traffic light, when out of nowhere a vehicle smashes into the rear of your car. You hear the crash and the sound of breaking glass as your head and neck jerk forward and back. If this has happened to you, you likely have whiplash. 

Here at Interventional Pain Center in Worthington and Newark, Ohio, we help a lot of patients who have been injured in car collisions. Our physician, Sachida Manocha, MD, is a pain management expert who can help you recover from injuries, such as whiplash, quickly and safely. 

What is whiplash?

Every year, more than 2 million Americans experience whiplash and neck pain, often as a result of a car collision. Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when your head and neck forcefully move forward and backward, like the snap of a whip. This movement can damage the vertebrae, discs, muscles, and connective tissue in your neck, causing neck pain, stiffness, and headaches. Whiplash pain can also radiate through your shoulders and arms.

Whiplash is a common car accident-related injury. While your neck is strong, it isn’t built to sustain the volume of force generated in a car accident. The average car weighs more than 4,000 pounds, and if a vehicle hits your car, the amount of force created could be significant, even if the vehicle isn’t going very fast.

How is whiplash treated?

We offer customized care for whiplash and other types of neck pain. After a comprehensive exam, including X-rays, we will create a treatment plan to alleviate your pain and help your neck heal. 

Depending on your needs, we might suggest immobilization and anti-inflammatory medications. We also offer facet joint injections, nerve blocks, and nerve stimulation, all of which may be able to reduce your pain and get you back to your regular activities. 

Why is immediate care necessary after a crash?

When you’re involved in a car collision, your body releases a surge of adrenaline, which can prevent you from feeling any pain or other symptoms for hours or even days, so you might not even know you’re injured. However, we can identify injuries, such as whiplash, before you develop symptoms and can start treatment right away.

If you’ve been in a car collision, don’t delay getting medical attention and treatment. Get a thorough exam by booking an appointment online or over the phone with Interventional Pain Center today.