Could your neck pain be whiplash?
When your head pounds and your neck aches, it could just be the aftereffects of another stressful day at the office. But if you’ve recently been in a car accident, these symptoms are tell-tale signs of whiplash. However, because the manifestations of this common type of injury don’t always present themselves right away, whiplash often goes undiagnosed.
As the National Institute of Health defines it, whiplash is a soft-tissue injury, typically experienced after a forceful blow – the kind often felt in an automotive crash. It’s characterized by a variety of symptoms, including headache, dizziness, burning sensations, as well, as neck, back and shoulder soreness. Whiplash is a common injury that PI attorneys see a lot among clientele, whom come to them with details regarding their symptoms that didn’t immediately materialize.
Symptoms can be long-lasting
While the physical manifestations of whiplash are straightforward, the delayed onset of these sensations make it difficult to determine if whiplash is the actual cause. According to the American Chiropractic Association, the symptoms usually don’t develop until 48 hours after an accident, if not later. Plus, whiplash symptoms are quite similar to those that are representative of chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia.
“Whiplash symptoms can be felt several years after an accident.”
Even though whiplash is usually experienced after a quick, sudden jolt to the body, the aftereffects can often be drawn out. The American Chiropractic Association says between 45 percent and 85 percent of whiplash injury sufferers experience symptoms as many as five years after their car accidents.
How long these symptoms last on a variety of factors. For example, according to the NIH, the painful sensations may go away within a few days after they’re first experienced. But that’s assuming that the incident didn’t result in cervical injury, meaning those that impact the spinal column. Additionally, the longer the symptoms go untreated, the more extensive and persistent the pain may last.
While whiplash symptoms are physical, they can adversely impact mental function as well. The NIH says memory loss, inability to concentrate, irritability, fatigue, depression and cognitive impairment are all associated with whiplash. Those who’ve experienced whiplash may also have a hard time sleeping, whether it’s trouble falling asleep or an inability to stay asleep.
See your primary care physician
The best way to know for certain whether your neck pain is whiplash-related or the cause of something else is to talk to your primary care physician, who may recommend that you see a specialist for the proper diagnosis or treatment. If the injury does indeed stem from a car accident, the diagnosing medical professional may be able to provide legal counsel with more specifics on the treatment involved and what the medical costs will be, providing a better idea of the proper amount to sue for.
The medical costs for treating whiplash – not to mention legal expenses for a personal injury dispute – can be substantial. Glofin can help make the litigation process go more smoothly with a cash advance loan. To find out if you’re eligible and how a cash advance differs from a lawsuit loan, click here.
