Whiplash injury
About Whiplash injury
Whiplash occurs when there is injury to the ligaments, muscles and/or tendons of the neck. The term whiplash injury is not used when there is an associated fracture or herniated disc. It occurs with a sudden movement of the head forward and backward or side to side, such as in a car accident. It is also called neck strain, neck sprain, cervical sprain, or cervical strain.Symptoms
Neck pain, neck tenderness, neck stiffness, shoulder pain, upper back pain, headache. The pain often becomes worse 24 hours after the injury.Tests & Diagnostics
A history and physical exam will be performed. Imaging studies may be done to rule out other causes of the symptoms.Common tests: CT Scan, MRI, X-ray.
OTC sleep aids and supportive treatments
Prescription medications
Conventional treatment summary
Therapy is aimed at reducing the symptoms and speeding up the healing process. Treatment includes: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications/NSAIDs (ibuprofen/Motrin or Advil, naproxen/Naprosyn or Aleve), pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), muscle relaxants (metaxalone/Skelaxin, baclofen/Lioresal, orphenadrine/Norflex, tizanidine/Zanaflex), and/or physical therapy.Medical specialties
Internal Medicine · Neurosurgery · Pediatrics · Family Practice · Spine Surgery
This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Whiplash injury.