Whiplash Pain

Whiplash pain can be debilitating. Most people who experience whiplash will recover within a few months. However, some people continue to have pain for several months or years after the injury occurred. It is difficult to predict the outcome when dealing with whiplash pain. In general, chronic pain may be more likely when the initial symptoms include rapid onset of pain. These symptoms include severe neck pain, headaches and pain that radiates to the arms. Waiting for a provider to find the appropriate whiplash pain treatment can be very frustrating. Fortunately, there are several whiplash pain treatment options available for patients.


Whiplash Pain

Whiplash is the most common form of motor vehicle injury. It can also be caused by falls, trauma or other sports-related accidents. Not only is whiplash painful but it can last longer than some may think. This type of injury happens when the neck is forced outside of the normal range of motion. This can cause significant injury to muscles, ligaments, discs and facet joints in the neck. For some, this pain can last for years following an accident. Common symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, swelling along the back of the neck, difficulty turning the head and muscle spasms.

A doctor will collect a medical history and perform a physical exam to rule out more serious causes of pain. The physician may also order imaging to determine the extent of the damage in the area. Imaging can help determine where the chronic pain is originating from. Yet, finding the correct whiplash pain treatment can take time due to the array of injuries that can cause the pain.

What is the best whiplash pain treatment available?

Depending on the underlying cause of the pain, there are many possible whiplash pain treatments available such as physical therapy. There are procedural options such as trigger point injections, medial branch blocks, medial branch radio-frequencies and facet injections. There are also multiple medications that are used for whiplash pain treatment. These medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-depressants, neuropathic medications or short-term opiate painkillers.

If you are experiencing chronic pain from whiplash  schedule your appointment today. Do not hesitate when it comes to chronic pain. Here at Alabama Pain Physicians, the providers will help discover the best whiplash pain treatment available to ensure a better quality of life.

If you are still unsure on how serious your whiplash is, consider reading this article from Mayo Clinic.