If you’ve recently been in a vehicle accident, one of the most common and well-known potential symptoms you could be dealing with is whiplash. Characterized by the forceful whipping of the head and neck back and forth after a sudden collision, whiplash can come with everything from temporary pain or discomfort symptoms to major motion concerns and long-term impacts.
At Apollo Chiropractic, we’re happy to offer auto accident and whiplash recovery services among our wide range of chiropractic solutions. How do you know if you’re experiencing whiplash in the aftermath of a car accident? There are a few telltale signs, plus some others that may not be as common but could also signal more severe concerns. Let’s go over everything you need to know about spotting the symptoms of whiplash following a vehicle accident.
Neck and Additional Areas
If you’ve read or heard about whiplash in the past, you’re probably aware that it primarily affects the neck. This is based on the force from the collision, which rocks the weight of your head back and forth and strains the neck in several unnatural ways.
However, it’s vital to realize that neck pain or discomfort are not the only possible signs of whiplash. Whiplash also often causes back stiffness, for instance, and can also lead to everything from head concerns to a significant limitation in your upper-body range of motion. Your neck itself might not even hurt in some cases of whiplash, but many other symptoms could be present.
Signs of Whiplash Condition
A general list of the symptoms you may notice that could indicate whiplash:
- Pain in the neck, back, shoulders or other upper body areas
- Stiff or immobile neck conditions
- Limited range of motion in several potential upper body areas, most commonly the neck or back
- Headaches that begin at the base of the skull
- Muscle spasms in the upper body
- A tingling sensation in the arms or hands
- Dizziness or fatigue in the hours and days following the accident
If you notice any of these symptoms after a car accident, even mild versions of them, you should seek both medical attention and long-term chiropractic care for recovery.
Other Uncommon Symptoms
In certain cases, you may experience other less common symptoms that might actually signal a more severe case of whiplash. These may include blurred vision, sleep issues or impaired memory concerns that were not present before the accident. These should be brought to the attention of a medical professional right away, as they could be signs of severe whiplash that require careful treatment.
For more on recognizing the sings of whiplash after a car accident, or to learn about any of our whiplash recovery or other chiropractic care services, speak to the staff at Apollo Chiropractic today.