alaric378Contacts in the network : Myspace (no) , Facebook (no) |
Is it Neck Pain or Whiplash? Know the Difference (2014-03-26)
Whiplash is a fairly common neck injury that usually results from a motor vehicle accident. The unrestrained, rapid forward and backward movement of the neck causes a strain that may cause acute or chronic pain. Since whiplash is not a life threatening injury, the pain can be misjudged as ordinary neck pain and left as such. If untreated, whiplash can cause severe pain and difficulty in neck mobility. Whiplash is the most common misdiagnosed injury, being frequently mistaken for neck pain caused by stress and other factors.
Following is a list of symptoms that are similar in whiplash and normal neck pain:
Neck pain and stiffness that is more severe following the accident and tends to get mild with time. Persistent pain must be reported immediately
Reduced and painful neck mobility
Tenderness over the neck muscles
Headaches
Less common symptoms of whiplash:
Pain, numbness and tingling feeling in arms and hands
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Muscle spasms
Tiredness
Vertigo
Memory loss, irritability and poor concentration may also result
Generally the symptoms of whiplash disappear within a few days of the accident but if they persist, the patient should seek medical help . Unattended, whiplash could develop into a chronic condition that causes not only pain, but lack of mobility and would take longer to treat.
At los angeles pain clinic , whiplash is treated by using a combination of treatments including medications, physical therapy, injections and strengthening exercises. Short term narcotic medications are also prescribed in certain cases. Pain management doctors also use interventional pain management methods including facet injections, radio frequency ablation, trigger point injections and medial branch blocks. Physical therapy and acupuncture is also suggested to patients who do not want to take medication.
Some patients may not want to take medication because they may have certain side effects or adverse reactions from medicine. This is why they often opt for more natural and less evasive techniques such as therapy. However, therapy alone may not work in all cases, which may push doctors to use medication and in some instances, even surgery. However, surgery is not very common in an injury that involves whiplash.
The main aim of Los Angles pain management clinics is to minimize pain and provide patients with treatments that enable them to lead a healthy and happy life.
Become a fan