Whiplash from a Car Wreck

The news typically reports on motor vehicle accidents involving traffic fatalities or other injuries.  However, the majority of collisions occur at slower speeds and are non-fatal.  One of the more common injuries is whiplash from a car wreck.

Whiplash often occurs to a driver when he/she is involved in a rear-end collision.  The driver’s head is forced back into the headrest and is then thrown forward due to the exertion of forces on the vehicle.  This violent “whipping” of the head causes straining of the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the neck and cervical spine, among others areas.

Surprisingly, a brain injury can result from a collision at speeds as low as 17 miles per hour.

Common Symptoms of a Whiplash from a Car Wreck

The pain felt can vary from mild to severe, depending on the person and the speed at the time of the collision.  Here are some common symptoms:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Shoulder pain
• Pain in the lower back
• Numbness and “pins and needles” in the arm or hands
• Painful muscle spasms
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears
• Forgetfulness

Start with KPA

Many people attempt to simply take an over-the-counter pain reliever and try to tough it out.  Others may decide to see a chiropractor to deal with whiplash from a car wreck.  However, several personal injury attorneys have joined us on our podcast to explain why you could benefit from treating first at Kentucky Pain Associates.  We can provide prescriptions, injections, nerve tests and other types of treatments for pain.

If you’re working with an attorney on your accident claim, having a Board-Certified physician directing your care and medical treatment can actually help to substantiate the value of your claim.

We can act as your supervising physician and refer you to a chiropractor for that important form of treatment.  KPA has worked closely with chiropractors for years.  Our different approaches to treating clients work well together for the benefit of the crash victim.

Brain Injuries from Whiplash

As it relates to the last four symptoms in our above list, those are often signs of much more serious injuries.  Brain injuries are typically not diagnosed in the ER.  The symptoms may show up after you’ve been discharged.  The sooner a person who has been in a traffic accident gets diagnosed with a brain injury, the quicker important treatment can begin. Kentucky Pain Associates has the equipment and experience to properly test for brain injuries.

If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) and suffered whiplash, contact KPA to schedule an initial exam and to begin treatment for your injuries.  They may be more serious than you realize.

 

Need to Set Up an Appointment with Kentucky Pain Associates?

We Offer 3 locations to serve you:

Louisville:  222 South 1^st Street, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202

Elizabethtown:  1107 Crowne Point Dr., Suite 100, Elizabethtown, KY 42701

Lexington:  101 Prosperous Place, Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40509

 

Feel free to Contact Us via the website or by calling (502) 855-3919.  We also provide a telemedicine option (video call) for people outside of those areas.

Remember, work injury or MVA?  Think KPA!