What Is a Whiplash Injury? Causes, Symptoms and When It Is Serious

If your neck has been stiff or sore since a car accident, you may have heard the word whiplash. Cleveland Clinic says whiplash is most common in car crashes, and because some symptoms take hours or even days to show up, it is easy to brush off at first. This guide explains what a whiplash injury is, what it feels like, and when it needs a closer look.

What is a whiplash injury?

Whiplash is an injury that happens when a sudden force or movement strains your neck and spine. In a crash, your body is stopped or pushed suddenly while your head keeps moving, so it snaps back and forth. Cleveland Clinic notes that this can damage the bones, muscles, ligaments and nerves of the neck.

You may also hear it called a neck strain or a neck sprain. Those names describe the soft tissues that get stretched. Whiplash describes how the injury happened.

What causes whiplash

Car crashes are the most common cause, especially rear-end collisions. Whiplash can also come from:

• Contact sports such as football, hockey and rugby
• Roller coasters
• Falls

What whiplash feels like

Symptoms differ from person to person. The ones Cleveland Clinic lists include:

• Stiffness and tenderness in the neck
• Neck pain that can spread to your head, face, shoulder or shoulder blade
• Muscle spasms that make it hard to turn your head
• Headaches
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Vision problems
• Weakness, numbness or tingling
• Hoarseness or trouble swallowing

Why symptoms can show up later

Some whiplash symptoms start right after a crash. Others take at least 12 hours to appear, and Cleveland Clinic says it can take a full day or even a few days for all of them to show up. So feeling fine at the scene does not mean you were not hurt.

Pay attention to how your neck, shoulders and head feel over the next few days, and write down what you notice and when. That record helps whoever examines you.

Is whiplash dangerous?

Most whiplash is not dangerous. Cleveland Clinic says most people, especially with a minor injury, recover within days or a few weeks, while more severe injuries can take several weeks or even months to heal. Severe cases can lead to long-term dizziness, headaches and pain.

The same crash can also injure other parts of your body, including your head, so take the warning signs at the top of this page seriously. Cleveland Clinic advises seeing a healthcare provider for any spine injury, even one that seems minor.

What usually helps

Treatment depends on how badly the neck is hurt, so it is best decided by whoever examines you. Cleveland Clinic lists pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medicines and muscle relaxers, hot or cold packs on the neck for the first seven to 10 days, and guided exercises to strengthen injured areas after they heal. In rare cases, a herniated disk or a broken vertebra may need surgery.

Our guide on how to treat whiplash covers the first few days after a crash in more detail, including what to avoid while you heal.

Florida's 14-day PIP rule

Florida's personal injury protection law pays medical benefits only when initial services and care are received within 14 days after the accident. A chiropractic physician is one of the providers who can give that initial care. What your policy covers depends on your policy and your insurer, so ask your insurer about your own case.

What an evaluation at Align the Spine looks at

At Align the Spine in Deerfield Beach, a car-accident evaluation looks at how your neck and upper back move and where the pain sits. Bring a note of your symptoms and when they started, and if something about your symptoms worries you, say so and ask what the next step should be. Dr. Abe Nasser, D.C., sees patients in English and Spanish.

If your neck hurts after a crash, get it checked rather than waiting to see whether it passes, and call 911 for any of the danger signs above. For what comes next, see our guides on how long whiplash lasts and how to treat whiplash.