Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsRare SymptomsComplicationsWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Rare Symptoms
Complications
When to Seek Care
Common symptoms ofwhiplashinclude neck pain and stiffness, headache, dizziness, shoulder and back pain, and a tingling sensation in the neck or down the arms.The symptoms and treatment depend on the severity of the injury.
In this article, learn more about the symptoms associated with whiplash and the best treatment options. The article also touches on severe injuries that can lead to complications.
Whiplash StatisticsWhiplash, a neck sprain, occurs from sudden neck jerking, often during a motor vehicle collision. Whiplash injuries account for approximately 75% of all survivable road traffic collision injuries.
Whiplash Statistics
Whiplash, a neck sprain, occurs from sudden neck jerking, often during a motor vehicle collision. Whiplash injuries account for approximately 75% of all survivable road traffic collision injuries.
The most common symptoms that can occur, even with a minor injury, include:
While people can develop some neck pain shortly after an injury, the more intense pain and stiffness associated with whiplash typically do not occur right after the injury. Symptoms are usually the worst the next day (24 hours later).At that time, people seek medical attention and the severity of their injury is determined.
When Do Symptoms Begin?Researchers have found that approximately 65% of people with whiplash develop symptoms within six hours of the injury. 93% of people develop symptoms within 24 hours. 100% of people develop symptoms within 72 hours.
When Do Symptoms Begin?
Researchers have found that approximately 65% of people with whiplash develop symptoms within six hours of the injury. 93% of people develop symptoms within 24 hours. 100% of people develop symptoms within 72 hours.
Whiplash vs. Traumatic Cervical Spine Injury
Whiplash typically describes mild to moderate neck injury without significant bony or neurological symptoms. While minor injuries strain the neck muscles, significant neck injuries can lead to fractures and dislocations of the spine and can affect the nerves and spinal cord.
Once a person develops neurological problems associated with a neck injury, the diagnosis changes slightly totraumatic cervical spine injuryinstead of whiplash.These differences can be confusing since they are on the same spectrum, but whiplash is considered a mild to moderate injury.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms that can be associated with whiplash injury but are less common or only occur with a severe injury include:
X-RaysClinical guidelines for evaluating whiplash injury indicate clinicians should obtain X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans only if they suspect a high-grade injury (grades 3 or 4).
X-Rays
Clinical guidelines for evaluating whiplash injury indicate clinicians should obtain X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans only if they suspect a high-grade injury (grades 3 or 4).
People with severe injuries can develop rare symptoms that often indicate traumatic cervical spine injury instead of whiplash, and they include:
If you develop these symptoms, you probably have more than just whiplash.
Complications from whiplash can occur, especially with severe grade 3 or grade 4 injuries. However, most people generally recover from their symptoms within a few weeks to a few months.The most common complications of a genuine whiplash injury include chronic (long-term) pain and headaches.
Chronic HeadachesSome research reports indicate that 20% to 40% of people with a whiplash injury are left withchronic headaches.
Chronic Headaches
Some research reports indicate that 20% to 40% of people with a whiplash injury are left withchronic headaches.
More significant complications can occur with extreme injuries, but they are associated with cervical spine fractures and dislocations. Sometimes people confuse whiplash and traumatic cervical spine injury, but whiplash is mild to moderate, whereas traumatic cervical spine injury is severe neck damage.
Traumatic cervical spine injury can affect the spinal cord and be associated with chronic neurological problems, including numbness, weakness, and difficulty walking.Some severe injuries lead to paralysis and paraplegia.
Do not confuse these complications with a whiplash injury. Although whiplash is on the spectrum of neck injuries, these more serious complications are associated with traumatic cervical spine injury.
When to See a Healthcare Provider/Go to the Hospital
If you are involved in a fairly significant motor vehicle collision or another type of injury involving the neck, it is important to seek medical attention to assess for severe injuries. This is especially true if you develop any numbness or weakness.
Pain Often Is Felt the Next DayRemember, the pain from a whiplash injury is typically more severe the next day rather than when you visit the hospital shortly after the injury.
Pain Often Is Felt the Next Day
Remember, the pain from a whiplash injury is typically more severe the next day rather than when you visit the hospital shortly after the injury.
Whiplash injury treatment depends on whether it is an acute injury or a person has developed chronic neck pain and stiffness. Acute pain can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and moist heat.
Whiplash is like other musculoskeletal injuries, so OTC medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen) effectively treat the pain. Advil is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory that can be taken with the pain reliever Tylenol, which work in different ways.
The mainstay of treatment, especially chronic treatment, is encouraging regular activity with stretching and exercise.People can use several range of motion exercises to strengthen their neck muscles and relieve the pain.
People should not restrict neck movement with a hard or soft collar, as they are ineffective for treating acute pain from a whiplash injury.
Muscle relaxers, like Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine), have generally not been shown to improve pain over using the traditional remedies discussed.
Summary
Whiplash is a neck sprain that often occurs after a motor vehicle collision but can happen with any injury that quickly jerks the neck forward and backward. Common symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, and some people can develop chronic pain and headaches.
It is important not to confuse whiplash with traumatic cervical spine injury. Whiplash is a mild to moderate injury of the neck muscles. Treatment includes OTC pain medicines, moist heat, and stretching exercises.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whiplash.MedlinePlus.Neck Injuries and Disorders.Sterling M.Physiotherapy management of whiplash-associated disorders (WAD).J Physiother. 2014;60(1):5-12. doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2013.12.004Tanaka N, Atesok K, Nakanishi K, et al.Pathology and treatment of traumatic cervical spine syndrome: whiplash injury.Adv Orthop. 2018;2018:4765050. doi:10.1155/2018/4765050Van Den Hauwe L, Sundgren PC, Flanders AE.Spinal trauma and spinal cord injury (SCI). In: Hodler J, Kubik-Huch RA, von Schulthess GK, eds.Diseases of the Brain, Head and Neck, Spine 2020–2023: Diagnostic Imaging. Cham (CH): Springer; 2020.231-240.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whiplash.MedlinePlus.Neck Injuries and Disorders.Sterling M.Physiotherapy management of whiplash-associated disorders (WAD).J Physiother. 2014;60(1):5-12. doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2013.12.004Tanaka N, Atesok K, Nakanishi K, et al.Pathology and treatment of traumatic cervical spine syndrome: whiplash injury.Adv Orthop. 2018;2018:4765050. doi:10.1155/2018/4765050Van Den Hauwe L, Sundgren PC, Flanders AE.Spinal trauma and spinal cord injury (SCI). In: Hodler J, Kubik-Huch RA, von Schulthess GK, eds.Diseases of the Brain, Head and Neck, Spine 2020–2023: Diagnostic Imaging. Cham (CH): Springer; 2020.231-240.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whiplash.MedlinePlus.Neck Injuries and Disorders.Sterling M.Physiotherapy management of whiplash-associated disorders (WAD).J Physiother. 2014;60(1):5-12. doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2013.12.004Tanaka N, Atesok K, Nakanishi K, et al.Pathology and treatment of traumatic cervical spine syndrome: whiplash injury.Adv Orthop. 2018;2018:4765050. doi:10.1155/2018/4765050Van Den Hauwe L, Sundgren PC, Flanders AE.Spinal trauma and spinal cord injury (SCI). In: Hodler J, Kubik-Huch RA, von Schulthess GK, eds.Diseases of the Brain, Head and Neck, Spine 2020–2023: Diagnostic Imaging. Cham (CH): Springer; 2020.231-240.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whiplash.
MedlinePlus.Neck Injuries and Disorders.
Sterling M.Physiotherapy management of whiplash-associated disorders (WAD).J Physiother. 2014;60(1):5-12. doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2013.12.004
Tanaka N, Atesok K, Nakanishi K, et al.Pathology and treatment of traumatic cervical spine syndrome: whiplash injury.Adv Orthop. 2018;2018:4765050. doi:10.1155/2018/4765050
Van Den Hauwe L, Sundgren PC, Flanders AE.Spinal trauma and spinal cord injury (SCI). In: Hodler J, Kubik-Huch RA, von Schulthess GK, eds.Diseases of the Brain, Head and Neck, Spine 2020–2023: Diagnostic Imaging. Cham (CH): Springer; 2020.231-240.
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