Whiplash Facts
| Permanent damage is rare. The long-term outlook is good. |
| Most whiplash injuries are not serious. There is
usually no damage to the bones, discs or nerves in the
spine. Serious injuries are nearly always detected
early. |
| Some people only develop pain a day or two after the accident. That is a good sign. It means the damage to your neck is not serious. |
| Everyone knows that whiplash causes neck pain, but some people also get low back pain. Again, there is rarely any serious damage to the back. |
| It is not uncommon to get headaches after whiplash from tension in the neck. Some people get other symptoms such as arm or jaw pain, or dizziness. All these usually get better along with the neck pain. |
| The acute pain usually improves within days or a few weeks, at least enough to get on with your life. |
| Sometimes aches and pains can persist or recur for quite a long time after a whiplash injury. But that still does not mean it is serious. Even if pain does continue it need not become unbearable or disabling. The pain usually settles eventually - though it can certainly be frustrating that no one can predict exactly when! Yet most people can get going quite quickly, even while they still have some symptoms. |
| What you do in the early stages is very important. Rest for more than a day or two usually does not help and may actually prolong pain and disability. |
| Your neck is designed for movement - a lot of movement. The sooner you get your neck moving and doing your ordinary activities as normally as possible, the sooner you will feel better. |
| The people who cope best with whiplash are those who stay active, exercise their neck, and get on with life despite the pain. |
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