Where Would I Feel Whiplash Pain?

Whiplash can be caused by a number of reasons. The most common event where someone would experience whiplash is during a car accident, but it can also happen on a boat, roller coaster, or even from a simple fall. The action of the neck experiencing trauma from the head being jerked back and forth is what causes this injury, but where would you start feeling pain? The experts at Impact Medical Cutler Bay are here to educate you on whiplash and what you can do if it happens to you.

Where Does Whiplash Pain Occur?

Although the injury itself stems from the neck, various whiplash symptoms can spread to different areas of the upper body. These parts include:

• The front and back of the neck
• The upper and middle back
• The head
• Both shoulders
• Both arms

While most symptoms involve physical pain or debilitation, whiplash can also affect the brain due to nerves in the spine being impacted. Damage to the brain can alter cognition in motor functions, reasoning, and even state of mind. Victims of whiplash have been known to develop signs of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Neck Region

The neck is the center of most whiplash injuries even if the symptoms don’t immediately show. You could experience stiffness and lack of mobility when attempting to turn your head on top of overall pain. Neck injuries need to be treated before they can spread to the spine and shoulders which are right next door.

Upper and Middle Back

Because the neck is directly connected to the spine, there is a huge possibility of feeling pain in the upper and lower back. Slipped or damaged discs and direct impacts can lead to an entire mess of issues including both sharp and dull pain, bruises, and tenderness. Spinal damage can also affect the nerves.

Head and Brain

Nerve damage can have an indirect impact on the brain such as lack of motor function, increased memory loss, and general headaches. These symptoms are definitely not to be slept on as they can lead to lifelong mental illness. On a more physical level, whiplash can cause severe headaches that could be extremely debilitating and even induce nausea.

Arms and Shoulders

If whiplash pain spreads to the shoulders, you could experience muscle spasms, tenderness, and pain. These symptoms can make their way to the arms and limit your range of motion when attempting regular movements.

What to Do If You Get Whiplash

Because of the chance of symptoms evolving into chronic injuries that can last a lifetime, it’s important to get diagnosed by a physical therapist or chiropractor as soon as you can. Even if it feels like you’re not suffering from any injuries, there could be underlying problems that have yet to show themselves. Chronic, long-lasting symptoms can include:

• More intense neck pain
• Worse range of motion
• Radiating pain spread throughout shoulder and arms

Think you could be suffering from whiplash? Visit us before it gets worse! Make an appointment with Impact Medical Cutler Bay today by calling 305-363-7446.