Different people have varying symptoms of whiplash which can be dependent on multiple factors such as speed of impact, the position of you head and neck on impact and the physical characteristics of the person.
Neck pain and stiffness are the most commonly reported symptoms of whiplash.
Other symptoms that patients often experience include
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Arm pain
- Blurred vision
It is also is extremely important due to the typically traumatic nature of a whiplash injury that we identify other more sinister issues that will need addressing.
Things like
- Numbness or pins and needles in one or both of the arms
- Weakness of the upper limb and loss of reflexes
- Breathing difficulties
- Difficulty supporting the head on your neck
- Difficulty speaking or swallowing
Most people who experience a whiplash injury will completely recover within 3 months of the initial injury.
BUT, this can vary depending on the factors mentioned above and can resolve a lot quicker or a lot slower than you may expect.
In some cases symptoms can last up to a year or longer.
This means that is important to get diagnosed and begin treatment early in order to get the best possible result and avoid ending up with a chronic condition.