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Signs You Have Whiplash Following an Auto Accident

If you have been in a car accident, you could be seriously injured and not realize it. That’s because whiplash, which often occurs in auto accidents, doesn’t always immediately result in pain, stiffness, or any other issue. The signs of whiplash often don’t appear for several days, which is why it’s important for you to get checked out even if you don’t think you were injured. If you’ve been in an auto accident, here are some of the signs of whiplash that you need to watch for.

The Obvious Symptoms: Neck Pain

The most obvious symptoms of whiplash are likely what you will look for first. If you have pain in your neck, stiffness, or find that your neck hurts when you move it, you do need to see your doctor. If you find that your neck is stiff or that it’s hard to move your head, it could also indicate whiplash even if there is no pain.

Headaches and Pain in Other Places

However, there are times when whiplash doesn’t affect the neck. These are the signs of whiplash that people often overlook or confuse with other injuries. For example, headaches are not uncommon with whiplash. You may also feel pain in other parts of your body, commonly the upper back, shoulders, or arms. You should always see a doctor if you feel pain after an accident, even if it’s several days later. This is especially true if it’s severe pain or if the pain increases.

Symptoms Other than Pain

While pain is the biggest indicator that you have been hurt, it’s not the only way the body signals that something is wrong. If you’ve been in a car accident, had your head thrown forwards and backwards but don’t feel pain, you can still have whiplash. You may simply be experiencing other symptoms that aren’t as easy to diagnose.

These symptoms include feeling dizzy or having a tingling sensation in your arms. You may also feel tired. Unfortunately, it’s easy to pass off this fatigue as simply being exhausted from the accident. The same is true with some of the less common signs of whiplash, which include trouble sleeping, feeling irritable, having blurred vision, or having a ringing sound in your ears.

If you have any of these signs, you need to see someone right away. Dr. Jeff Mollins and his team can diagnose and treat your whiplash. Contact us today to make an appointment.

Posted in: Auto Accident Doctor, Back Pain Treatment, Blog, Injury Treatment, Neck Pain Treatment, Orthopedics, Physical Examinations, Slip and Fall Accidents, Uncategorized, Work Injuries, Workers Compensation