Three Types of Whiplash Injuries

If you have experienced whiplash, you know that the pain can affect your daily activities. It’s common for whiplash strains to go away on its own. It’s important that you seek medical care when you’ve been involved in any type of accident. There are three most common types of whiplash injuries we see from our patients here at Utah Accident Clinic.

Types of Whiplash:

Cervical Ligament Sprains

When you have been involved in an accident that causes great force, your ligaments around the spine may be pulled. Pulling causes stretching and tearing. This will cause you to have minor to severe neck pain, which could be a cervical ligament sprain. Some of the symptoms that you might experience is feeling pain in the neck area a few days after the accident. You may also have a headache that is felt in the back of the head. Pain can occur in that area with any neck movement. If you start to feel numbness in your arms or tingling, you should seek medical attention immediately. These types of whiplash can be more severe than you think.

Cervical Muscle Strains

Cervical Muscle Strain is very common with auto accident patients. Much like a cervical ligament sprain, this injury means there’s been a stretch or tear. Unlike a sprain, it occurs in a muscle or a tendon. This strain occurs at the connection of the spine and neck. It happens when the head jolts forcefully front to back or side to side. Those who experience this strain will usually feel much more tired and irritable. As they move, they will also begin to feel a sharp pain in the cervical spine and may get frequent headaches. 

Cervical Facet Joint Injuries 

Cervical Facet Joint injuries happen when an abrupt movement occurs in your neck. This injury can greatly affect your daily activities because the pain can trickle down to your back. Basically, the facets tear away from one another, which can injure the cartilage and cause pain and inflammation. If the facet joint becomes dislocated, the pain will be much more severe. Most patients will feel lots of pain when leaning forward or backwards and some will feel pain radiate in the lower back, all the way down to their back thighs. In some cases, the pain will go away if the facet joint gets back into proper position on its own, but even the slightest movement can cause it to dislocate again. Contact Utah Accident Clinic in Provo, UT to schedule a consultation on your injury.