Back Injury and Whiplash Resulting from Car Accidents

Car accidents can result, not just in damages to properties, but also in serious injuries or even death. According to Fatality Analysis Reporting System, there were more than 37,000 fatal crashes in 2007, killing a total of 41,000 people.

The department also said that fatal crashes often occur between midnight and 3 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with 1,251 and 1,383 reported cases, respectively.

Meanwhile, surviving victims of car accidents usually sustained whiplash and back injury especially when the impact is so strong that their bones absorbed the shock resulting to dislocation or breakage.

This happens when the neck sustained injuries caused by the sudden distortion. Such injury is very common in car accidents since the neck area is one of the most vulnerable parts of a human body.

According to experts, whiplash often occurs during a rear-end collision but can also happen when a person falls to the ground.

In some cases, the symptoms of whiplash can only be felt after few days following the accident. Common symptoms are pain in the neck and back, headaches, shoulder pain, and pain in the arms and legs (the sensation feels like there are thousands of pins piercing the area).

The first aid treatment for whiplash is putting an ice bag on the neck to reduce inflammation. Meanwhile, the person should lie in bed with his head resting on the ice bag for about 20 minutes.

Victims of car crash who sustained whiplash injury should immediately go to a doctor. Because ignoring such injury can be a life-long health problem if the victim does not receive proper medication and therapy.

With many people sustaining whiplash injury, some carmaker giants including Toyota, Jaguar Cars Ltd., Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan, and Hyundai have introduced new models that will provide more support to the head and neck area.

This injury is also common in car accidents and requires immediate medical attention to prevent this from getting worse. Just like whiplash, the symptoms of back injury may not be apparent in the first few days after the accident.

According to doctors, back injury symptoms may vary depending on what part of the spinal cord has been damaged.

Common Symptoms of Back Injury

• Pain
• Swelling
• Weakness
• Instability
• Locking
• Stiffness

People with back injury may feel either acute or chronic pain.

Acute pain happens right after the accident (falling from the ladder, car crash, carrying heavy loads) and often subsides quickly. And according to experts, this common type of back pain usually lasts less than six weeks.

Acute pain usually goes away without taking medications. Meanwhile, paracetamol, ibuprofen, or aspirin can provide relief from pain. Meanwhile, chronic pain lasts longer than acute pain. This condition lasts more than three months and can turn into a life-long health problem since it can interfere with every day activity.

In most cases, chronic pain requires special medication and surgery (but this is the last resort for most doctors).