The Relationship Between Fibromyalgia and Whiplash

If you have every been in a automobile accident, you know that it can happen in a split second-you experience an impact of some kind as you are in your automobile, and as a result you feel your neck lunge back and forth. This Frequently occurring as a result of rear-end car accidents, this sensation, known as whiplash, is quite common.

Whiplash is also known as neck strain or neck sprain, and it happens when an injury has been done to the soft tissues of the neck. This, however, is just the start of whiplash injuries. Whiplash can be more serious; for instance, damage could be done to nerve roots, ligaments, cervical muscles, discs, and non-vertebral joints. It is important to understand the connection between fibromyalgia and whiplash, it is crucial to recognize the symptoms and typical path of whiplash.

Symptoms Of Whiplash

Of course, the most common symptom of whiplash is pain in the neck. This can happen right after the accident occurs, or possibly a few days afterwords. There are also additional potential symptoms of whiplash as well; they can vary depending on the severity. These symptoms could include: neck stiffness, lightheadedness and headaches, back and shoulder pain, paresthesias, muscle and ligament traumas, and trouble with swallowing or chewing. In order to diagnose whiplash, doctors generally order an x-ray. This lets them see the extent of the damage and the severity of the whiplash.

Treatment Of Whiplash

Whiplash can be treated in several ways. Initially, your doctor will want you to wear a cervical collar for a couple of weeks. But, there are additional treatments and means of soothing a whiplash injury. Alot of physicians prescribe heat therapy, and many others recommend pain killers or muscle relaxants. A few patients even go to a physical therapist to receive physiotherapy or motion exercises to recover the use of their neck muscles. The prescribed treatment will also depend on the severity of the whiplash case.

When Whiplash Just Won't Go Away....The Relation Between Fibromyalgia And Whiplash

Whiplash normally disappears after two to four weeks of treatment. But, because of the connection between fibromyalgia and whiplash, alot of individuals continue to suffer acute pain for several weeks since they have either developed fibromyalgia or because they were misdiagnosed in the first place. If you suspect that you may have fibromyalgia and whiplash, and the symptoms normally related with whiplash have not improved after six to eight weeks, then you need to make an appointment with your physician. Your physician might order some more x-rays so he or she can determine if fibromyalgia and whiplash have played a dual part in your injury.