What Happens If I Don't Get My Whiplash Injury Treated?

Whiplash is a common injury, often resulting from car accidents, that involves the neck being suddenly jolted back and forth.

Soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash, can take quite some time to heal, and the longer you put off treatment for whiplash, the more likely it is you will suffer from long-term pain. 

There is a risk of severe symptoms and permanent damage to your joints and muscles if you do not see a healthcare professional to treat your symptoms of whiplash quickly. 

This blog will explain untreated whiplash symptoms, its side effects, and how to get effective treatment.  

Table of contents:

• The Dangers of Untreated Whiplash
• What is Whiplash? 
• Can Whiplash Symptoms Get Worse Over Time? 
• Untreated Whiplash Symptoms
• Side Effects of Whiplash
• Whiplash Treatment

The Dangers of Untreated Whiplash 

If you were involved in a Car Accident, one of the most common injuries to suffer from is whiplash. A soft tissue injury such as whiplash affects the ligaments, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues.

Whiplash often occurs when the neck is suddenly thrust forward and backward. This whip-like motion causes tears in the soft tissue and muscles and cervical spinal misalignments.

Whiplash injuries are often dismissed as minor or something that will fix itself. Unfortunately, this dismissal often leads many victims to develop very serious complications later down the road.

If you are ever in a car accident, no matter how you feel afterward, you should always seek chiropractic treatment. 

Some injury symptoms lay dormant for hours or days after an accident, and your chiropractor can be sure you don't have any underlying injuries that could produce long-term symptoms and mobility issues if left untreated. 

Related post: How do I know if I have Whiplash?

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a soft tissue neck injury resulting from forceful, rapid back-and-forth neck movement that imitates the cracking of a whip.

The whip-like motion is where the injury gets its name.

Whiplash occurs most often during rear-end auto accidents, but the injury can also result from sports injuries, physical abuse, or other neck or head trauma.

Common symptoms include:

• upper neck stiffness
• soreness
• brain fog
• recurring headaches
• blurred vision
• loss of range of motion
• sleep disturbances
• shoulder pain
• intense pain in the neck muscles 
• head pain
• muscle weakness
• muscle spasms
• muscle tension
• cognitive issues
• poor concentration
• balance issues

If you begin to feel soreness in your neck and shoulders or pain in your back, it may be a sign of Whiplash.

Fortunately, most people get better within a few weeks if they follow the treatment options from their chiropractor.

However, untreated whiplash symptoms can lead to chronic neck pain and other long-term symptoms and complications that can seriously affect quality of life. 

Whiplash is a common result of auto accidents, and chiropractors provide exceptional medical care and proper treatment. 

In car accidents, the force of the vehicle that hit you may have also misaligned your cervical spine, causing spinal injuries, extreme pain, and chronic symptoms. 

It may also surprise you to learn that physical injuries such as blunt trauma to the head from sports (such as football, boxing, and other physically intensive or combative sports) can cause whiplash as well.

Whiplash can even result from jerking neck movement and intensive neck strain.

If your work involves awkward neck movement or abrupt head or neck alignment changes, you may be more prone to suffering from persistent symptoms of whiplash. 

Can Whiplash Symptoms Get Worse Over Time?

Neck pain and stiffness from a whiplash injury are often worse the day after the injury and may produce ongoing symptoms that continue to get worse for several days afterward, especially if left untreated. 

Some people with severe whiplash experience things like headaches for years following their accident.

Doctors may be able to trace this pain to damaged neck joints, disks, and ligaments. However, chronic pain following a whiplash injury typically has no medical explanation.

However, very few people have any long-term complications from whiplash.

Recovery time usually ranges from a few days to several weeks, with most people recovering fully within three months.

Whiplash is usually short-lived and self-limiting if you receive chiropractic adjustments quickly after a whiplash accident

There is a small percentage of people whose symptoms persist beyond six months when the condition becomes chronic.

Untreated Whiplash Symptoms

Whiplash injuries are known for not presenting symptoms until hours or days after an accident occurs.

Because whiplash is a soft tissue injury and not a bone fracture, it does not always show up clearly on X-rays, MRI scans, or CT scans.

Just because the onset of symptoms is not immediate, and they are not always detectable with image testing, does not mean they should be dismissed.

On the contrary, the effects of untreated whiplash are capable of producing very painful, chronic conditions that make daily tasks and normal range of movement completely impossible.

Untreated whiplash can have serious long-term side effects, even contributing to Degenerative Disc Disease–a condition that occurs when discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column deteriorate or break down, leading to pain, weakness, and numbness.

Many victims suffering from the effects of untreated whiplash will require physical therapy, foam collars, pain medications, trigger point injectors, and ongoing chiropractic care.

Oftentimes, the adrenaline rush that occurs during an accident will mask pain, which means many victims do not have physical signs of injury immediately after the accident.

Of course, after several hours or even a few days have gone by, the victim may begin to notice common signs of whiplash.

• Neck Pain that radiates through the back and upper shoulder area.
• Pain that is accompanied by swelling, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.
• Headaches or pain at the base of the skull.
• Ringing, hissing, static, or humming noises are heard in the ears.
• Dizziness, feeling faint, or feeling as if the world is spinning.

Unless the accident victim receives professional care, they are very likely to suffer from long-term issues and even constant pain. 

Side Effects of Whiplash

Soft tissue injuries can take quite some time to heal, and the longer medical treatment is put off, the long-term whiplash symptoms and debilitating side effects that can occur include:

Stiffness and Loss of Motion: Moving the neck may become impossible without experiencing excruciating pain. The limited range of motion can result in stiffness and improper muscle healing, limiting the range of motion in the cervical spine until it's treated properly.

Sleeping Difficulties: Chronic neck pain can make sleeping an unbearable challenge and often results in even more stiffness after a restless night's sleep.

Depression and Anxiety: Whiplash pain can keep you from going about your daily life. Many people will be in pain just trying to accomplish everyday tasks. This can lead to long-term depression and anxiety as your injury holds you back from the things you're accustomed to doing on your own. This can spiral out of control, causing personal and professional relationship issues.

Dizziness and Vertigo: The impingement of the neck synapses that communicate to the brain can cause severe dizzy spells that often lead to vertigo and cause the victims to fall when they normally would not, along with intense feelings of nausea.

Tinnitus: Untreated whiplash can cause persistent ear buzzing and ringing, known as tinnitus. This condition can make it difficult for victims to focus and sleep, which can lead to irritability.

Headaches and Migraines: Neck pain tends to cause intense headaches and migraines. These can last for days and become serious enough to affect daily life.

Whiplash Treatment 

When you are involved in a Car Accident, regardless of how you feel immediately following the crash, seeking medical treatment from an experienced Chiropractor is crucial for your recovery.

The Chiropractors at Arrowhead Clinic have been treating Whiplash victims for over 30 years.

We specialize in severe injury treatment, so we have the confidence that we can help with your recovery.

After reading about the dangers of untreated accident injuries, there is really no reason to put off prompt treatment after an accident.

In the best-case scenario, the doctor will not find any injuries, and you'll be released with a clear conscience that you won't suffer from the physical symptoms or long-term problems of any underlying injuries.

You have nothing to lose by seeking the expert opinion of medical professionals who have years of training and know exactly how to determine if someone is suffering from issues after whiplash.

When you come to Arrowhead Clinic, you will first be given a free consultation. This is your time to speak with the doctor and let them know the details surrounding your accident.

You will then be given an in-depth physical examination to determine the extent of your injuries (if any).

Once your examination is complete, you will be diagnosed with a customized treatment plan that will include gentle adjustments that are specifically tailored to your recovery needs.

Not everyone with a whiplash injury will receive the exact same physical adjustments and treatment.

Every patient suffers from different neck misalignments, and their accident is unique, which means their treatment plan will be different as well.

If you were involved in a Car Accident, there is a good chance you are suffering from a Whiplash injury.

Do not put off treatment until something bad happens.

When you contact our clinic, we will provide you with a free injury consultation and a referral to a personal injury attorney who will help file a claim against the liable party. 

Filing a personal injury claim on your own can be difficult, which is why we make sure your personal injury lawsuit is being handled by the best attorneys.

Let our experienced Chiropractors diagnose and treat your whiplash injury before it turns into chronic pain.

Click below to schedule your Free Consultation.