Hurting your neck after a car accident is commonly referred to as a “whiplash” injury. Whiplash refers to how your neck is jerked forwards, then backwards after a collision. Unfortunately, whiplash injuries are very common and can even become permanent. Here are some facts about whiplash:
- In 60%-80% of cases of chronic pain after whiplash, the facet joint (a joint on either side of the vertebra) has been injured by either stretching or compressing the joint.
- In a rear end collision, it only takes 3.5 G forces to injure the facet joint. This is less than an 8 mph impact.
- A front end impact of 10G forces is sufficient to damage most of the discs of the cervical spine. This is achieved in an 18 mph impact. A rear end impact requires even less speed to generate sufficient force to injure discs.
- Having your head turned during a rear end impact reduces the force required to cause an injury to the facet joint.
- If you are struck by a heavy vehicle, even less G forces are required to cause serious injuries.
- Whiplash can cause permanent injury to ligaments of the spine, making it easier to reinjure them in future accidents.
- MRI’s can commonly be normal, or just show minor bulges, after a severe whiplash injury.
- When pain lasts more than 12 weeks after an accident it’s considered to be chronic. This means it is time to see a physician specializing in spine medicine.
- When there is severe disabling pain, grip or hand weakness, balance problems or incontinence after a whiplash injury, see your doctor or go to the ER. You may have spinal cord injury.
