People often suffer from whiplash as the result of being involved in a car accident. While the symptoms will normally fade over a short period of time, it can add to and prolong the emotional trauma of the accident. If you think you are suffering from whiplash, here’s what to do in order to deal with the physical and emotional impact.
The first thing to do is to get a diagnosis from your doctor. Symptoms can vary from case to case, so it’s important not to try and self-diagnose. The main symptoms associated with whiplash are pain and stiffness in the neck. This can often be accompanied by pain in the shoulders and back, headaches and spasms in the muscles. Some patients also complain of dizziness and difficulty sleeping. The symptoms will usually be delayed. They aren’t normally felt until around six or more hours following the accident.
Although symptoms of whiplash usually fade on their own, your doctor may prescribe a treatment in the meantime to help manage the pain and discomfort. Treatments that may be recommended include:
- Anti-inflammatory medication and painkiller.
- Physiotherapy.
There are also self-help techniques that your doctor may recommend. These include gentle exercises and stretches and using a supportive pillow.
The recovery time will depend on how severe your case of whiplash is. In minor cases, symptoms will only last for a few weeks. But in severe cases, symptoms can last for up to a year. However, in the latter situation your doctor will help you create a long-term pain management plan. This will allow you to maintain the best quality of life possible while you recover.
If your whiplash was caused by a road traffic accident that was not your fault, you might be entitled to compensation. More information on what this will involve can be found on websites like http://www.access2compensation.co.uk/. There are two forms of compensation; general and special. General compensation relates to the seriousness of the injury and the impact it’s had on your life. And special compensation relates to the money you have lost because of the accident. Such expenses can include loss of earnings from being absent from work, cost for treatment or prescriptions and travel costs.
Claiming for compensation for your accident can be draining, both emotionally and physically. When you add this to the trauma you may have experienced following the accident, it can be a lot to deal with. It’s important to bear this in mind when you are considering whether to make a claim or not.
Suffering a car accident is unfortunate enough. Experiencing whiplash as a result of the accident, can make the whole situation a lot worse. However, it’s important to remain positive and to discuss treatment options with your doctor so that you can start on the road to recovery as soon as possible. You may also wish to talk to a lawyer about receiving compensation for the physical, emotional and financial burden that the accident has caused.
Good luck and take care!