Whiplash After a Car Accident: Symptoms That Can Show Up Days Later

Quick answer: Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to the neck, also called a neck sprain or strain, and car accidents are a common cause. Symptoms such as neck pain, stiffness and headaches do not always show up at the scene; they often appear a day or more after the crash. If your neck starts hurting in the days after an accident in Bedford, get checked, and go to an emergency room for any of the warning signs listed below.

The medical background below comes from MedlinePlus, the consumer health site of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The rest is how we approach whiplash at Back & Neck Care Center of Bedford.

What is whiplash?

MedlinePlus describes whiplash as a soft tissue injury to the neck, also called neck sprain or strain, and lists falls and accidents, including car accidents, as a common cause of neck pain. A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, the tissue that connects bones at a joint. A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon, the tissue that connects muscle to bone. In a crash, the sudden back-and-forth movement of the head can stretch these tissues past their normal range.

Why can whiplash symptoms show up days later?

After a car accident, adrenaline can hide pain for a while, and inflammation in injured tissue builds over time. That is why many people feel fine at the scene and sore the next morning, or later in the week. MedlinePlus makes a similar point about concussion: its symptoms, which can include headache and neck pain, may start days or weeks after the injury.

What symptoms should you watch for after a crash?

Symptom	What it can feel like	What to do
Neck pain	Soreness or a deep ache, worse when you turn your head	Get checked in the next few days
Stiffness	Trouble checking your blind spot or looking down	Get checked in the next few days
Headaches	Often starting at the base of the skull	Get checked; go to the ER if it gets worse and does not go away
Shoulder or upper back pain	Tight muscles between the shoulder blades	Get checked in the next few days
Tingling or numbness in an arm or hand	Pins and needles, or a weak grip	Get checked promptly
Dizziness, confusion, vomiting	Feeling dazed or not like yourself	Go to the ER or call 911

When is neck pain after an accident an emergency?

Go to an emergency room or call 911 for loss of consciousness, seizures, drowsiness or trouble waking up, a headache that gets worse and does not go away, repeated vomiting, confusion, slurred speech, or weakness, numbness or poor coordination. MedlinePlus lists these as more serious symptoms after a head injury. Chiropractic care is not emergency care.

How is whiplash treated?

MedlinePlus says treatment for neck pain depends on the cause and may include ice, pain relievers, physical therapy or a cervical collar, and that surgery is rarely needed. For sprains and strains, it says early treatment usually means rest, ice, compression and medicines, followed later by exercise and physical therapy.

At Back & Neck Care Center of Bedford, care starts with a consultation, a history and an examination, with x-rays in the office if your condition calls for them. Dr. Richard Chatfield, D.C., whose continuing education includes Upper Cervical Treatment Techniques, then builds a plan around your injury. It usually centers on gentle chiropractic adjustments and can add soft tissue and massage therapy, therapeutic stretches and exercises, and cervical spinal decompression for disc-related neck pain. Most patients get their first treatment at the first visit.

What can you do at home in the first few days?

Keep it simple and gentle. Rest the injured area and use ice early on, as MedlinePlus suggests for sprains and strains, and save exercise for later in your recovery. Avoid heavy lifting and long drives where you hold your head in one position. Write down when each symptom started and what makes it better or worse; it helps your exam and your records. Do not try to “crack” your own neck, and do not wait out symptoms that are getting worse. If pain spreads into an arm, or you feel numbness or tingling, call to be seen promptly.

Does it matter for your insurance claim when you get checked?

A prompt exam means your injuries are written down close to the date of the crash. The Texas Department of Insurance tells drivers to let their insurer know if they were injured and to give it copies of medical reports and bills, and to talk to their doctor about future treatment before signing a settlement release. For questions about your claim itself, talk to an attorney; we do not give legal advice, but we can give you a referral. Our personal injury protection (PIP) guide explains one coverage that can help pay for care.

What else can a rear-end or side-impact crash do?

Whiplash rarely comes alone. Back pain, disc injuries, sciatica and headaches are all common after car accidents. Read back and neck pain after a crash: when to get checked, and if you were just in a wreck, start with what to do after a car accident in Bedford.

Why choose Back & Neck Care Center of Bedford for whiplash care?

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries we see in car accident patients, and the clinic has 30 years of treating injury cases. We see patients promptly, take x-rays in the office when needed, accept most insurance and do all the paperwork. We also treat everyday neck pain.

We are at 2803 Central Dr in Bedford, by appointment. Call (817) 283-6100 or request an appointment.

This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. In an emergency, call 911.