Sunday, July 7, 2013

Atlanta Personal Injury Health Professional Explains Whiplash Injury

Whiplash is a fairly common condition that occurs when the neck is violently driven forward and backwards, very often seen in car accidents. A whole lot has been studied and reported about this condition and may personal injury doctors have found very resourceful ways to cure this unpleasant ache.

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Car accident doctor Atlanta

Whiplash associated disorders are labeled based on their magnitude and symptoms the patient is suffering from. There are 3 mains types for the classification of whiplash associated disorders (WAD).

WAD 1: Patient complains of discomfort but the physician is not able to find ways to reproduce the pain during an exam.

WAD 2a: Patient complains of soreness and the health professional can reproduce the pain but the patient has regular range of motion of the neck and neurological findings are negative.

WAD 2b: Patient complains of pain and the doctor can easily reproduce the pain with decreased mobility of the neck

WAD 3: Patient has aching, decreased range of motion, and unusual neurological results

WAD 4: This is more serious and involves dislocations and/or fractures.


In a car accident, it's impossible to protect yourself against the factors that take place during an accident. The forces are significantly larger and faster than a person can consciously contract their muscles to brace themselves. Even minimal speed impacts with very little damage to the car could potentially cause injury to a patient.

Whiplash symptoms vary but the most frequent ones include neck ache, headaches, ringing in the ears, dizziness, rigidity, shoulder pain, and sometimes double vision. In the event that signs and symptoms are present for a long time, the patient may start experiencing depression, sleep problems, pharmaceutical dependency, and panic disorders.

To properly diagnose this condition, the car accident doctor Atlanta needs to execute a complete history, physical exam, and MRI (when necessary). Proper treatment may include rest, cold compresses, electrical muscle stimulation, therapeutic exercises, spinal mobilization, and pain management. In the event of more severe injuries, prescribed medication and shots may necessary to bring the patient relief and help to accelerate recovery.

For additional information on the treatment of soft tissues injuries please visit this link