Skip to main content
  • Patient Portal
  • Pay Bill
  • Request Appointment
MCHS_Logo_2024_BLACK
    • Services

      Featured Services

      • Cardiology (Heart)
      • Gastroenterology & Hepatology (Digestive Care)
      • Neurosurgery
      • Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB-GYN)
      • Oncology (Cancer)
      • Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery (Bones)
      • Primary Care
      • Spine Care
      • Sports Medicine
      • Surgery
      • Urology

      View all services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Lake City
      • Lake Crystal
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals

    Recent Posts

    • Spoon in mashed potatoes
      Speaking of Health
      It's OK to say 'yes' to potatoes
      June 10, 2025
    • Two people working
      Speaking of Health
      Maintaining healthy relationships with age
      May 15, 2025
    • Charlie Pierce
      Patient Stories
      The sound of success: How improved hearing aids career change
      May 01, 2025
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight-loss (Bariatric) Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Speaking of Health
    Tuesday, September 5, 2023

    Understanding whiplash: Roadmap to relief and recovery

    Topics in this Post
    • Neurosurgery
    Hand on back of neck

    Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when the head is abruptly and forcefully thrown backward and then forward. This quick, violent motion can injure soft tissues of the neck and spine, including the ligaments, muscles, nerves, bones, discs between the bones and other neck tissues.

    Unfortunately, whiplash is a common injury. There are an estimated 3 million cases in the U.S. each year, most commonly caused by rear-end car accidents. Sports accidents, physical abuse or other trauma, like falls, also can cause whiplash.

    Whiplash symptoms

    Usually, whiplash symptoms develop within days of the injury and may include:

    • Dizziness
    • Fatigue
    • Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
    • Loss of range of motion in the neck
    • Neck pain and stiffness
    • Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms
    • Tingling or numbness in the arms
    • Worsening of pain with neck movement

    Some people also have blurred vision, sleep issues, memory problems, tinnitus or irritability.

    You should seek immediate care if you are experiencing severe pain, weakness in the arms or legs, balance problems, or changes in your bowel or bladder function.

    Most people with whiplash get better within a few weeks. However, some people continue to have pain for several months or years after the injury occurred. This is more likely in people who are older, had existing back or neck pain or previous whiplash, or have whiplash due to a high-speed accident.

    Treating whiplash

    Whiplash injuries can cause significant pain and limit the range of motion in the neck. Treatment plans focus on controlling pain and restoring movement so you can return to daily activities.

    Your treatment plan will depend on the extent of your whiplash injury. Some people only need over-the-counter medications and at-home care like rest and applying heat or cold.

    Others may need additional treatments and may be referred to Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

    These professionals consider the whole person and effect on function when developing a treatment plan, including:

    • Prescription medications
      People with more severe pain may be given nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or certain neuromodulating medications that have been shown to help with soft tissue and nerve pain.
    • Muscle relaxants
      Short-term use of these drugs may be recommended to loosen tight muscles and soothe pain. The medicine also can make you feel sleepy, so it may help restore typical sleep patterns if pain is preventing you from getting a good night's rest.
    • Physical therapy
      A physical therapist may perform manual treatments or modalities like heat, cold, electricity or manipulation treatments. A therapist also can provide instructions for exercises to help with pain and restore range of motion.
    • Injections
      Lidocaine or steroid injections may be used to decrease pain. Your team may use ultrasound or X-ray to guide the injection to the correct location and avoid nerves, blood vessels and bones.
    • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
      This treatment applies a mild electric current to the skin to temporarily ease neck pain and improve muscle strength.
    • Regenerative medicine injections
      These targeted treatments for select patients with chronic neck symptoms after whiplash may accelerate healing and reduce inflammation in your neck. Often, they kick-start the body's healing response. Examples include platelet-rich plasma, prolotherapy and mesenchymal stem cell injections.

    Complementary treatments could include acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage. Mind-body exercises like tai chi and yoga may help ease pain and stiffness.

    In the past, soft foam cervical collars were used for whiplash injuries to hold the neck and head still. However it's been found that this can decrease the neck's muscle strength and slow recovery.

    Foam collars sometimes are used immediately after the injury to limit movement and reduce pain, usually for no more than a few days. Your healthcare team will tell you if a collar would be helpful and show you how to use it properly.

    Talk with your healthcare team if you have neck pain or other whiplash symptoms after a car accident, sports injury or other trauma. It's important to be evaluated to rule out broken bones or further damage that could worsen with time.

    By Mayo Clinic Health System Staff.

    Topics in this Post
    • Neurosurgery

    Related Posts

    Young adult playing guitar Treating, repairing the body's electrical system
    mick_sm Mick Caron's miraculous recovery gets him to graduation on time
    Looking to the side Team approach to treating traumatic brain injuries
    Mayo Clinic Health System
    About Us
    Careers
    Volunteer
    Donate
    Contact Us
    Patient Care
    Patients & Visitors
    Classes & Events
    Mayo Clinic Connect
    Mayo Clinic
    Resources
    For Medical Professionals
    Community Resources
    Financial Assistance
    Price Transparency
    Press Room
    Compliance
    Notice of Nondiscrimination
    Notice of Privacy Practices
    No Surprises Act
    Terms of Use
    Manage Cookie
    Privacy Policy
    © 2018 - 2025 Mayo Clinic Health System