Whiplash

Louisiana Pain Specialists

Pain Management & Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation located in New Orleans, Kenner, Baton Rouge, Marrero, Laplace, & Metairie, LA

Whiplash trauma can lead to extensive injuries in your neck and lower back and cause headaches or a concussion. Yet you may not have any symptoms right away. The experienced team at Louisiana Pain Specialists offers regenerative and interventional treatments to relieve severe or persistent whiplash pain. The most important thing is getting an immediate check-up for prompt treatment. To schedule an appointment, call one of the offices in Kenner, Metairie, Laplace, Baton Rouge, Marrero, and New Orleans, Louisiana, or book an appointment online today.

Whiplash Q & A

What causes whiplash?

Whiplash, also called cervical acceleration/deceleration (CAD) syndrome, occurs when your neck suddenly and rapidly snaps back and forth.

The fast, jerking motion forces the vertebrae beyond their normal range of motion. As a result, whiplash can damage the vertebrae, ligaments, muscles, and nerves.

Auto accidents represent the top cause of whiplash. However, the same injury can occur during contact sports, due to physical trauma, or even while riding a roller coaster.

What symptoms develop after a whiplash?

After a whiplash, your symptoms could appear immediately or not for several days. You may experience a range of symptoms, including:

Neck pain
Neck stiffness
Headaches
Shoulder pain
Lower back pain
Back pain
Dizziness or vertigo
Ringing in your ears
Pain or tingling in your arm or hand
Numbness in your arm or hand

Some people might develop memory problems, changes in vision, and difficulty concentrating. You may also suffer a concussion during a whiplash injury.

How is whiplash treated?

The first treatment step for whiplash begins with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, rest, gentle stretching, muscle relaxants, and physical therapy.

In some cases, you may need to apply heat to relax the muscles, temporarily wear a cervical traction collar, or get an injection to reduce inflammation.

When you still have pain despite conservative therapy, Louisiana Pain Specialists recommend interventional and regenerative treatments, including:

Regenerative treatments

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections draw stem cells to the damaged tissues, speed up healing, and regulate inflammation. In addition, your provider may recommend prolotherapy, which activates healing using a sugar solution.

Interventional treatments

Your provider may recommend a nerve block, epidural injection, or radiofrequency ablation to stop pain signals from reaching your brain. These interventions can relieve headaches, neck pain, and lower back pain. In addition, a trigger point injection may help if your injury causes muscle knots.

When whiplash damages the facet joints between vertebrae, your provider may perform a facet joint injection containing anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medications. If you develop chronic pain, you may be a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation.

Radiofrequency ablation offers long-lasting relief by damaging the nerve sending pain messages to your brain. The resulting wound blocks the signals, so your brain doesn’t get the message, and your pain diminishes.

Even if you don’t have immediate symptoms, you should get a prompt evaluation after a whiplash injury. To schedule an appointment, call Louisiana Pain Specialists, or book an appointment online today.