Whiplash and Neck Pain After a Crash: What to Know

Quick answer: Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to the neck, also called neck sprain or strain, and car accidents are a common cause of neck pain. Treatment depends on the cause and may include ice, pain relievers, physical therapy or a cervical collar, and MedlinePlus says you rarely need surgery. After a crash in Littleton, get emergency care first for a head injury with confusion, or a neck injury with loss of feeling or trouble moving. Otherwise, get your neck looked at, because neck pain can come from more than one place.

What is whiplash?

The National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus describes whiplash as “a soft tissue injury to the neck,” and says it is also called neck sprain or strain. It says falls or accidents, including car accidents, are a common cause of neck pain.

Is all neck pain after a crash whiplash?

Not necessarily. MedlinePlus says any part of your neck can cause neck problems: muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments or nerves. Pain may also come from your shoulder, jaw, head or upper arms. And muscle strain or tension often causes neck pain on its own, from something like sitting at a computer for too long or sleeping in an awkward position.

So tell Dr. Spallone if your neck bothered you before the crash, and don’t assume you know what is hurting. That is what the assessment is for.

Which symptoms mean call 911 or go to the ER?

This comes from MedlinePlus’s guide to when to use the emergency room:

What you notice	What MedlinePlus says to do
Head injury with passing out, fainting or confusion	Call 911
Injury to the neck or spine, particularly with loss of feeling or inability to move	Call 911
Suddenly not able to speak, see, walk or move	Call 911
Suddenly weak or drooping on one side of the body	Call 911
Unusual or bad headache, particularly if it started suddenly	Go to an emergency department or call 911
Dizziness or weakness that does not go away	Go to an emergency department or call 911
Severe pain anywhere on the body	Go to an emergency department or call 911
Not sure, and none of the above	Call or contact your provider and describe your symptoms

Chiropractic care comes after serious injury has been ruled out. If you are in doubt, go to the ER first.

Can symptoms show up days later?

Yes, some can. MedlinePlus says symptoms of a concussion may not start right away, and may start days or weeks after the injury. It lists a headache or neck pain among them, along with nausea, ringing in your ears, dizziness or tiredness. It says to consult your health care professional if any of your symptoms get worse. Read more about concussion symptoms that can start late.

That matters for a neck that starts hurting a few days after a crash. Tell Dr. Spallone if you hit your head or felt dazed, even if you felt fine afterward.

How is whiplash treated?

MedlinePlus says treatment depends on the cause, “but may include applying ice, taking pain relievers, getting physical therapy or wearing a cervical collar. You rarely need surgery.”

What about chiropractic care? The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says spinal manipulation can be helpful for acute neck pain, meaning pain that has lasted less than 6 weeks. Its evidence is a 2021 analysis of 6 studies with 446 participants. The reviewers said the results should be interpreted with caution because of the small amount of evidence and the varied design of the studies. That page covers neck pain in general, and it doesn’t single out whiplash from a crash.

NCCIH also says neck manipulation has been linked to rare tears in the artery walls of the neck, which can lead to a stroke, and that any sudden neck movement, including whiplash, may also increase the risk of tears. There is disagreement about whether manipulation can actually cause these tears, but patients need to be told. Read what the research says about spinal manipulation for the fuller picture, and ask Dr. Spallone anything.

What happens at a visit to our office?

• A conversation about the crash, your injuries and your health history
• A thorough assessment of what is going on
• Your options, with time to ask questions
• A plan for you, which may include chiropractic care and other therapies, depending on the assessment

“Dr. Spallone did a very thorough assessment and came up with a comprehensive plan with alternatives,” wrote Matthew Enright in a Google review. One patient’s experience isn’t a promise, but it shows how the office tries to work.

What should I write down before my visit?

A short note saves time and helps your record stay accurate:

• when the crash happened, where you were sitting and where you were hit
• when the pain started and where it is, on a scale of 1 to 10
• what makes it better or worse, such as turning your head or sleeping
• headaches, dizziness, ringing in your ears or tiredness
• pain or numbness anywhere else, such as your lower back
• your health conditions and medications, which NCCIH says you should tell a chiropractor about
• days of work you missed

Who pays for this in Colorado?

Check your own policy. The Colorado Division of Insurance says $5,000 of medical payments coverage is included in your policy unless you reject it, and that it pays regardless of fault. Read how medical payments coverage works. This is general information and not legal or insurance advice.

Why see Dr. Spallone for whiplash in Littleton?

Neck injuries after a crash are something this office sees. “I first started seeing you after I was in a car accident that caused many neck issues,” wrote Frances in a Google review. We also keep proper documentation of your injuries.

See how car accident and whiplash care works here, then call (303) 980-5699 or contact the office.