The most common causes of whiplash is from car accidents, sporting events, falls, or assault. Did you know someone can get whiplash from a car accident, with a speed as low as 15 mph? That’s crazy. Given, those are not the only ways to get whiplash. Whiplash is a sudden moderate to severe strain on your cervical spine (bones, discs, muscles, nerves, tendons in your neck). If you believe you are suffering from whiplash, make sure you see a doctor as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, whiplash can also take several days after an injury to be diagnosed, and is usually diagnosed based on symptoms, medical history, and a physical exam. CT scans and MRIs are also very helpful in diagnosing whiplash. The most common symptomsof whiplash are:

Neck, jaw, shoulder or arm stiffness
Dizziness
Headache
Loss of feeling in arms and hands
Nausea or Vomiting
Ringing in the ears
Blurred vision

If you suspect whiplash, or if you have just been in an accident, you should make sure to ice the back of your neck. If you do this right away, you could seriously protect yourself from a bad whiplash.

If your doctor diagnoses you with whiplash, you could also be prescribed medication (Aspirin, Motrin or Aleve are most common), physical therapy, a surgical collar, or other treatments to cure your injury. If your whiplash was sustained in a car accident, or other accident where you were not at fault, you could receive compensation depending on how severe your injury is, how long you are out of work/recovering, and if you have any permanent symptoms because of the injury.

A general practitioner or emergency room physician can diagnose you with whiplash. Make sure, especially if you were in an accident that you hold on to your medical paperwork in case you enter into lawsuits, or other disputes. Make sure you document your accident as soon as possible. And, if you experience continued symptoms after receiving treatment, make sure you follow-up with your doctor to make sure you don’t have something more serious.