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Peter McDonnell & Associates are leading the DePuy Hip Action Group, dedicated to people affected by the 2010 DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Recall. If you have received a DePuy hip please contact us now!
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Whiplash / Whiplash Compensation Claim
Whiplash (despite what many people think) is a genuine and painful medical condition. A doctor may describe it as a distortion of the cervical spine, acceleration flexion-extension neck injury or soft tissue cervical hyperextension injury.
Whiplash is regularly caused by an abnormal motion or force applied to your neck that causes movement beyond the neck’s normal range of motion. While the exact mechanism that causes whiplash is not fully understood it may be the result of impulsive stretching of the spine, mainly the ligament: anterior longitudinal ligament which is stretched or tears, as the head snaps forward and then back again causing a whiplash injury.
The most common cause of whiplash is car accidents, especially to passengers of a car that is ‘rear-ended’. The speeds involved however are not necessarily a factor; speeds as low as 15mph can generate the energy necessary to cause whiplash. Whiplash can occur regardless of whether the occupants of a vehicle are wearing seatbelts or not and headrests provide only very limited protection from such an injury.
If you think yoyu may have been affected by Whiplash - our motor injury team are waiting to take your call. Talk to us now for free initial legal advice.
Whiplash Diagnosis
Diagnosis of whiplash involves a review of the patient’s history, head and neck examination, x-rays to rule out bone fractures and may involve the use of medical imaging.
Medical treatment of whiplash may include;
- Neck massage
- Neck rest
- Bed rest
- Ice therapy
- Heat therapy
- Oral pain relievers and muscle relaxers
- Immobilization of the neck with a soft cervical collar (only of minimal benefit if any at all)
- Early range of motion exercises combined with heat therapy starting 72 hours after the injury to restore flexibility
- Avoidance of excessive neck strain for the next week and then increased activity as tolerated in the following weeks
Whilst there is no reliable way to assess the prognosis of a whiplash injury generally the shorter the time that elapses between the injury and the onset of symptoms, the more severe the whiplash injury tends to be.
Most patients recover completely from a whiplash injury within the first six weeks with no further complications or residual symptoms, others within a year of the initial accident. There is a 40% chance of experiencing some symptoms after three months, and an 18% chance after two years. However in some extreme cases, severe disability can be caused by whiplash, sometimes with persistent pain.
If you have a legal query or question you would like answered - just let us know. If you would like to speak with us in confidence - Contact Us Now!.
