Quick answer: Whiplash symptoms do not always show up at the scene. MedlinePlus says the pain of whiplash “may not appear right away after an accident, but sometimes may take hours to weeks to develop.” Common symptoms include dizziness, headache, and pain or stiffness in the neck, jaw, shoulders or arms. If new symptoms appear after a crash, get checked, and call 911 for any danger sign.
What is whiplash?
MedlinePlus, the health site of the National Library of Medicine, describes whiplash as “a soft tissue injury to the neck” that “is also called neck sprain or strain.” The same page lists “falls or accidents, including car accidents” as a common cause of neck pain.
Another MedlinePlus page on the location of whiplash pain explains that a whiplash injury “strains the muscles and ligaments of the neck beyond their normal range of motion.” In other words, the tissues that hold the neck steady get stretched further than they are built to go, often in a fraction of a second.
Why can whiplash symptoms show up days later?
Right after a crash, many people are focused on safety, the other driver, the police and getting home. Stress and adrenaline can make soreness easy to miss. MedlinePlus says plainly that the pain of whiplash can take hours to weeks to develop.
That is why “I felt fine at the scene” is one of the most common things people say when neck pain starts the next morning or later that week. It is also why it helps to keep track of how you feel for a while after any collision, even a low-speed one. If you are still sorting out the practical side of a wreck, our post on what to do after a car accident in California walks through the DMV steps.
What symptoms should you watch for?
MedlinePlus lists dizziness, headache, and pain or stiffness in the neck, jaw, shoulders or arms as whiplash symptoms. It also notes there is “often pain and stiffness in the neck for the first few days” and that pain “can also be felt in the surrounding muscle groups in the head, chest, shoulders, and arms.”
The MedlinePlus neck pain article adds that a sore neck can make it hard to turn your head, and that if nerves are compressed you may have “numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand.”
| Symptom | Where MedlinePlus mentions it | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Neck pain or stiffness | Whiplash and neck pain pages | Note when it started and get checked |
| Headache | Whiplash page | Call 911 if it gets worse and does not go away |
| Dizziness | Whiplash page | Get checked; call 911 if it comes with any danger sign below |
| Pain in the jaw, shoulders or arms | Whiplash page | Mention it at your exam |
| Numbness, tingling or weakness in the arm or hand | Neck pain page | Contact a provider; call 911 if it follows a jolt to the head or body |
| Trouble swallowing or breathing | Neck pain page | Contact a provider promptly; call 911 if you cannot breathe well |
Keep a simple log of what you feel and when. It makes any exam more useful.
When should you call 911 after a crash?
Some symptoms are not whiplash and should not wait. The CDC says to call 911 or go to an emergency department right away if, after a blow or jolt to the head or body, an adult:
- Has a headache that gets worse and does not go away
- Has weakness, numbness, decreased coordination, convulsions or seizures
- Vomits repeatedly
- Has slurred speech or unusual behavior
- Has one pupil larger than the other
- Cannot recognize people or places, or gets confused, restless or agitated
- Loses consciousness, looks very drowsy or cannot be woken up
The MedlinePlus neck pain article also says to contact a provider if you have loss of bladder or bowel control, or trouble walking or balancing. Do not wait on emergency signs. A chiropractic office is not the place for emergency care.
How is whiplash usually treated?
MedlinePlus says treatment for neck problems “depends on the cause, but may include applying ice, taking pain relievers, getting physical therapy or wearing a cervical collar,” and adds, “You rarely need surgery.” The neck pain article suggests ice for the first few days and heat afterward, and gentle range-of-motion exercises. It also cautions that a soft neck collar should only be used briefly, because long-term use can weaken the neck muscles.
The right plan depends on what an exam finds. That is why a careful history matters: where you were sitting, how the impact happened, when each symptom started, and whether your neck was already stiff before the crash.
How does Aguilera Health & Wellness Center approach neck pain after a crash?
At Aguilera Health & Wellness Center in Bakersfield, Dr. Frank J. Aguilera begins with a conversation about the crash and your symptoms, followed by an exam. The office offers X-rays when they are appropriate. If chiropractic care is a good fit, it may include chiropractic adjustments using Diversified and manual adjusting techniques, along with massage therapy or other options the practice offers. No one can promise a specific result, and the plan is shaped around what the exam shows.
You can learn more about the office’s car accident care or how back, neck and sciatica care works. To understand how your seat and head restraint may have affected your neck, read seat belts, head restraints and neck injury.
Spanish is spoken at the office.
Neck sore after a crash?
If your neck, shoulders or head started bothering you in the days after a collision, call Aguilera Health & Wellness Center at (661) 833-1111 or reach out through the contact page. If you notice any danger sign listed above, call 911 first.
