Whiplash can sometimes be a minor injury, but it can also have life-changing consequences. Coast Spine and Sports Center offers comprehensive treatment plans to help you recover from a whiplash injury. We welcome patients from in Orange County, Los Angeles County and Inland Empire.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a hyperextension injury of the neck or cervical acceleration-deceleration (CAD) syndrome that happens when the head is jerked back and forth very suddenly and with too much force, extending the neck beyond its normal limits. Whiplash is a common injury in traffic accidents (especially rear-end crashes), falls, and rough contact sports like football. This back and forth motion can cause a ruptured or herniated disc in the cervical spine, strains or sprains in the neck, and compressed nerves or radiculopathy.
How Much Does Whiplash Treatment Cost in Orange County?
The cost to treat whiplash in Orange County and Los Angeles depends on the severity of your condition and how well you respond to treatments. During your initial appointment, we will work with you to develop an effective treatment plan and discuss the cost of your treatment. Coast Spine and Sports Medicine accepts many forms of health insurance and financing through CareCredit®.
What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash?
Immediately after a traumatic event like a car crash, there may be no symptoms of whiplash due to adrenaline and/or shock. Symptoms and signs of whiplash usually develop within a day or two of the injury, but it can take longer for the following to appear:
- Neck stiffness and pain
- Pain that gets worse when you move your neck
- Pain or soreness in the upper back, shoulders, or arms
- Headaches that begin at the base of the skull or back of the neck
- Numbness or tingling in the arms
Less common but potential symptoms can also include trouble concentrating, sleep changes, tinnitus, and vision changes.
How Is Whiplash Treated in Orange County?
Treatment for whiplash can help control pain and restore your normal range of motion. The best treatment will depend on the severity of the injury. Mild whiplash injuries may only need rest and medication, but more serious injuries can require physical therapy, prescription medication, and other forms of care. Cervical collars are no longer recommended for whiplash as they can actually make the muscles weaker.
When whiplash does not respond to very conservative treatment options, cervical steroid injections or cervical facet joint injections of local anesthetic and/or steroids can help to temporarily relieve pain and ease inflammation in the case of disc herniation or cervical facet joint pain. In some cases, radiofrequency ablation or neurotomy may be recommended to prevent facet joint nerves from sending pain signals for longer-term relief.
If you have suffered a whiplash injury in Orange County or Los Angeles County, contact us at Coast Spine and Sports Medicine today to schedule an appointment for a tailored treatment plan to help you get relief from your pain and improved range of motion of your neck.
