Whiplash CAD

Whiplash is also known as CAD (Cervical Acceleration-Deceleration syndrome). Whiplash is caused by a sudden movement of the head, either backward, forward, or sideways, that results in the damage to the supporting muscles, ligaments and other connective tissues in the neck and upper back.

The symptoms of a whiplash injury can take weeks or months to manifest, and too often people do not seek treatment simply because they do not feel hurt. But by then some of the damage from the injury may have become permanent.

Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD), commonly referred to as whiplash, occur when the neck undergoes rapid back-and-forth movement, similar to the motion of a whip. This type of injury often affects the soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, and tendons, leading to pain, stiffness, and discomfort. While it is often associated with car accidents, it can result from any sudden force or trauma to the neck. Chronic whiplash may lead to long-term pain and mobility issues if not treated properly.

Causes

Whiplash is typically caused by sudden, forceful movements of the neck. Common causes include:

Motor Vehicle Accidents: Rear-end collisions are the leading cause of whiplash injuries.
Sports Injuries: High-impact sports like football, rugby, or gymnastics can strain the neck.
Physical Assault: Being punched or shaken violently can lead to whiplash.
Falls: Accidental falls where the head jerks backward and forward can result in neck injuries.

Symptoms

The symptoms of whiplash may vary depending on the severity of the injury. Common signs include:

Neck pain and stiffness
Reduced range of motion in the neck
Headaches, often starting at the base of the skull
Shoulder, arm, or upper back pain
Dizziness or fatigue
Numbness or tingling in the arms
Difficulty concentrating or memory issues

If left untreated, whiplash can lead to chronic pain and long-term complications, so early diagnosis and intervention are crucial.

We Are Here to Help

At Kansas Pain Management, our award-winning physicians and experienced staff are here to provide compassionate, patient-focused care. We understand how debilitating whiplash can be and are committed to helping you recover and live pain-free.

Treatment Offered By Kansas Pain Management

Kansas Pain Management offers a comprehensive pain treatment plan that is tailored to each patient’s specific needs. The first step is a thorough evaluation, which includes a medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic testing, if necessary.
Treatment options may include medications, physical therapy, injections, or surgery, depending on the underlying cause of the pain.

Kansas Pain Management also offers a range of minimally invasive procedures to help alleviate pain and restore function. With board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians, Kansas Pain Management is committed to providing the highest quality care for patients suffering from pain. We provide comprehensive and personalised treatment options for pain in Overland Park, Lawrence, Leavenworth/Lansing, Kansas City, Ottawa, Missouri and surrounding areas. We also have a new location at Lee Summit Medical Center in Lee Summit, MO.

Numerous studies have shown that years after whiplash victims settle their insurance claims, roughly half of them state that they still suffer with symptoms from their injuries.

Facet Joint Pain

Facet joint pain is the most common cause of neck pain following a car accident. It is usually felt on the back of the neck, just to the right or left of center, and is usually tender to the touch. Facet joint pain cannot be visualized on X-rays or MRIs, so in order to assess if it is truly a facet problem that is causing cervical spondylosis, two diagnostic medial branch blocks are performed before a Radiofrequency Ablation can be considered.

Disc Injury

Disc injury is another common cause of neck pain, and especially chronic pain. The outer wall of the disc (called the annulus) is made up of bundles of fibers that can be torn during a whiplash trauma. This tear can lead to disc herniation or degeneration, resulting in irritation or compression of the nerves running through the area. This compression or irritation commonly leads to radiating pain to the arms, shoulders, and upper back, and may result in muscle weakness.

Headaches

After neck pain, headaches are the most prevalent complaint among those suffering from whiplash injury, affecting more than 80% of the people. While some headaches are actually the result of direct brain injury, most are related to injury of the muscles, ligaments, and facet joints of the cervical spine. Our providers work to assess the true cause of the headaches and work with you to make an individualized plan of care. We can provide Botox injections and Third Occipital Nerve Blocks for management of these headaches.

TMJ Problems

A less common, but debilitating disorder that results from whiplash is temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). TMJ usually begins as pain, clicking and popping noises in the jaw during movement. If not rigorously evaluated and treated, TMJ problems can continue to worsen and lead to headaches, facial pain, ear pain and difficulty eating. Our providers can do nerve blocks on the trigeminal or occipital nerves to treat the pain arising from TMJ.

Low Back Pain

Although most people consider whiplash to be an injury of the neck, the low back is commonly injured as well. In fact, low back pain is found in more than half of rear impact-collisions in which injury was reported, and almost three-quarters of all side-impact crashes. This is mostly due to the fact that the low back still experiences a tremendous compression during the time of injury, even though it does not have the degree of flexion-extension injury experienced in the neck.