Neck Injuries
Whiplash injuries are commonly misunderstood. Many insurance companies would like you to believe that whiplash injuries don’t even exist. Of course, that perspective is complete nonsense! Whiplash injuries are well-documented and have considerable scientific support. There is a mountain of research about the biomechanics of whiplash injuries (whether insurance companies like it or not). Unfortunately, most physicians are not familiar with this data, and many insurance companies would prefer this information be kept hidden.
When we think of a whiplash injury, we normally visualize a person’s head being thrown back-and-forth or side-to-side. In reality, there’s much more to this injury than initially meets the eye. The biomechanics of whiplash injuries are quite unique, with injury often occurring at very low speeds and with almost a little or no damage to both vehicles.
Whiplash injuries are complex, involving much more than just one set of structures. This type of injury often involves; joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, connective tissue, and a wide array of neurological structures. Besides the immediate pain and suffering felt from the initial incident, this type of injury can often lead to degenerative osteoarthritis ten or twenty years later.
Unfortunately, whiplash injuries do not always manifest immediately after an accident. In some cases, it takes several years to manifest, often long after insurance claims are settled.
Without a complete understanding of these unique circumstances, and the supporting body of evidence, physicians often make mistakes that prevent a complete resolution of this injury.