Home
Back Pain Blog
My Book
Q and A
Free Resources
My Story
Interactive Forum
Back Pain
Types of BackPain
Acute Back Pain
Chronic Back Pain
Low Back Pain
Neck Pain
Coccyx Pain
Muscle Pain
Pain Epidemic
Herniated Discs
Sciatica
Disc Disease
Pinched Nerve
Spinal Stenosis
Osteoarthritis
Facet Syndrome
Scoliosis
Lordosis Kyphosis
Spondylolisthesis
Osteoporosis
Piriformis Pain
Sacroiliac Pain
Womens BackPain
Fibromyalgia
Pregnancy Pain
Combination Pain
Back Injury
Spinal Cord Injury
Recovery
Psychosomatic
Pain Syndromes
Tension Myositis
Back Pain Relief
Treatments
Back Pain Drugs
Back Surgery
Decompression
Chiropractic
Back Exercises
Back Pain Diet
Backpain Products
Knowledge
Back Pain Doctors
Doctor Directory
Anatomy
About C-B-P.ORG
Contact Me
Back Pain Survey
Site Map
Search the Site
Advertising Info
Health Links

XML RSS
What is this?
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Add to Google

cure back pain

Whiplash Back Pain

Whiplash back pain is a common side effect of a traumatic back injury. When the head is thrown violently forward or backwards on the neck, the force of the movement will commonly affect the immediate neck muscles and the surrounding upper back muscles. This is the primary reason why so many whiplash patients experience not only localized cervical pain, but also radiating thoracic and shoulder pain as well.

Whiplash Back Pain

Causes of Whiplash Back Pain

The head is a heavy structure which acts as a weight during a whiplash event. The neck is the weakest and thinnest area of the spine, yet it must still support the considerable burden of the head. Normally, with the range of cervical motion precisely controlled by the muscles, ligaments and bones of the neck, there is no problem supporting the head. However, when force and acceleration is applied to the head during a traumatic event, the neck can stretch well beyond its normal safe and comfortable limits, creating whiplash neck pain. Damage to the cervical region is expected, but the injury can radiate into the upper back and shoulder region if the force is particularly great. Radiating pain in the thoracic spine is the main symptom of whiplash in the back.

Treatment for Whiplash Pain

Damage to the thoracic region is most commonly less severe than to the cervical spine. Most symptomatic conditions in the upper and mid back can be treated with heat and ice and maybe some form of OTC pain management. Very serious trauma might require drastic medical attention, including possible back surgery. It is crucial that all cases of whiplash be examined and treated by a qualified physician, preferably educated in emergency medicine and trauma care.

Recommendation on Whiplash Back Pain

Whiplash injuries are usually painful, but are not often serious. Most will heal, without treatment, in a matter of days. Severe injuries might necessitate treatment, but should heal well and not leave permanent effects. Long term chronic back pain resulting from a whiplash injury is possible, but is often just another example of a back pain trigger mechanism. The whiplash event provides an ideal opportunity for the mind to create a convincing psychosomatic pain syndrome. Make sure to consider this possibility if your pain becomes a long term problem.
Whiplash Back Pain to Lower Back Pain Home 7/21/08 Revised 8/5/08

footer for whiplash back pain page