Whiplash - #18673
A few weeks ago, I was involved in a car accident when another driver rear-ended my vehicle while I was stopped at a red light. It wasn’t a major collision, but the impact caused a jolt to my body, especially my neck. Immediately after the accident, I experienced pain in my neck and shoulders, but I didn’t think it was too serious. However, over the next few days, the pain worsened, and I started to feel more discomfort, particularly in my upper back. My doctor diagnosed me with whiplash, but I’m struggling to fully understand what that means and how serious the injury is. The pain isn’t just in my neck—there are occasional headaches, and I feel tension in my upper body that makes it difficult to move or perform basic tasks. I’ve been resting and taking over-the-counter pain medication, but the pain doesn’t seem to go away, and I’m starting to feel frustrated. How long does it typically take to recover from whiplash, and is there a chance that the injury could cause long-term problems? I’ve been prescribed physical therapy, but I’m worried that pushing my body too hard could make the injury worse. What kind of exercises or stretches should I focus on during recovery, and how can I tell if I’m pushing myself too much? Are there certain signs or symptoms that would indicate I should seek medical attention right away, like worsening pain or difficulty moving my neck? My doctor mentioned the possibility of a herniated disc as well, and I’m confused about how to differentiate between that and whiplash. Could the two conditions be related, or is this something entirely separate? I’ve heard that whiplash is often a temporary injury, but could it have lasting effects, such as chronic neck pain or reduced mobility? I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to avoid long-term complications, so what preventive measures should I take to protect my neck in the future?
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