Whiplash Aftercare

January 22, 2011 4:02 PM

Yesterday my car was rear-ended. My car is really messed up. My neck is...maybe messed up. I need advice on whiplash aftercare.

Yesterday afternoon (just over 24 hours ago) I was waiting to turn left and was rear-ended. The impact felt pretty hard; I definitely noticed my neck jerk forward and backward. The back of my car is totally f-ed. A cop came and took a report, said it was the other driver's fault, and I filed the claim with my insurance.

Today I worked all day (waitressing, which involves lots of standing and walking, etc) and I feel mostly okay, but I do feel some discomfort in the middle of my upper back and sometimes on the left side of my body (butt, hip, maybe even arm/hand? It's hard to pinpoint). Unfortunately, I have to work tomorrow until 4 and then I'm going out of town for a week and half on Monday.

These are my various questions:
How quickly do I need to see a doctor or chiropractor? I've read I should maybe be checked and realigned within the first few weeks after the accident. What is the time-frame on this? I'm going out of town into situations where it will be challenging for me to see a doctor (i.e. helping to take care of my grandfather where everyone is already very stressed about his health situation and there's only one car).

Also, should I first see a general practitioner or a chiropractor? (I'm hoping my insurance will eventually pay for any health care stuff, but either way I want to get checked out.)

Tonight I'm planning on resting and icing my neck every few hours. Any advice appreciated

P.S. Unless it seems extremely necessary, please refrain from whiplash-horror stories because I'm trying to keep my anxiety about the health-related stuff from sky-rocketing. Thanks!

posted by tacoma1 to Health & Fitness (17 answers total)

Go to see a GP at a walk-in clinic at your destination, and do it early this week. They can tell you whether there is soft-tissue damage only, or if it involves the bones/cartilage as well. This is important information because that determines the most appropriate treatment pathway. Your GP will be able to advise on your next steps and refer you to the most appropriate clinician (IF that is even necessary-- but either way you're doing the right thing in taking it easy right now). Your GP will also be able to give you pain medications, if that's needed, which will help you get through your stressful upcoming week.

When I was in a similar situation, my GP sent me to an orthopedist for x-rays. The orthopedist sent me to a physical therapist for a few months. I recovered without incident and the other guy's insurance paid all my bills.
posted by oceanmorning at 4:21 PM on January 22, 2011 [3 favorites]

oceanmorning, I like most of your reply, but this is wrong:
They can tell you whether there is soft-tissue damage only, or if it involves the bones/cartilage as well.

A GP does not have the tools to determine this. It will take (at a minimum) x-rays, and possibly a CAT scan, to determine the extent of these injuries. A GP might be able to interpret the results, but the OP would probably (hopefully) be referred to an ortho for a more expert analysis.
posted by IAmBroom at 4:31 PM on January 22, 2011

I've had whiplash from a car accident, falls, getting hit in the head with stuff, etc. There probably ARE whiplash horror stories, but for the most part whiplash stories go "my neck hurt for a while and then it stopped." I think most people find standard cervical collars really difficult to wear for long stretches (I do not like things touching my throat), but you may find that you appreciate some kind of stabilization device periodically.

Get it checked out if you possibly can, just to get it done and also so you have an early-on benchmark should you have any ongoing complaints or something manifests later. For me, after being rear-ended, days 2 and 3 were pretty painful in the neck department, though entirely manageable with rest and ibuprofen. I had other back problems that manifested later which might not have if I'd gone to see a doctor right away.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:39 PM on January 22, 2011

From my own being rear-ended experience (not a horror story, but something that was ongoing for a number of months), I think you should go as soon as you can.

I went straight to an orthopedist. They made my insurance company fax them a proof of coverage certificate (or something like that) before they would see me without requiring me to pay up front. Otherwise I had no issues.
posted by smalls at 4:44 PM on January 22, 2011

Yeah, x-rays.

When in this situation, a friend STRONGLY advised me to get a lawyer. Best. Advice. Ever.

To do it right, you will need some physical therapy. Unless you want annoying pain or aches that last for years or your whole life. Not kidding. And I don't usually take this stuff seriously, but I was AMAZED at how my injury manifested.

I felt fine the first day or two after the accident. Pain came much later and stayed.

Proper doctor's care and x-rays are a must. The other insurance should pay for it - but a good layer makes sure it all goes to plan.

Good luck.
posted by jbenben at 4:59 PM on January 22, 2011 [3 favorites]

My husband went to urgent care with his whiplash after a rear-ending accident that totaled his car. They were able to do X-rays on site, as I recall. He was quite uncomfortable for several days, but they basically prescribed him a painkiller and some kind of muscle relaxant and gave him some restrictions on his activities and tips on how to best stay comfortable.

I would say see a doctor as soon as you can. It probably will heal "on its own," but you want to know that for sure, and you're going to be uncomfortable and want what comfort care the doctor can prescribe/recommend. Urgent care clinics may have extended hours, enabling you to go late tonight or early tomorrow. (Personally, after hours, I would even go to the "small" ER near me, which only has a Level III trauma center, so it's small and mostly people with painful injuries requiring immediate care, but not life threatening; whiplash would absolutely be the sort of thing people go in with. The Level I trauma center across town I imagine I'd end up waiting forever and ever and ever.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:03 PM on January 22, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks for the answers so far. I'm still trying to determine the best immediate and then post-immediate course of action. Options:
Do I go to the ER tonight just to get x-rays over with?
Do I go to urgent care or ER tomorrow after work (5pm-ish)?
Do I try to see my GP Monday morning? (though they can't take x-rays)
Do I wait until I get to my destination and then see...someone?

Opinions?
posted by tacoma1 at 5:17 PM on January 22, 2011

Call urgent care, tell them you were in a car accident and probably have whiplash, and can they completely treat you or should you go to the ER? Many urgent cares have X-rays on site these days for uncomplicated X-raying, and they're usually happy to answer these questions over the phone. If they feel they can treat you, go to urgent care. If they say they'd have to send you to the ER anyway, go to the ER.

(Concussion with unconsciousness: straight to ER for CAT scanning. Bloody head wound: Yes, we'd be delighted to staple your family member back together here at urgent care. Not that we've spent a lot of time at urgent care and in the ER the past couple years. :D )
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:23 PM on January 22, 2011 [1 favorite]

Oh, I missed where the urgent care trip would be tomorrow, which tends to make me think ER tonight, on the theory you'll be in more pain tomorrow. Of course, it's already been 24 hours, so maybe not, but you make the call.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:27 PM on January 22, 2011

I had whiplash and did nothing to treat it for a couple of years. Then when the pain got regular and really quite unpleasant and I had already lost a lot of movement in my neck, I got physio for a few weeks, and did stretching exercises at home for months and it pretty much fixed it. So if it really is whiplash, a few days' (or hell, a few weeks!) wait before treatment is nothing to worry about. But you should still see a doctor sooner in case it ISN'T whiplash. Broken bones around the neck area are nothing to play games with.
posted by lollusc at 6:27 PM on January 22, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm a fifty-year neck injury survivor. I would suggest that you go to urgent care tomorrow and explain both what happened and what you will be doing for the next few weeks. After the work-up, they will probably say for you to see a doctor at the beginning of the week. Explain again what your travel plans are and ask if you are safe in letting it go until you return. Get them to advise you in clear detail and then do what they say.

One other thing. Do not sign anything or give any release to the other guy's insurance until you have a clear understanding of what treatment, if any, will need to be done in the future.
posted by Old Geezer at 7:55 PM on January 22, 2011 [2 favorites]

Get treated sooner rather than later, do lawyer up right away and what the last poster said. I was fine right after my accident ( in a car that got hit from the side) I do have arthritis in all the places that got bumped. Proper treatment now can minimize damage later on and prevent this from being a horror story. Plus you need it as evidence in case you need to sue. Delays in treatment for yourself can hurt you in terms of dealing with the insurance issues. I hope you recover well, you seem like a really nice person.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 12:20 AM on January 23, 2011

Medically you should get an MD to look at you as soon as possible to rule out real damage. X-rays are not always necessary.

Legally you should get an MD to look at you as soon as possible to note down your history and examine you. If you indeed turn out to have problems later you'll be glad you did as you will have some evidence that something did indeed happen and that you did ineed have symptoms after the accident.
posted by abx1-se at 2:33 AM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Just my two cents...

Unfortunately I've been in a car accident resulting in whiplash twice. Both times I was simply unaware that whiplash could be anything serious. I was in a considerable amount of pain both times for about two days, took aspirin and went about my day, and then it went away and stayed away. YMMV.
posted by tempythethird at 7:12 AM on January 23, 2011

I agree with get a lawyer and go to Urgent Care as soon as you can. Same thing happened to me, I was rear ended in the same way and went to Urgent Care right after the accident where they gave me painkillers and told me to use hot compresses and heat to soothe my neck and shoulder muscles. I was out of work for two days. The good thing about getting a lawyer though is that if you choose to go to the ER or Urgent Care, you will get reimbursed. Plus my lawyer found me a great doctor and I got physical therapy which GREATLY reduced my neck and shoulder pain. Get a laywer.
posted by Polgara at 5:00 PM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Okay, thanks again! I've decided to go to the urgent care or ER at my destination (Tuesday morning) because it will be easier to do there than here. I'm still feeling about the same as when I posted this question, that is, functional but a bit sore in different places.

One follow-up question: I've just recently gotten into going to the gym and doing cardio and weight machines again and it feels great. I have refrained from anything like that since the wreck. (I know none of you are my doctor but, in your opinion, should I probably keep refraining (from all cardio, weights, yoga, anything) until after I see a doc? I fear the answer, unfortunately, is yes...If so, oh well, I can wait a few days to get back on that saddle.
posted by tacoma1 at 7:03 PM on January 23, 2011

tacoma1, IANYD but just wanted to say, x-rays are not required for all neck injuries. There are certain guidelines that doctors use to determine whether x-rays are necessary or not. Your GP can order x-rays if they are necessary after you see that person, but they may not be necessary. Just saying, if you think something is un-urgent enough to wait several days to be seen, you probably don't need to go to an urgent care or an ER. Assuming that your GP keeps same-day appointments open for urgent issues, you may find it much more convenient - at your GP you can get an appointment, at your urgent care/ER you may wait hours to be seen (they give patients with more urgent complaints higher priority to be seen more quickly).

If you had any sort of bony or ligamentous injury then you should be in a cervical collar so that you are not moving and twisting your neck around. Not saying this is likely, just explaining. With this in mind I would say just to be cautious, to avoid the exercise activities you mentioned until after being cleared.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 9:08 PM on January 23, 2011