Whiplash injury compensation

Treatment and recovery

Treatment for a whiplash injury used to involve immobilising the neck with a cervical collar. Now, early mobilisation is encouraged, although a soft collar may still be used for a short period. Severe injury may still be treated with a surgical collar, cervical traction, heat or ice. Most commonly, pain medication, anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants are prescribed and whiplash injury treatment rarely requires surgery.

People who have suffered whiplash injuries are encouraged to resume their normal daily routine as soon as possible. However, they are advised to avoid certain physical activities that may aggravate the injury. People who stay active and exercise their necks, despite the pain, usually recover more quickly.

Medical Advice
It is important that you seek medical advice as soon as possible following a whiplash injury by either visiting your doctor or the Accident and Emergency department of your local hospital. Medical records of your whiplash injury are likely to be used as evidence to support your claim, so it will help if you see a medical expert as soon as possble following your accident.

Recovery
Rarely does treatment of a whiplash injury involve surgery. Surgical intervention is considered in severe cases where patients present persistent neck, scapular or shoulder pain. The pain may indicate a tear in an intervertebral disc and when intervertebral disc removal is necessary, one of the following procedures may be performed:

Discectomy is the surgical removal of part of or the entire offending intervertebral disc.

Microdiscectomy incorporates the use of a microscope to magnify the surgical field
during disc removal.

Percutaneous surgical procedures enable disc removal through a small incision
in the back. These are generally not used in the cervical spine (neck) but have been
used in the lower back.An automated percutaneous discectomy is performed under
radiologic control while a cannula (hollow tube) with a rotating blade breaks up the
disc. The disc fragments are then removed by aspiration.

Once the target disc is removed, pinal Instrumentation and Fusion provides permanent
stability to the spinal column. These procedures join and solidify the level where an
intervertebral disc has been damaged or removed. Instrumentation, the use
of medically designed hardware such as rods and screws, can be combined with
spinal fusion (arthrodesis) to permanently join two or more vertebrae.

For more information on whiplash injury please click on the links below:

Non-surgical recovery from whiplash
During the recovery phase, the goal with any treatment is to help the patient resume normal activities to their pre-whiplash injury level.

Any treatment or recommendations set out by your doctor, spinal physician, or physical therapist should be closely followed. A home exercise program customised by the physical therapist is a key to rebuilding strength and increasing range of motion. It may be necessary to continue physical therapy and modalities for a period of time.

Surgical recovery from whiplash
Post-operative pain and/or discomfort should be expected. Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) enables the patient to control their pain without hospital staff assistance. PCA is eventually replaced by oral medication.

The patient may be encouraged to get up and walk the following day. Activity enhances circulation and healing.

How we can help following a whiplash injury
If you, or a member of your family, have been involved in a car accident which was not your fault and you have a suffered a whiplash injury, you should consider making a claim for whiplash injury compensation.
Our expert panel of personal injury solicitors has a fantastic claim success rate and they have helped thousands of people to make successful whiplash injury compensation claims for pain, suffering, lost earnings and medical expenses.

With YouClaim there's no risk. As well as working on a no win, no fee basis, our service is without either financial cost or risk, whatever the outcome of the case. And, if you win, you'll get 100% of your compensation, guaranteed.

If you have been affected by a whiplash injury, take advantage of our free legal advice, without any pressure or obligation. You can contact us 24 hours a day online via e-chat, on 0800 10 757 95 or by completing the claim form opposite.

For more information on whiplash injuries please click on the links below:

Whiplash information centre
The diagnosis of whiplash injuries
Whiplash treatments
Recovering from a whiplash injury
Common symptoms
The diagnosis of neck injuries
Neck pain and injuries to the neck
Claiming compensation for your injury