Whiplash Symptoms

There are a range of symptoms that can be experienced by people that have sustained a whiplash injury. Some symptoms are common to most whiplash patients, such as restricted neck movement, whilst others are suffered by only a small percentage of those with a Whiplash-Associated Disorder (WAD).

Common symptoms of whiplash

The most common symptoms are neck pain and restricted neck movement. These symptoms are felt by up to 90% of people reporting a whiplash-related neck injury. 

Facet joints are the cause of neck pain in 60% of victims. The joints sit between the vertebrae in the neck, allowing them to rotate, but do not perform their job properly when damaged.

Headaches are also very common symptoms of a neck injury caused and are reported by 76% of people with a WAD. These are known as cervicogenic headaches and occur as a result of damage to the neck.

Damage to cervical discs, facet joint damage, dizziness and an irritation of nerve supply are all possible reasons for cervicogenic headaches.

Lower back pain can also occur after a whiplash-type injury has taken place and is usually caused by injury to tendons, discs, facet joints, and sacroiliac joints in the back. 

Less common symptoms

Tingling, pain and heaviness are all symptoms in the arm that can occur following a whiplash injury. However, these are less common symptoms than those already discussed and are experienced by around 15% of people with WAD. These symptoms can be caused by nerve disturbance as a result of a cervical disc hernia.

Pain in the arms and shoulders can also be experienced by patients even if there is no injury that can be identified in these regions. This can be the result of "referred pain", where the starting point of a nerve is damaged but the pain is felt at the site the nerve serves. 

Around 10% of people who have had a whiplash-type injury suffer from problems with memory, concentration, sleep loss, depression, irritability, tinnitus and/or blurry vision. These symptoms are generally considered to be caused by pain or medication, or rarely, brain injury. Other types of less common symptoms also include:

• Severe vertigo
• Oscillopisa
• Hypaesthesia
• Median nerve damage (often caused by a seatbelt)
• Arm and shoulder pain
• Memory loss

Do you have symptoms of a whiplash-type injury?

If you have sustained a whiplash injury and have suffered from any of the above symptoms, you may be eligible for compensation.

YouClaim has a dedicated team of specialist whiplash solicitors, who will be able to advice you on the best action to take after making an initial enquiry.

Give us a call on 0800 10 757 95. It's a freephone number and we're here to answer the phone and help with any questions you might have 24-hours-a-day.