Surgical procedures used to treat whiplash

Whiplash symptoms usually make themselves known during the first 72 hours of an injury occurring and normally do not last for more than 12 weeks. But if you are suffering from chronic neck and shoulder pain for a prolonged period, you have become disabled or you are psychologically damaged as a result of your whiplash injury, then more drastic action may be needed to treat your neck injury.

There are various suggestions for whiplash treatment from prescribed medical treatment, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain killers and heat packs, to physical treatment such as mobility exercises and acupuncture therapy, but sometimes these just aren't enough.

Surgery to treat a whiplash injury will only be performed in the most extreme cases where non-operative treatments have proven ineffective to relieve pain and suffering.

The various types of procedures are as follows:

Anterior cervical discectomy - the surgical removal of part of the invertebral disc which may be causing irritation to the spinal nerve roots. This aims to enlarge the nerve opening and relieve nerve pressure on the spinal cord. A gap will be left after the disc is removed which will be filled with bone and reinforced with a metal plate through fusion.

Cervical corpectomy - similar to the anterior cervical discectomy described above but more complex as it involves removing vertebrae in addition to the discs.

Epidural - a nerve block to provide temporary relief from small disc herniations and mild spinal stenosis, involving an injection of medication into and around the epidural space where spinal fluid circulates around the spinal cord.

However, before opting for surgical treatment you should consider the consequences very carefully. Surgical procedures are usually a last resort because of the inherent risks of further damage that they carry. For example, the anterior cervical discectomy could cause a stroke or paralysis, a cervical corpectomy puts the patient at risk of spinal cord injury and an epidural could cause permanent cartilage damage if performed repeatedly.

It is also important to remember that the effect of surgery is not exhaustive. It can only help to correct damage caused by a whiplash injury and cannot be expected to rectify damage caused by general wear or aging to the neck muscles

How you can make a whiplash compensation claim today
Have you sustained a whiplash injury that has left you suffering painful whiplash symptoms? You could make a compensation claim through us today.

We are associated with a panel of highly experienced compensation solicitors who can help you to gain the highest award available for your whiplash injury claim.

Whether you want to recover lost earnings or money spent on medical expenses, YouClaim are here to help on a no win no fee basis.

When you make a claim through us you will not be responsible for paying a penny towards costs and fees, no matter when the outcome of the case, and we guarantee that you will receive 100% of your compensation award.

For free legal advice you can talk to one of our claim advisors online right away. They will answer any questions and queries and explain to you the benefits of making a personal injury claim through us.

Alternatively, give us a call on our free 24-hour helpline, 0800 10 757 95, and we will help you to make a whiplash compensation claim today.