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Whiplash

From simple to complex

Whiplash

Whiplash is a controversial condition not because there is any dispute about its existence but because of the varying ways in which this is handled by the medical and legal system. Suffice is to say that whiplash can be a significant problem and cause ongoing disability and suffering to those affected.

Pain clinics around the world treat many patients with chronic whiplash pain. Like all conditions there are varying degrees of severity and whiplash is classified into 4 categories according to current International Guidelines.

Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) classification

  • Grade 0: no complaints or physical signs.
  • Grade 1: indicates neck complaints but no physical signs.
  • Grade 2: indicates neck complaints and musculoskeletal signs.
  • Grade 3: neck complaints and neurological signs.
  • Grade 4: neck complaints and fracture/dislocation
Physiotherapy Whiplash Treatment

Whiplash Treatment

The type of treatment undertaken is dependent upon the extent of injury but can involve combinations of:

These are just some of the tools that specifically trained Chartered Physiotherapists use to treat this condition.

In more complex whiplash cases a multi-disciplinary management team is usually required. Typically this involves Pain Management Specialists (Anaesthetists), General Practitioners, Dentists, Neurologists, Clinical Psychologists, Occupational therapists in conjunction with physiotherapy.

Management may involve the use of a variety of drugs, joint or muscle injection procedures or procedures to reduce the sensitivity in nerves – so called “nerve blocks”.

CHRONIC WHIPLASH – MULTI-DISCIPLINARY MANAGEMENT

In these more complex cases it is absolutely critical that all members of the team providing care closely liaise in order to target each component and ensure that the best combination of therapies is provided. Whilst this liaison is important for all conditions it is particularly important in complex pain conditions where several specialists are involved in providing care at the same time.

It is very important that patients understand that all members of the team need to be aware of each others role to ensure that care is centred around the patient’s needs. This means that you need to take an active role in ensuring that all members of the team are aware of what treatments are being done, on what timescales and when different clinical reviews are being planned. Whilst many whiplash injuries are simple tissue strains that can subside it can be difficult to determine this in the very early phases of an injury and therefore is important to ensure that recovery progresses satisfactorily (predictably) and that the physical signs improve along expected recovery paths.

Chronic Whiplash – Multi-disciplinary Management

If these features aren’t observed then it is important for the clinicians involved in management to recognise this and make appropriate changes to the management plan as required.

Simply “hoping” things will settle down in time is like waiting for the tooth fairy. You should expect better than that. If you have been told “things should settle in 6 months” repeatedly then clearly there is a credibility issue in that advice.

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