The primary symptom of whiplash is pain in the neck or upper back. This discomfort can start right away or may take days, weeks, or even months to manifest. The severity of the symptoms can vary from person to person. Most people who experience whiplash feel better within a few weeks and don't have any long-term effects from the injury.
However, some individuals continue to feel pain for several months or years after the incident. This acute pain usually occurs a few hours, days, or a few weeks after the accident. Late or delayed whiplash is when the pain persists for months after the injury or becomes chronic. When the initial injury occurs, there are physical changes in the cervical spine and the cervicocranial junction (where the base of the skull meets the neck).
If these changes are not addressed with appropriate pain management treatment, the discomfort will remain and may even worsen over time. Most people with whiplash get better within a few weeks if they follow a treatment plan that includes pain medications and exercise.
