Definition
Typical of road accidents, whiplash is an acute and sudden trauma involving the cervical tract, with all the structures - fascicular, articular, nervous and visceral - attached. Whiplash is one of the so-called "indirect" traumas, given that the lesion is transmitted to adjacent anatomical sites without direct contact.
Causes
In most cases, whiplash is the immediate consequence of a car accident: following a rear-end collision, the person sitting in the car undergoes a violent acceleration, such as to violently push his head towards the headrest, and then fall back into ahead, just as abruptly. Whiplash can also result in violent injuries related to sports or accidents of a different nature.
Symptoms
The symptomatology that accompanies whiplash can be defined as "dizzy", always accompanied by an unpleasant sensation of rigidity that radiates from the point of trauma. Cervical pain is a symptom that characterizes whiplash, although its intensity is different depending on the severity and violence of the trauma suffered.
- Whiplash is considered a dangerous and violent stretching involving the muscles and ligaments of the neck and neck. In severe cases, whiplash causes a complete laceration of the muscles (muscle tearing).
Information on Whiplash - Whiplash Treatment Drugs is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Whiplash - Whiplash Care Drugs.
drugs
The treatment for the treatment of whiplash is purely symptomatic and uses the aid of painkillers and orthopedic collars to keep the neck in a static position, supporting the cervical tract and protecting it from possible stress. Immobilizing the neck, the pain tends to regress, albeit slowly, following a gradual removal of the inflammation.
In some patients, the neck pain caused by the whiplash is such as to create serious difficulty in falling asleep: in this case, it is possible to take drugs that promote sleep, such as sedatives and anxiolytics.
Treatment with painkillers, anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants generally lasts 2-4 weeks, depending on the severity of the injuries; during this time - let us remember again - the patient must rest, without ever subjecting his neck to exercises taken on his own initiative, which could aggravate the injury. Only after having calmed pain and inflammation, the patient is invited to follow a targeted physiotherapy path: physical therapies, with their healing, beneficial and analgesic effect, accelerate healing times.
In addition to classical physiotherapy, patients can choose between alternative therapeutic methods, including: electrotherapy, iontophoresis, laser therapy, de-contracting massages, mass-physiotherapy, kinesiology, acupuncture, etc.
In particularly sensitive patients, or in severe traumatic events, whiplash can create serious psychological and emotional disorders, which can even induce depression. In others, a traumatic event of similar magnitude can cause shock, such as to favor the onset of the fear of returning to the car.
The possible involvement of the nervous structures must soon be verified: the decrease in tendon reflexes and marked uncoordination are alarm signals, which must be considered to understand the severity of the injury.
Pain control therapy for whiplash : this therapeutic approach uses non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and muscle relaxants:
- Ibuprofen (eg. Brufen, Moment, Subitene): due to the moderate to moderate pain caused by whiplash, it is recommended to take an active dose of 200-400 mg (tablets, effervescent sachets) by mouth every 4-6 hours after meals, as needed. Do not take more than 2.4 grams per day.
- Naproxen (eg Aleve, Naprosyn, Prexan, Naprius): it is recommended to take the drug at an oral dose of 550 mg once a day, followed by 550 mg of active every 12 hours; alternatively, take 275 mg of naproxen every 6-8 hours, as needed. Do not exceed 1100 mg per day.
- Diclofenac (eg Fastum, Dicloreum): for the control of mild pain associated with whiplash, it is recommended to take 25 mg of active, 4 times a day. Follow the directions given by your doctor.
- Ketoprofen (eg. Fastum, Ketoprofen ALM, Steofen): available in the form of creams or ointments to be applied directly on the area affected by whiplash (a drug with topical application), or as tablets to be taken by mouth (systemic action). In the form of cream or gel, it is recommended to apply a thin layer of the product directly on the injured area, twice a day. The dosage dosage of oral medication in controlling pain associated with whiplash suggests taking 25-50 mg every 6-8 hours. Do not exceed 75 mg per dose.
- Thiocolchicoside (eg. Tiocolchicoside PLIVA, Muscoril): this is a muscle relaxant drug with an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. The active substance is available as a solution for injection (4mg / 2ml). The doctor will inject the drug twice a day in the first 24 hours after the injury.
- Ciclobenzaprina (eg Flexiban): the muscle relaxant drug is indicated for reducing muscle spasms caused by whiplash. Start taking the drug at a dose of 5 mg orally, three times a day. Based on the patient's response, it is possible to increase the dosage up to 7.5-10 mg, three times a day. Alternatively, take the drug in the form of slow-release tablets, at a dose of 15 mg or 30 mg, orally, once a day. Excessive intake of Cyclobenzaprine may promote dizziness and sedation.
Anxiolytic and depressive therapy : the administration of antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs in the context of whiplash is not useful, in itself, for the purposes of the disease; rather, it is essential to lighten the collateral symptoms: when a severe trauma to the cervical spine, such as whiplash, is such as to create sleep disorders, anxiety and mood depression, it is recommended to take drugs to relax the body and remove anxiety. Here are some of the most commonly used drugs for this purpose:
- Zaleplon (eg. Zerene, Sonata): it is a hypnotic / sedative drug, indicated to treat insomnia, anxiety and stress particularly pronounced in the context of whiplash. The product, available in 5 and 10 mg capsules, is indicated for subjects who complain of obvious difficulty in falling asleep and, subject to medical prescription, can be taken only when the disorder is severe. Take 5-10 mg of active just before bedtime; the duration of therapy should not last more than two weeks. Do not take in case of liver and kidney diseases.
- Amitriptyline (eg Laroxyl, Triptizol, Adepril): a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression and to treat insomnia in the context of stress and depression, even (and not only) following a particularly violent whiplash. The dose should be established by the doctor based on the severity of the condition.
- Melatonin (eg. Circadin, sublingual Melatonin 3): melatonin is available as capsules, slow-release tablets or drops. In case of difficulty in falling asleep, following the pain associated with whiplash, it is possible to take the drug in the form of slow-release tablets: it is recommended to take 2 grams of active, a couple of hours before bedtime, preferably on a full stomach. Repeat the treatment for three weeks. Do not use in case of renal and hepatic dysfunction. In the form of drops, it is recommended to take 4 drops before going to bed (each drop contains about 0.25 mg of active).
For further information, read the following articles:
- Anxiety Treatment Medications
- Medications for the treatment of insomnia
- Drugs for the treatment of depression
When the painful symptoms caused by the whiplash becomes bearable, it is recommended to apply to physiotherapeutic specialists to follow a specific program of physical activity; since the exercises must be performed accurately (so as not to aggravate the problem), it is strongly advised against carrying out exercises on one's own initiative, without an expert trainer.
Exercises for cervical vertebrae and stretching exercises are very useful not only to strengthen the cervical musculature, but also to prevent whiplash.
