Whiplash Because of Serious Motor Vehicle Wreck

Whiplash along with Headache Pain after TBI: Lori Part Twenty  

In part twenty Lori and I talked about some of the other problems she has encountered since her accident such as the whiplash that has caused her other physical problems.

Let’s talk about some basic things that I like to discuss with everybody, so that I get sort of a standardization on the information we collect.  Walking today, you walk like a woman again? 

I hope so.  I have to remind myself sometimes.

Are you able to exercise and, and engage in normal recreational activities?

Yes.

Do you have any limit, physical limitations because of the whiplash from the accident? 

I have arthritis in my neck, and I think it’s developing in my shoulders.

The nature of the injury you had was one that also came with a, with a neck injury as well? You hit your head in the accident?

So I’m sure there was whiplash.

Did you have any actual injury to the structures of your neck, such as discs, bones or was it all attributed to the whiplash?

No

When did you start to notice the neck, discomfort neck, which you call now arthritis caused by the whiplash?

It’s been diagnosed.  Um, it’s in my book.  And I just heard it, because in doing the audio portion of my book, and I just heard that chapter.  I should be able to pull out the – I know – because I’m a COTA, certified occupational therapy assistant, I noticed it, mostly at work.  And there’s a specific date that I was diagnosed with arthritis in my neck in the 2000s.

Those with head injuries often suffer neck and back injuries, because the extreme acceleration deceleration that creates the head injury, can also subject the neck and back to the type of forces which can do permanent, even structural damage. One sign of structural damage is radiated pain and loss of feeling to the extremities. With a neck injury, this would be in the arms and fingers.  With a back injury, it would be in the legs and buttocks.

Do you have problems with your fingers, loss of sensation in your fingers because of the whiplash?

No.

Pain down your arms?

No.  I do get, I should not say no.  I do get numbness in my fingers.  Not at the same time, and usually it’s when I’m sleeping.  I’ll wake up.  I had carpal tunnel surgery, probably nine years ago, and I’ve been going to a chiropractor now for about four years.  And when I feel the numbness, or when I recognize the numbness, and then I go to my chiropractor, I’ll mention it to him, and, and he’ll give me an adjustment, and he’ll discuss, you know, tell me where it was, and, and he can directly tell me what part of my spine needed to be adjusted that –

Did the carpal tunnel come from holding the steering wheel at the time of the wreck?

My chiropractor thinks that it’s from the whiplash.

What do you, what is your normal like, day like, in terms of pain?

I always hurt.

Do you have headache?

Yep.

Has that been constant since the accident?  I mean at least a constant issue since the accident?

My head always hurts.  Not real bad, but it always hurts, where it’s like normal to me.  Early on after the accident, I don’t remember the pain, but I remember people saying to me, “What’s wrong?”  So I guess I was, and I remember that I wrote that it was the worst horrible pain ever.  And thank you, Lord, I don’t remember that.  But it always hurts.  I always have a little bit of a headache.

Does it become migrainal at some point?

Yeah, once in a while.

Is that a normal variant, or do you think you actually have a migraine **** syndrome from your accident?

Maybe a normal variant.

Next in Part Twenty One – Conquering Frontal Lobe Issues After Severe Brain Injury