Whiplash Injury: An Overview

Attorney Doug Stoehr recently distributed a legal magazine via the local newspaper.  He also has copies of these magazines in area businesses, as well as in his office.  One of the articles in this magazine was written by Dr. Michael Drass and discuss whiplash injuries and treatments for them.

According to Dr. Drass, cervical whiplash is caused by a flexion or extension injury to the cervical spine.  This is most commonly occurs in rear-end car collisions.  In about 60% of whiplash cases, the ligaments and tendons are significantly stretched and/or ruptured.  Additionally, headaches also commonly occur as a symptom of this type of injury.  When first lines of treatment, such as rest, non-steroid and muscle relaxant medications, and chiropractic services fail, pain management treatment may be another good option.  Dr. Drass mentioned the use of radiofrequency ablation as a possible pain management option.  With this treatment, tiny needles are heated up and inserted into the spine.  These small needles make the nerve endings stop responding to pain signals and, therefore, eliminate or reduce pain.  About 71% of patients receive long-lasting pain relief after the use of this treatment.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of Attorney Stoehr's magazine, "Just Cause", please contact his office at 814-946-4100.

All About Whiplash

Whiplash is a painful and common cause of complaint after an injury such as an automobile accident.  Also known as Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD), this disorder is characterized by soft tissue damage to the neck and upper spinal area, and in some cases the face and back as well.  Due to the sudden flexion and extension of the neck following an accident such as an automobile collision, the body does not have enough time to compensate for the sudden change in motion and reacts by snapping the head front and back.  Unfortunately, this puts too much strain on the neck muscles and can lead to lasting pain, chronic headaches, restricted range of motion, and dizziness for months following an injury.  In some cases, the pain associated with whiplash is so severe that it interferes with work and sleep, thus leading to both fatigue and irritability.  In even more severe cases, these problems can develop into depression and lowered cognitive abilities, such as problems with memory and concentration.  Disc herniation may also have occurred during the accident and will need to be addressed by a physician.  It is important to realize that the symptoms of whiplash may not manifest themselves until a few days after an accident, so if you or a loved one are in an automobile accident and have unexplained neck and back pain a few days later, whiplash may be the cause of your discomfort. The most common way to experience whiplash from an automobile accident is from a rear-end collision.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.  

Research Allows Doctors to "See" Pain

One of the major diagnostic obstacles in treating patients with pain is effectively locating and evaluating the source of pain.  Since every person reports the intensity and frequency of pain differently (for example, a burn to you may only be a nuisance, but could be considered extremely painful by another), doctors have traditionally had problems treating symptoms of pain.  To combat this problem, researchers in Sweden have developed a tool that allows doctors to physically see pain areas with the use of a PET scan.  By injecting a certain biological compound into the bloodstream, doctors can put patients in PET scan and see where the compound accumulates in the body, thus denoting the area and intensity of the pain.  This technique is still undergoing clinical trials, and is focused on diagnosing and treating whiplash pain.  If the trials are successful, it is probable that this tool may become more accessible and common for treating all diagnoses of pain across the world. 

Whiplash and corresponding chronic pain, es common after a wide variety of accidents and injuries, such as car accidents.  It is very important to monitor your pain and consult with a knowledgeable physician if you suspect that you may have a case of chronic pain.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serving the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.